Canthoplasty surgery, also known as cat eye surgery, is a type of cosmetic eyelid surgery that alters the lateral canthus (the outer corner of the eye, where the upper and lower lid meet) by tightening and elongating the eye horizontally, to give it what’s known as a positive canthal tilt or upward slant.
By adjusting various muscles and ligaments, this type of oculoplastic surgery alleviates drooping at the outer corners of the eye and creates an almond-shaped or “cat” eye, which is why it’s sometimes called a cat eye lift.
The cosmetic procedure was traditionally performed to correct age-related upper eyelid laxity, but many younger patients in their 20s and 30s seek out this eye-shape-altering cosmetic surgery after seeing its results on social media and wanting more of an almond eye shape.
Lateral canthoplasty is often performed alongside a blepharoplasty (upper or lower eyelid surgery) or double eyelid surgery, but it’s a more specialized procedure that can be more technically challenging. For this reason, it’s best performed by a board-certified oculoplastic surgeon with membership in the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS), both indicators of extensive training in ophthalmic reconstructive and cosmetic surgery.
Related: The Little-Known Eye Lift Procedure That’s Taking Over Hollywood
