EPICANTHOPLASTY

Asians frequently suffer from prominent epicanthic folds, which are the folds of skin covering the inner corner of the eyes. Moreover, a lower nasal bridge can accentuate epicanthic folds, which are also known as Mongolian folds. An Epicanthoplasty is a surgical cosmetic procedure to remove these unsightly fierce-looking folds of the eyelid skin, achieving a more symmetrical, young and vibrant look.

With medial epicanthoplasty, also known as inner eyelid surgery, larger and brighter eyes can be achieved by eliminating the triangle-shaped folds of the eyes. It produces inward elongation and also increases the size of the eyes. In the surgical procedure, rearrangement and partial removal of tissue within the lower eyelid and inner eye is performed.

Epicanthoplasty is performed under local anaesthesia and thus no pain will be felt by patients during the procedure. The procedure itself takes less than an hour in the hands of a skilled plastic surgeon. Recovery usually takes less than a week, hence disruption to normal life is minimal. Epicanthoplasty is often performed together with double eyelid surgery.

Epicanthic folds are common amongst Oriental Asians and also known as Mongolian folds. These are the folds of skin and muscle which cover the inner corners of the eyes. If severe, these folds decrease the size of the eye, sometimes making them look fierce and slit-like. These folds sometimes also make a person look “cross-eyed”.

An Epicanthoplasty is a small surgical procedure to remove these sometimes unsightly folds. It is sometimes known as inner eyelid surgery. It is frequently performed together with double eyelid surgery to give a nicer shape (parallel) to the double eyelid.

The benefits are many:

• The eyes look larger and longer, hence more vibrant as more white (sclera) is exposed
• Tapered double eyelid folds become parallel
• Eyes which appear too far apart have the distance between them reduced
• The eyes look less fierce and less cross-eyed

Look at yourself in a mirror, pull the skin on the nose-side of your eye towards the nose by 2-5mm. This simulates the results of an epicanthoplasty.

There are many methods of Epicanthoplasty. Some methods leave scarring which can be obvious. The method I perform hides the scars within the existing folds of the eye so they cannot be seen.

The surgery usually takes less than 60 minutes under local anaesthetic and light sedation.

Most of our patients return to work within a week.