Will lateral canthoplasty help my eyes? (photos)

Question

My eyes are very short and don't show much eye white. I said this before, but it is difficult for me to wear contact lenses/ circle lenses because of this, and when i put on make up it looks very odd. Will lateral canthoplasty make my eyes wider, and is there anything i should be wary of? P.S: I do have natural eyelids, but they are very small. I heard that if you wear eyelid on a daily basis, it would change your crease. Is this true? I don't want to get eyelid surgery unless i really have to.

Ali Sajjadian, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thanks for your question.I would not suggest canthoplasty as in your case it may have reverse effect.I would also suggest that you don't do any lower lid surgery.Your eyes are beautiful and you don't want have undesirable results.Best wishesdr sajjadian

Steve Laverson, MD, FACS · Answer

You have been blessed with natural beauty, and are wise to defer procedure unless absolutely necessary.  A well done conservative double eyelid upper blepharoplasty is the most I would recommend considering.  The three issues you mention are amount of white showing (you don't need more, the shape of palpebral aperture contributes to your allure), difficulty applying cosmetics (learn from professional make-up artists, take a few private lessons), and contact lenses (use small forceps, practice, seek assistance from optometrist or ophthalmologist) are in and of themselves no indication for operation.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

This procedure is a reconstructive procedure that is performed to address issues that arise from eyelid laxity.  Plastic surgeons have taken to performing this procedure and often promise patients that it will increase the size of the eye.  This is not accurate.  It is not a cosmetic procedure and it is much more likely to harm your appearance.  I think you would do well with a very conservative surgery to increase the appearance of your eyelid platform and deepen slightly your existing double fold-less is more.

Toby Mayer, MD · Answer

Canthoplasty for small eyes is something that you should NOT have done. Too much risk for so little gain.

Michael Elam, MD (retired) · Answer

Lateral Canthoplasty would not be a recommended procedure. This procedure will actually close the eyes further and make them narrower. I would suggest that you leave your eyes as they are, they look beautiful. If the time comes later that you would want to have eyelid surgery then the suggestion would be a conservative upper lid blepharoplasty to address your double fold. Best regards, Michael V. Elam, M.D.

Brooke R. Seckel, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

A lateral canthal plasty is the wrong procedure if you want to show more white in your eyes.  The lateral canthoplasty will make your eyes narrower and reduce the amount of visible white.For more information on eyelid surgery please read the following link:

Will lateral canthoplasty help my eyes? (photos)

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