Canthoplasty is a cosmetic surgery that improves the appearance of the eyes by adjusting the shape of the canthus. It is mainly divided into two types: inner canthus enlargement and outer canthus enlargement. It can make the eyes look brighter and more energetic. It is suitable for people with wide eyes or short palpebral fissures. However, for patients with drooping eyelids, whether canthoplasty is suitable needs to be analyzed based on the specific situation.
Types and symptoms of droopy eyelids
Drooping eyelids, medically known as "ptosis", refers to the abnormal drooping of the upper eyelid, covering part of the pupil, affecting vision and appearance. Drooping eyelids can be divided into congenital and acquired types:
Congenital ptosis : It is mostly caused by hypoplastic levator palpebrae superioris muscle or nerve dysfunction, resulting in insufficient eyelid lifting force.
Acquired ptosis : mostly caused by factors such as aging, trauma, neurological disease or surgical injury.
It manifests as lowering of the eyelid position and narrowing of the palpebral fissure, often accompanied by raising of the eyebrows to compensate for blocked vision, affecting facial expressions and visual function.
The scope and purpose of canthoplasty surgery
The main purpose of canthoplasty is to increase the length of the palpebral fissure and improve the proportion and charm of the eyes by removing or reshaping the inner and outer canthus tissues. It is usually suitable for:
① Those with short palpebral fissures, small eyes and obvious epicanthus.
② People who have wide eyes and want to adjust the distance between their eyes.
③. Hope to make eyes look bigger and brighter through surgery.
Canthoplasty can achieve the effect of visually enlarging the eyes by improving the shape of the canthus, but it does not directly affect the function of the eyelid lifting muscle.
Considerations for canthoplasty in patients with droopy eyelids
For patients with ptosis, the palpebral fissure itself is narrowed due to the lowering of the eyelid. Canthoplasty alone may not be enough to improve the problem of limited vision. In these patients, canthoplasty alone may cause the following problems:
Increased burden on eye tissue : The extra skin tissue of a drooping eyelid may prevent the normal expansion of the canthus shape.
Inharmonious morphology after surgery : When drooping eyelids are not corrected, the enlarged canthus may cause an imbalance in the eye proportions, and even cause the upper eyelid to press on the lower eyelid.
Limited improvement in visual field : After the palpebral fissure widens, if the upper eyelid still droops, the problem of visual obstruction will still exist.
Therefore, for patients with ptosis, surgical planning needs to comprehensively consider both the restoration of eyelid function and the improvement of appearance.
Comprehensive design of surgical plan for patients with ptosis
The key to treating ptosis is to restore the function of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle and raise the upper eyelid position. Common surgical methods include:
Levator muscle repair surgery : Suitable for those with partial muscle function damage, it can lift the eyelid by repairing or strengthening the levator muscle.
Frontalis muscle suspension surgery : For those with severe muscle deficiency, the eyelids are lifted using the power of the frontalis muscle.
Removal of excess skin : Improves functional impairment caused by loose skin.
When patients have both canthus insufficiency and ptosis, eyelid lifting muscle surgery is usually performed first to restore eyelid function, and then canthoplasty surgery is performed as needed.
This staged or combined surgical plan helps to ensure the coordination and naturalness of the surgical results.
Surgical risks and recovery
Surgery for patients with droopy eyelids is relatively complex and the risks include:
① Incomplete eyelid closure after surgery may lead to dry eyes or corneal damage.
②. Asymmetrical eyelid shape.
③. Postoperative scars or functional disorders.
Therefore, a full preoperative assessment of the levator muscle function and eye structure status is the basis for formulating a surgical plan. Postoperative care is equally important, including infection prevention, swelling control, and regular follow-up visits.
During the recovery period, you should avoid strenuous eye activities and rubbing, keep the wound clean, and promote tissue repair.
Clinical case analysis
In clinical practice, patients with ptosis and narrow canthus have achieved satisfactory aesthetic and functional results by first repairing the eyelid levator muscle and then combining it with inner and outer canthus enlargement surgery. Patients reported that their visual field was significantly improved, their eyes were natural in shape, and their overall facial expression was coordinated.
On the contrary, those who simply open their eyes without correcting ptosis often experience eye discomfort and poor aesthetic results after the operation.
in conclusion
Whether patients with ptosis are suitable for canthoplasty surgery needs to be comprehensively judged based on the specific eyelid function and eye structure. Canthoplasty mainly improves the shape of the eye corner and has no direct effect on lifting the eyelid position. For those with obvious ptosis, priority should be given to repairing the muscle function, and then combined with canthoplasty to achieve an overall coordinated aesthetic effect.
Comprehensive preoperative evaluation and personalized surgical plan design can help reduce surgical risks and improve surgical satisfaction.
Beauty Encyclopedia Tips:
When patients with ptosis are considering canthoplasty, they should consult a professional doctor and conduct a detailed eye function assessment. Only by combining levator muscle function repair with canthoplasty can the comprehensive effect of improving vision and enhancing aesthetics be achieved. After the operation, they need to follow the doctor's instructions and take good care to ensure a smooth recovery.