Improving a Stuffy Eye Look with Lateral and Lower Canthoplasty by Dr. Young-moon Yoo of VIBE Plastic Surgery

Hello.

I am Dr. Young-moon Yoo, Director of VIBE Plastic Surgery.

Today, I would like to introduce a case of lateral and lower canthoplasty for a patient who was concerned about a sharp and stuffy impression caused by the closed-off outer corners of their eyes.

✔ Pre-surgery Concerns

This patient had:

• A structure where the outer corners of the eyes were narrow and closed off
• A sharp impression due to the short appearance of the eye tails
• Eyes that looked stuffy even when opened wide

Because of these factors, they wanted ‘eyes that look naturally long and soft, rather than just making them larger.’

✔ The Solution: Lateral and Lower Canthoplasty

In such cases, lateral and lower canthoplasty can be a very effective choice.

🔹 What is Lateral and Lower Canthoplasty?

It is a procedure that expands both the outer (lateral) and bottom (lower) parts of the eye to:

• Naturally increase the horizontal length of the eye
• Change the eye shape into a softer and gentler impression.

The advantage is that you can expect the effect of larger, clearer eyes even without an epicanthoplasty (inner corner fold removal).

✔ Preventing Recurrence with Periosteal Fixation

One of the most important points in lateral and lower canthoplasty is how to prevent recurrence.

In this case, we designed the procedure to prevent the corners from rolling back up or narrowing over time by:

• Firmly anchoring the outer corner of the eye
• Securing it to the periosteum (bone membrane) for stability.

👉 The key is structurally stable fixation, not just simply stretching the skin.

✔ Why Scars are Barely Visible Despite the Incision Method

Although lateral and lower canthoplasty is performed through incisions, it has the great advantage of having almost no noticeable scarring due to:

• Incisions made along the natural wrinkle lines inside the eye tail
• Minimal incisions in areas that are not easily seen
• Delicate suturing

In fact, after recovery, many patients say, ‘I can’t even tell where the surgery was done.’

✔ Summary of Post-surgery Changes

After the surgery:

• The eyes appear horizontally longer
• The impression of the eye tails has become softer
• The overall eye shape has changed to a gentle and comfortable look.

It was an eye shape improvement that was not excessive, making it easy to hear others say, ‘Your impression has improved.’

✔ We recommend lateral and lower canthoplasty for those who:

• Have eyes that look short because the outer corners are closed off
• Frequently hear that their eyes look sharp or fierce
• Want to naturally enlarge their eyes without epicanthoplasty
• Want a stable lateral and lower canthoplasty without recurrence

✔ Closing Thoughts

Eye surgery is not just about making the eyes bigger; harmony with the overall facial impression is the most important factor.

At VIBE Plastic Surgery, we accurately analyze each individual’s eye structure and skin condition to perform surgery with the goal of creating a long-lasting eye shape that is not overdone.

If you are wondering if lateral and lower canthoplasty is the right surgery for you, I hope you make your decision through a thorough consultation.

Consultations and surgeries should be performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon!

VIBE that comes from rich experience

Dr. Young-moon Yoo, Chief Director of VIBE Plastic Surgery

VIBE Plastic Surgery complies with medical laws. These before-and-after photos were taken under the same conditions with the patient’s consent. Complications and side effects such as bleeding, inflammation, infection, and asymmetry may occur after surgery and may vary depending on the individual, so caution is required.