Canthoplasty (Inner, Outer & Lower Eye Corner Surgery)
Canthoplasty adjusts the shape of your eye's inner corner, outer corner, or both, to change the eye's horizontal width or the angle of the outer corner — it's a different axis of change from double eyelid surgery, which mainly affects the vertical crease. It suits people whose eyes look short, narrow, or sharp-angled because of the epicanthal fold or the outer corner shape, not because of the eyelid fold itself.
Three Procedures for Three Different Corner Problems
Inner-corner surgery (epicanthoplasty) releases the epicanthal fold that covers the inner corner, widening the eye's horizontal width and often making an existing double eyelid line visible further toward the nose. Outer-corner surgery (lateral canthoplasty) extends the eye from the outer corner, useful when the inner corner can't safely be opened further. Lower-corner surgery lowers an upturned outer corner, widening the eye vertically and softening a sharp or intense look. Many people need more than one of these if, for example, the outer corner is both closed and upturned — in that case, outer- and lower-corner surgery are often done together.
Is This Right for You?
- An epicanthal fold covers your inner corner and shortens how wide your eyes look
- Your eyes look short or narrow even after double eyelid surgery
- Your outer corner reads as upturned, giving an intense or unintentionally angry look at rest
- The space between your eyebrows looks wider than your eye length because the inner corner is closed
- You feel your eyes look boxy or cramped in photos
Your Treatment Process
- 01
Design
Your surgeon analyzes your eye proportions, the degree of epicanthal fold, and the angle and available space at the outer corner before marking an incision plan.
- 02
Micro-Incision & Dissection
A small incision is placed where scarring will be least visible — along the conjunctiva for outer- and lower-corner work, or at the inner fold for inner-corner work — and the fold or ligament is carefully released.
- 03
Repositioning & Fixation
For inner-corner surgery, the skin is repositioned into its new shape. For outer- and lower-corner surgery, the canthal ligament is anchored to the periosteum (the membrane covering the bone) to resist the tissue re-adhering to its original position.
- 04
Result
A wider or more level-angled eye shape, scaled to a proportion that fits your face rather than maximized for size alone.
Recovery Timeline
Each of the three procedures typically takes about 30 minutes under local or light sedation anesthesia, with recovery generally running 5 to 7 days and stitches removed in the same window. Most patients need 2 to 3 follow-up visits.
Risks & Honest Limits
Over-correcting an inner corner is difficult to reverse — restoration techniques exist but are still described in the literature as an evolving area, so the original shape may not be fully recoverable if too much is opened the first time. Outer-corner surgery carries a recognized risk of complications or results that don't fully satisfy the patient, including a blunted or notched appearance at the corner sometimes called a 'ㄷ-shaped' deformity; keeping the canthal ligament firmly anchored and placing the incision along the conjunctiva are used to reduce this risk, but it's worth discussing openly before surgery. The guiding principle is a measured, proportionate correction rather than the widest possible opening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an inner-corner (epicanthoplasty) result be reversed if it's too open?+
Restoration procedures for an over-corrected inner corner exist, but the field is still developing, and getting back to your exact original shape isn't guaranteed. This is why the degree of opening is usually kept conservative on a first surgery rather than maximized.
What's the difference between inner-corner and outer-corner surgery?+
Inner-corner surgery releases the epicanthal fold to widen the eye from the nose side. Outer-corner surgery extends the eye from the far side instead, which is often used when the inner corner isn't suitable for further opening, or when the outer corner itself looks closed.
Can canthoplasty be combined with double eyelid surgery or ptosis correction?+
Yes — canthoplasty changes horizontal width and corner angle, while double eyelid surgery and ptosis correction change the vertical crease and eye-opening strength. They address different things and are often planned together, but the right combination depends on examining your eye and face structure first.
Is there a non-incisional canthoplasty option?+
DOY JUN's outer- and lower-corner procedures are performed through an incision along the conjunctiva, kept inside the eye socket to limit visible scarring; whether a different technique would suit your case is something to discuss at consultation.
Find Out Which Corner Is Actually Shortening Your Eyes
Send us a straight-on photo of your eyes — we'll tell you honestly whether the inner corner, the outer corner, or the angle is the actual issue before suggesting a plan.
Message Us on WhatsApp