What is canthoplasty surgery?

Canthoplasty is a cosmetic surgery that involves changing the shape of the corner of the eye. This term is derived from the Greek word “kantos” meaning the corner of the eye and the word “plastic” meaning shaping. Canthoplasty is a reconstructive surgical procedure that is performed to correct the drooping of the outer corner of the eye, and by raising its angle to achieve a larger eye

What is canthoplasty?

Canthoplasty as a cosmetic procedure is the reconstruction or reshaping of the lateral canthus (outer corner of the eye). If you want to have elongated and cat eyes, you can do this procedure.

Canthoplasty is performed on the outer corner of the eye (canthus), in the area where the lower eyelid and upper eyelid meet, which is medically called the lateral canthus, which leads to an upward slant and the eye becomes almond-shaped. slow

Canthoplasty may be combined with other eyelid and eye area surgeries, such as blepharoplasty, ptosis surgery, eyebrow lift and mid-face lift, if necessary.

Also, this procedure may be suitable for people who have drooping eyelids or whose eyelids look uneven.

Why is canthoplasty surgery performed?

This procedure may be done for cosmetic or medical purposes and can make the eyes look almond or cat-like or reduce the effect of drooping eyes (ptosis) or eye bags that develop with age. It may also be performed to correct lower eyelid deformity or laxity caused by trauma or previous eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty).

As we age, the skin around the eyes naturally loses its elasticity, resulting in drooping of the lower eyelid (ectropion), which is caused by laxity of the lower eyelid tendon. This age-related problem is often accompanied by bags under the eyes, which can make people look tired or sad.

It’s not just the aging process that can cause droopy eyelids, other factors may include overexposure to sunlight without adequate skin protection as well as lifestyle choices such as smoking or drinking too much alcohol, or hereditary conditions, trauma to the eyes cause these problems.

Additionally, some patients who require canthoplasty do so to correct a previous eye surgery that has caused lower eyelid complications.

Necessary and basic measures for canthoplasty surgery

To perform this operation, you must first consult with the doctor in question and express your realistic expectations from this operation to your doctor.

During the initial consultation, your surgeon will carefully examine the shape and function of your eye and talk at length about what you want to achieve with your surgery. After you both agree that canthoplasty is the right choice, the doctor will design the desired eye shape based on the shape, proportion and symmetry of your eyes.

Also, before the operation, you must take other measures such as:

Be sure to inform your doctor if you are taking medication.
If you have a special disease, you must discuss it with your doctor.
Try to avoid smoking and alcohol for two weeks before the operation.
1 or 2 weeks before the operation, avoid eating foods and medicines that thin the blood.
What is the canthoplasty surgery?

This procedure usually takes one to two hours, which is done with local or general anesthesia, and you can go home the same day.

Usually, in this operation, an incision is made in the natural crease of the outer corner of the eyelid so that the scar is less visible. The tendon is then stretched to raise where the upper and lower eyelids meet and then reattached using stitches.

Procedures after canthoplasty

In every surgery, there is a specific recovery period after the operation. The patient must perform the necessary measures and procedures of this period because it has a direct effect on accelerating recovery and the result of the operation.

Pain, bruising, and swelling are common after eye surgery, but should subside after 7 to 10 days. Try to keep your head up and relax as much as you can at first. Patients should refrain from exercising, rubbing the eye area, or applying makeup for one week.

In some cases, people may notice a change in their vision, but this is temporary.

It is recommended that patients reduce eye strain as much as possible after surgery, such as by avoiding staring at the phone, reading or watching TV. Medical or cosmetic lenses should not be used for several weeks after surgery.

The use of dark sunglasses is necessary for the first two to three weeks after canthoplasty. This protects against irritations that may be caused by exposure to the sun and wind.

It is recommended to rest the eyes frequently in the first weeks because the eyes get tired easily.

Any activity that increases blood flow to the eye should be avoided during the first month of surgery. These activities may include lifting heavy weights, bending over, or even crying.

Full recovery time

Full recovery after canthoplasty surgery is usually between 2 and 4 weeks. The surgeon will remove the stitches about two days to a week after the surgery. In the first week, the patient should give enough rest to his eyes. The initial swelling and redness will gradually fade and no special treatment may be required. To speed up recovery, the patient should ensure that no pressure is applied that increases blood flow to the eye.

They can return to work a week after surgery. The recovery process can sometimes be very long for the patient, especially in the early stages when the face looks bruised and swollen. However, as the days pass, the patient notices a pleasant change in the appearance of the eye.

Is canthoplasty the right procedure for me?

Typically, patients with drooping corners of the eyes or lower eyelid puffiness are good candidates for this type of procedure, especially if the current appearance and shape of the eye causes them discomfort.

In this way, the doctor in question should carefully analyze the function of the lower eyelid, laxity and condition of each patient as well as the overall structure of their face during the initial consultation. And it will tell you if you need this action.

Does canthoplasty have any risks or complications?

Of course, any surgery involves risk, but serious complications from canthoplasty are extremely rare. Swelling and bruising are common in the first few weeks after surgery and usually resolve within two to three weeks in most cases. You may also experience dry eyes, excessive tearing, and blurred vision in the first few weeks after surgery, which is temporary.

Canthoplasty should only be performed by an experienced and highly trained surgeon, as it can be very difficult to correct the results of a poor surgery.