Aesthetic Lateral Canthoplasty: a Gray Line Split Approach.

[BACKGROUND] Many women in Asian countries chase larger and brighter eyes, but to most Asian people only double eye plasty and epicanthoplasty is not enough. As a result, aesthetic lateral canthoplasty, another procedure to lengthen the palpebral fissure, is becoming more and more popular. However, the current procedure of aesthetic lateral canthoplasty has many potential complications, restricting the wide application of this procedure.

[METHODS] Here, the authors developed a minimally invasive method through gray line split and canthopexy to achieve lateral canthoplasty. Eighty-seven patients from February 2013 to January 2016 were included and had the procedure. The lengthen of the palpebral fissure was measured and photographs were also taken before the surgery and in the follow-up periods. Besides, the complications related to this procedure were also investigated.

[RESULTS] The authors have performed aesthetic lateral canthoplasty in 87 patients, almost all of the follow-up patients have satisfactory results with a lengthen of palpebral fissure ranging from 2.3 to 4.2 mm. Through the long-term follow-up the authors found the lengthen of the palpebral fissure is stable. No serious complications like lacrimal system fistula or hypertrophic scars emerged except 1 patient with conjunctival exposure.

[CONCLUSIONS] Through this gray line split method, the authors can acquire larger and brighter eyes without serious complications. The authors think that this is a good method and worthy of promotion.