Canthoplasty costs $6,398 on average, though the cost can range from $1,081 to $11,999, according to 45 reviews from RealSelf members who’ve had the procedure.
Also called “almond-eye surgery” or a “cat eye lift,” canthoplasty can tighten, reshape, or reposition the lower eyelid.
When performed as a cosmetic procedure, canthoplasty elongates the outer corner of the eye at the meeting of the upper and lower lids (the outer canthus), to give the eye an almond-shaped appearance.
Read on to find out why canthoplasty costs can vary so much, when it’s covered by insurance, and whether actual patients think their results were worth what they paid.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Canthoplasty
During your initial consultation, ask for an all-in cost quote that includes:
If you get a cost quote over the phone, be aware that some practices will only quote the surgeon’s fee, which is only a portion of your total bill.
The key factors that will impact your canthoplasty surgery price include:
The lateral canthus is a very complex and unforgiving structure. Repositioning it is a delicate operation that’s easy to get wrong, resulting in complications and a permanent change to the eye shape, lid position, and potentially, your vision.
Unfortunately, the procedure has become popular, even among surgeons who have relatively little training to perform it. This can lead to disastrous results.
It’s ideal to have your procedure performed by a fellowship-trained, board-certified oculoplastic surgeon or facial plastic surgeon who regularly performs reconstructive eyelid surgery. Make sure they have positive patient reviews for this particular procedure and an extensive before and after photo gallery.
Experienced surgeons who specialize in canthoplasty will charge more, but this isn’t an area where you want to cut corners.
Any type of surgery costs more in a major metro area, but prices can vary even by neighborhood. An upscale practice in a high-rent area will have to charge more than a more modest practice that has less overhead, so it can be worth your time to consult with surgeons in different parts of town, so you can compare personalized cost quotes.
Because this eye surgery is so specialized, you may have to travel to find a provider who has the necessary experience to perform canthoplasty. In this case, you’ll need to budget for transportation and accommodations.
Canthoplasty surgery is usually either performed at the provider's private surgical suite or surgical center, which is far less expensive than a hospital operating room.
It’s almost always performed as an outpatient procedure, so you probably won’t have to incur the expense of staying overnight at the surgical facility.
Depending on the severity of your eyelid issues (for instance, the amount of skin laxity), you may need more advanced work. The more time-consuming and complicated your procedure is, the higher the surgeon’s fee.
It’s also common for lateral canthoplasty procedure to be combined with epicanthoplasty, which targets the inner corner of the eye to help correct eyelid laxity and remove excess skin.
Your provider also may suggest adding on a canthopexy, which addresses the lateral canthal tendon via sutures vs. cutting. It’s often done as an additional step to provide extra support to the lower lid, to avoid a pulled-down lid. Canthopexy doesn't change the shape of the eye, but it can improve muscle tone, helping to correct the appearance of asymmetry and sunken eyelids.
Other popular combinations with this procedure include upper and/or lower blepharoplasty (an eye lift), double eyelid surgery, or a facelift.
Incorporating multiple procedures in one operation will increase your total cost, but it’s more cost effective than having them separately because you’ll only have to pay the facility and anesthesia fees once. Most surgeons also discount their fee on each additional procedure.
Canthoplasty is usually performed under local anesthesia with sedation, so the patient can be cooperative during the procedure—for instance, able to open and close their eyes.
Your surgeon or a trained member of their staff can administer local anesthesia and oral sedation, which saves you money.
If you have IV sedation or general anesthesia, you can expect to pay an additional fee for the services of an anesthesiologist (an MD) or nurse anesthetist (a CRNA). The latter will charge less, but some surgeons insist on using an anesthesiologist, especially if the patient has an underlying health condition that merits extra attention to safety.
Canthoplasty has an 80% Worth It Rating from RealSelf reviewers who’ve had it both for aesthetic and functional reasons. So most people who’ve had the procedure think their results are worth what they paid.
“My left eye was droopier, and now my eyes look more even, more awake, and younger, without making me look completely different,” reports reviewer BenZim, who paid nearly $12,000 for canthoplasty and lower eyelid retraction.
Unfortunately, not everyone is happy with their outcome. Some providers on RealSelf say that canthoplasty results can be unpredictable and unnatural, and they don’t recommend the surgery at all to those seeking it for cosmetic reasons. Indeed, sara1976 reports that while she “expected almond-shaped eyes” from her surgery, she instead has “an Asian eye shape and big dark circles under her eyes” that she hates. Asymmetry can also be a problem.
This is a serious eyelid surgery that can affect your vision, and if you’re unsatisfied with the results, they will be challenging—if not impossible—to reverse.
Even when successful, the results—particularly in young, healthy people trying to make a cosmetic change in the appearance of their eyes—can be quite modest (“underwhelming,” says one surgeon) and short-lived.
Often, for long-lasting results, the surgery also needs to be performed in conjunction with lower eyelid retraction, at an additional cost.
To get the best understanding of whether the procedure will be worth it for you, book an in-person consultation with a skilled provider who can advise you based on a detailed, exam.
If you're craving the cat eye look but don’t wish to go under the knife, consider nonsurgical procedures like thread lifts, which can accomplish similar outcomes under local anesthesia, without permanently altering your appearance.
If you’re having a canthoplasty procedure as a cosmetic surgery, it won’t be covered by insurance.
However, if you’re having it as reconstructive surgery to fix functional eye problems, your insurance company may cover a significant portion of the cost.
Work with your surgeon's staff, healthcare provider, and insurance company to determine if you qualify for coverage.
You’ll likely need to provide medical documentation that your vision has been affected by eyelid laxity or that you have a condition like evaporative dry eye, ptosis, or eyelid malposition like ectropion in order to get pre-approved.