Is Medial Canthoplasty Really Necessary for Me? A Complete Overview of Its Pros and Cons, Effects, and Recommended Candidates

“ I heard that you should never undergo medial canthoplasty. Is that really true?”

“Will medial canthoplasty make my appearance look harsher or cause complications?”

Many people consider cosmetic surgery because they want to make their eyes look more open and defined, but they hesitate to make a decision because of the concerns they hear from people around them or online.

Because the eyes are an area where even very subtle changes can alter the overall impression of the face, concerns about complications from medial canthoplasty can feel even more burdensome. So, is medial canthoplasty really a procedure that should always be avoided?

Misconceptions About Medial Canthoplasty

In fact, the perception surrounding medial canthoplasty was largely shaped by past trends and indiscriminate surgical practices. At one time, it was common to undergo the procedure together with double-eyelid surgery, almost as if the two were a set. The problem was that the surgery was routinely performed even on people who did not necessarily need it, without carefully considering each person’s individual eye structure and proportions.

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When medial canthoplasty was performed excessively on eyes that were not suitable for the procedure, the distance between the eyes became too narrow, making the area between the eyebrows appear crowded. In some cases, excessive exposure of the reddish inner tissue at the inner corner of the eye, known as the lacrimal caruncle, made the overall appearance look intense and harsh.

In other words, the surgical technique itself was not inherently wrong. Rather, the negative misconception arose because people who should not have undergone the procedure received it.

When Medial Canthoplasty May Be Necessary

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So, who may need medial canthoplasty, and what effects can be expected?

One of the most representative cases is a pronounced epicanthal fold, which is commonly observed among East Asians. If the inner corners of the eyes appear obstructed or rounded because of an epicanthal fold, medial canthoplasty can open up the constricting fold and help the double-eyelid crease extend smoothly and clearly from the inner corner of the eye.

In addition, medial canthoplasty works by pulling and refining the skin and structures at the inner corners of the eyes toward the nose. As a result, it can be a good solution for people who are concerned that the distance between their eyes is relatively wide, helping create more balanced proportions between the eyes and the area between the eyebrows. If the eyes look closed-in because their horizontal length is short, the procedure can also naturally extend their width and create a larger, more open appearance.

Eye Structures That Require Caution or May Not Be Suitable for Medial Canthoplasty

Conversely, there are certainly cases in which medial canthoplasty should be carefully reconsidered or avoided. These include people whose eyes are already close together or whose lacrimal caruncles are relatively highly exposed. If people with these eye structures undergo medial canthoplasty, their eyes may appear even more closely set, or their overall appearance may become excessively sharp. For this reason, the procedure is not recommended in such cases.

Factors to Consider for a Natural-Looking Improvement in the Eyes

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Medial canthoplasty is not simply a procedure that lengthens the eyes by cutting the inner corners. It is a precise surgery that must be carefully designed after comprehensively assessing various factors, including the shape and color of each person’s lacrimal caruncles, the distance between the eyes, the degree of lacrimal caruncle exposure, and harmony with the overall features of the face. When performed in the appropriate manner for the individual, it can be a highly effective cosmetic technique that refreshingly improves a closed-in eye shape and brings out the person’s natural appeal.

Therefore, if you are considering surgery, we recommend finding an experienced specialist, receiving an accurate evaluation of your internal eye structures and the degree of lacrimal caruncle exposure, and carefully determining through a thorough one-on-one consultation whether the procedure is truly necessary for you.

※ Depending on the individual, complications such as inflammation, bleeding, or scarring may occur, so a thorough consultation with the medical staff is necessary before surgery.