Lateral Canthoplasty that avoids the skin sticking back together

Asian people have eyes that are narrow, lower, and the eyelids are thicker compared to the Westerners. Such differences with the Asians lead to them wanting double eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty.

If the width of the eyes are short, and if epicanthoplasty is not enough, then, at times, we go with lateral canthoplasty as well.
There are many patients who worry that the separation from the lateral canthoplasty does not last making the skin come together again, and ask questions regarding the procedures that do not result on the re-surgery or the skin sticking back together again

So today, the post will have contents regarding the lateral canthoplasty that does not result in the skin coming together after the surgery.

[Lateral canthoplasty that avoids the skin sticking back] 

Many patients consider having lateral canthoplasty if they have narrow eyes or have sharp out corner eyes. These patients have concerns about the detached outer part of the eye sticking back after the surgery.

In Kies-U, we consider re-locating the (*)lateral canthus for conducting lateral canthoplasty.
(*) lateral canthus: Point where the upper and lower eyelids meet

Before and after Lateral Canthoplasty

Relocating the lateral canthus is a little radical method compared to the lateral canthoplasty. However, this is a very good method regarding the fact that there are many patients who are not completely satisfied with the result of the lateral canthoplasty. Also it is used as a part of the re-surgery.

[Differences from the standard lateral canthoplasty]

Originally, the first lateral canthoplasty introduced was targeted on the Western patients.




Westerners tend to have thin skin layer, and the eyelids do not cover much of the eye ball therefore we do a lot of geometric type design on the eyes and cut off then reattach the skin.

However, this technique is not applicable to the Asians who have thick eyelids as such technique would result in many scars and outer part sticking back together after some time.

Lateral canthoplasty that does not result in outer part sticking back together again involves not the removal of the skin but relocating near the periost to avoid scars and greatly reduce the possibility of the outer skin sticking back.

Procedure of lateral canthoplasty

[Who needs the lateral canthoplasty?]

There are many who ask "Can I get lateral canthoplasty?”.
Anyone and everyone can get lateral canthoplasty but the result of the surgery differs from person to person according to the sharpness of the eyes and the tightness of the skin around the eyes.

If the skin around the eyes are tight, then it becomes difficult to pull and fix the skin around the lateral canthus.
Also, we do not recommend lateral canthoplasty to those who have Western looking eyes.
The surgery is effective to those who have Asian looking eyes.

Lateral canthoplasty, lowering the outer part of the eye

[Problems with lateral canthoplasty]

The biggest problem with the lateral canthoplasty with the outer part that does not stick back is the conjunctiva edema.

Originally, the surgery exposed the conjunctiva so that it becomes a part of the eye making the eye look a little swollen and different from how the eye had looked before.

Also the eyelashes are removed as much as the incision so the eye may look unnatural, however, this can be avoided if the incision is done at an appropriate length.

Most important aspect of the overall approach is to interview with the surgeon and then make a final decision.

Today, we shared about the lateral canthoplasty. I hope the contents help you understand better about this topic.

Thank you very much.