Returning Plastic Surgery: The Fox Eye Lift for Elevating the Outer Eye Corner The Fox Eye Lift

 

Hello, this is Dr. Kim Yong-woo, Director of Returning Plastic Surgery.

Recently, there has been a surge of interest and a high volume of inquiries about the outer eye corner lift surgery, which prompted me to create this video and post.

The outer eye corner surgery is also known as the "Fox Eye" surgery. It is a procedure for those who desire a chic and sophisticated impression with uplifted eye corners, similar to those of a fox.

If you draw a straight line from the inner corner of the eye to the outer corner, the angle it creates is called the canthal tilt (or Mongolian slant). Whether congenitally or due to aging, if the outer corner of the eye is slightly lower than the inner corner, or if the canthal tilt is too flat, it can create a sad or tired-looking impression.

The outer eye corner lift is a surgery that elevates the angle of the outer corner to transform this into a more refined and sophisticated look.

However, because the outer eye corner lift can have many side effects, it is often considered a taboo surgery that many clinics are reluctant to perform.

In fact, it's safe to say that there are more clinics that do not perform this surgery than ones that do.

The reason the outer eye corner lift has a high rate of side effects is that the lifted corner has a strong tendency to droop again due to gravity.

Furthermore, the risk of failure is high because of the resistance from surrounding tissues that attempt to pull everything back to its original position. These tissues include the lateral canthal tendon and the retaining ligaments around the orbital bone. This is especially true when using barbed threads for lifting; the threads can easily dislodge if you squeeze your eyes shut or make strong facial expressions, leading to low satisfaction.

"There's no such thing as a free lunch."

To achieve a long-lasting and effective result, a fundamental surgical approach is required rather than a simple procedure. This is the only way to ensure high satisfaction.

The most crucial element for a successful outer eye corner surgery is to minimize the resistance that causes the tissues to rebound.

Therefore, the key point of the surgery is to dissect the retaining ligaments around the orbital bone and the lateral canthal tendon. This creates a resistance-free state, allowing us to lift the tissues and create a stable adhesion.

Additionally, to minimize the downward-pulling force, we use an elastic thread (Elasticum®). The incision is made in the temple area, and another small incision is made at the very tip of the eye corner to perform the lift with the elastic thread.

The scope of dissection is similar to the temporal dissection performed during a forehead lift, which is necessary to release the resistant structures.

The surgery takes about one hour. Stitches are typically removed from the temple and eye corner incisions after about one week, which completes the initial treatment.

As mentioned, because the temple area is dissected, some swelling around the eyes and temples is expected. However, this minor swelling usually subsides within about two weeks.

Good Candidates for the Outer Eye Corner Surgery:

• This surgery is a good option for those with congenital scleral show (when the white of the eye is visible below the iris) or those with low eyelid tone.
• It is helpful for individuals who want to improve a sad impression caused by a low canthal tilt.
• It can be performed to correct the drooping of the outer eye corners that occurs with aging.
• It is also beneficial for correcting ectropion (outward turning of the eyelid) that can occur after lower blepharoplasty or lateral canthoplasty.
• Recently, many men have been seeking this procedure to achieve a more sophisticated and powerful look.

Q: Doctor, do I have to get the outer corner lift after a "Lowering Canthoplasty" (Dwit-mit-teuim)?

A: The "Lowering Canthoplasty" (often called "Puppy Eye Surgery") is a procedure that turns a "fox eye" into a "puppy eye," so it's performed on those who want a gentler, more docile impression.

The Fox Eye Lift, on the other hand, is for those who want the opposite look—a "fox eye" or "cat eye" with uplifted corners.

However, the Fox Eye Lift can sometimes be performed to correct a Lowering Canthoplasty if it resulted in side effects or made the patient's impression look too sad or weak.

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We have now explored the outer eye corner surgery.

I hope everyone can have a successful surgery free of side effects.

Thank you. This has been Dr. Kim Yong-woo of Returning Plastic Surgery. :)