Surgery to Get Wider Eyes? (photo)

Question

I don't want double eyelid surgery, as I already have them, albeit they are rather small. In fact, you can barely see them, so I think I might have to do something with my eyelids rather than the actual eye. I actually like the shape of eyes for most part, so I want minimal work done.. I'm not really sure of what type of surgery I should get, as I don't want anything that looks too dramatic. Just slightly widening them to make my eyes a little rounder would be great.

Farhad Rafizadeh, MD · Answer

The only surgery that could benefit you is a conservative upper lid blepharoplasty for oriental eyes. Your eyes will look more open because the excess skin of the upper lid is removed this excess skin by some optic illusion makes the eyes look smaller than they are. It is not possible to widen the eyes and you do not need ptosis surgery.

A.J. Amadi, MD · Answer

If by "widening" your eyes you mean to have them be a bit more open vertically, then subtle ptosis surgery might be an option for you. However if you mean you want to horizontally widen them, then this is not a great idea. As mentioned previously, the scars cannot be hidden well, and the chance of an unsightly scar is not worth the possible benefit, in my opinion.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

These are procedures that are getting thrown at Asian patients but the results are not good unless you have an unusually loose lower eyelid or disinserted lateral canthal angle.  It is possible that medial epicanthoplasty would be helpful but it is high risk.  By that I means that it places a scar in a very visible place on your face.  Some of these surgeries are brilliant.  Others are disasters.  I do not believe that surgeons have complete control over the healing process that determines which way the surgery goes so it is hard to be enthusiastic about the procedure.   Ptosis surgery might be beneficial for you but the only way to assess that is through an in person consultation.  Please be careful out there.

Cynthia Boxrud, MD · Answer

I totally agree with Dr. Steinsapir that these procedures are only indicated in patients that have functional issues.   Widening the eyes is not possible.  We are born with our own eyelid  horizontal measurements and a canthoplasty will shorten not lengthen and eyelid as well and in some cases denervate the nerve over time.   There are small procedures you can do to create optical illusions, like opening up the brows with Bo-tox.  Surgery on upper eyelids etc......Hope this helps...Dr. Boxrud

Chase Lay, MD · Answer

thank you for the questioned van fan

	in general what you're interested in doing is accomplished through either a canthoplasty or canthopexy. In either case and younger people this is usually not that effective. The changes that you see from it may last a few weeks or even several months but eventually goes away. The other issue is that there are lots of surgeons out there who described their experience in Asian eyelid surgery and tell you they can perform one of these two procedures quite easily sometimes with significantly negative results. Just ensure that you visit a surgeon who operates on the Asian eyelid day in and day out before proceeding and make sure you get several consultations with facial plastic surgeons or oculoplastic surgeons.

	Chase Lay, MD

	double board-certified Asian facial plastic specialist

Surgery to Get Wider Eyes? (photo)

Answers (5)

Answer: Canthoplasty or Canthopexy

Answer: Canthoplasty or Canthopexy

Answer: Wider eyes, watch out

Answer: Wider eyes, watch out

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Surgery to Get Wider Eyes? (photo)

Answers (5)

Answer: Canthoplasty or Canthopexy

Answer: Canthoplasty or Canthopexy

Answer: Wider eyes, watch out

Answer: Wider eyes, watch out

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Eyelid Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.