Front Epicanthoplasty - SM Plastic Surgery

When the epicanthal fold covers the inner corner, the gap between the eyes can look wider than it is. Opening the inner corner can make the eyes look a little longer and the gap narrower. The degree of improvement varies from person to person with bone structure, nose height and the width between the brows, so the decision follows a careful consultation.

Because medial canthoplasty incises inside the inner corner, a reddish mark can show at first, but with fine suturing and care it generally becomes less noticeable over time. How fast and how well the scar heals varies with constitution, the incision method and aftercare.

The necessary extent varies with the shape and thickness of the fold, the intercanthal distance and whether a crease is present. Where the fold is thick, or the inner end of the crease is hidden as well, double-eyelid surgery or another canthoplasty may be considered together. The extent is decided after assessing the eye.

The inner corner is known as an area where some re-adhesion can occur as the incision heals. Where re-adhesion is clear, the state is checked and further correction considered if needed. Suturing methods and aftercare to reduce re-adhesion are explained together, and the course varies from person to person.

Where the fold covers the inner end of the crease and the line looks broken at the front, doing medial canthoplasty together with double-eyelid surgery lets the line be designed to connect naturally. They need not always be combined, however — depending on the eye and the impression you want, either may be done alone. A careful consultation decides.

The approach depends on how wide and deep the scar is and on the surrounding skin. Whether the scar has settled broadly or only discoloration remains changes what can be done, so we judge after examining it directly. The aim is to make it less noticeable rather than to erase it, and the degree of improvement varies from person to person.

When the fold is shallow there is little room to open, so the change may not feel pronounced. Rather than pushing the incision further, designing the crease or adjusting in another direction can give a more natural result in such cases. We judge whether it is needed after examining the inner corner.

Opening the inner corner more than necessary can make the eye look pointed and the expression sharper. For that reason the direction and extent of the incision are planned within a restrained range that suits the facial proportions and the distance between the eyes. We confirm the impression you want at consultation before settling on the extent.

Yes. Medial canthoplasty is not an all-or-nothing procedure; the amount is adjusted to the thickness and direction of the fold. If you want a subtle change the opening is designed narrower, and where the eyes look widely spaced it can be opened a little further. We decide the degree together at consultation.

Nose height and the width between the brows both contribute to the impression that the eyes sit far apart. Opening the inner corner can make the eyes look slightly longer and the gap narrower, but how much it changes depends on the underlying facial structure. We decide the extent of the incision while considering overall facial proportions.

How much longer the eye looks depends on how far the fold was covering the inner corner. Where the fold was thick the change tends to be clear, while a shallow fold may make little difference. Rather than stretching the length as far as possible, the design stays within what suits the face, and results vary from person to person.

As the fold that wrapped around the inner corner is released, the contour of the inner corner becomes visible. The angle and shape of that opening are designed according to the direction of the fold, with the aim of keeping it from looking too angular. We confirm the shape you prefer at consultation and reflect it in the design.

Medial canthoplasty takes about 30 minutes and is performed under local or sedation anesthesia. Which type of anesthesia is used is decided at consultation, taking into account any procedures performed at the same time and how anxious you feel. The operating time can vary with the extent of the incision and any combined surgery.

Because the incision is small the swelling tends not to last long, though the area around the inner corner can look red and swollen at first. We generally guide a return to daily life around 5 to 7 days, while settling into a natural look may take longer. How quickly it subsides varies from person to person.

The inner corner is a site where some re-adhesion can occur as the incision heals, so it matters that the area is not rubbed or irritated during recovery. Following the aftercare we explain until the sutured area settles is advisable. We check the healing at your follow-up visits and advise on any care needed.