There are several ways to open the inner canthus. Risks of opening the inner canthus

Inner canthoplasty is a very popular plastic surgery. It can achieve the effect of enlarging the eyes. It is a commonly used technique nowadays. Many women who love beauty have undergone inner canthoplasty surgery.

There are three main methods for opening the inner canthus, namely the Z-shaped method, the YV-shaped method, and the four-flap method. The specific operation method of each method is different, and the suitable population is also completely different.

1. Z-shaped eye opening method

Z-shaped inner canthus enlargement is a special flap transplantation. Through surgical techniques, the skin at the inner canthus is peeled off to form two triangular flaps. The looseness of the skin tissue is used to exchange the positions of the two triangular flaps, so that the inner canthus point is shifted inward, and the skin is sutured to fix it, so as to achieve the effect of removing the epicanthus and enlarging the inner canthus. At present, the most commonly used method in cosmetic outpatient surgery is also the "Z" shape inner canthus enlargement method. The canthus enlargement surgery is relatively simpler and has fewer incisions. When suturing the incision, choose non-invasive 6-0 or 7-0 nylon thread as much as possible to reduce the incision scar.

Suitable for people: This method is suitable for people with milder congenital epicanthus and linear scar epicanthus.

2. YV shaping method for opening the inner canthus

The YV inner canthus opening method uses a Y-shaped incision in the skin at the corner of the eye, and then a V-shaped skin flap is pushed to the front end of the Y-shaped skin flap, and then a V-shaped suture is made to shift the inner canthus point inward, so as to achieve the effect of removing the epicanthus and widening the canthus.

Suitable for people: Suitable for those who want to lengthen the palpebral fissure. In addition, this method can be used to widen the canthus and correct the epicanthus caused by congenital small palpebral fissure, orbital hypertelorism, congenital epicanthus, acquired trauma, or burns and scalds.

3. Four-flap method for opening the inner canthus

The four-flap method is to cut and separate the skin at the epicanthus to form four triangular flaps, and then use the looseness of the skin tissue to cross and interchange the positions of the triangular flaps in pairs, so that the inner canthus point moves inward, and after suturing and fixing, the effect of widening the canthus is achieved. The four-flap method was once popular for correcting epicanthus, but because there are too many incisions and obvious scars, it is rarely used for simple inner canthus correction. Only when correcting microphthalmia, the four-flap method is still a major surgical procedure for opening the inner canthus.

Suitable for people: Suitable for more serious inner canthus folds, especially microphthalmia, or inner canthus folds accompanied by ptosis, and pseudo-orbital hypertelorism, etc.

1. Risk of inner canthus opening: scars are relatively obvious

When it comes to the risks of inner canthus opening, we have to mention the scar problem. Some patients will have obvious scars left on their eyes after inner canthus opening. In fact, this is related to the direction and angle of the doctor's incision. The greater the angle of inclination, the more the dermis is damaged, and the more obvious the scar will be. In addition, the doctor's low level of suturing technology or the poor choice of suturing materials will affect the obviousness of the inner canthus opening scar. Only by finding a doctor with rich clinical experience, excellent medical skills and a sense of responsibility can this disadvantage of inner canthus opening be avoided.

2. Risk of Epicanthoplasty: Scars take longer to recover

In addition to the possibility of obvious scars after canthoplasty, another disadvantage is that the recovery period of canthoplasty scars is relatively long. This is determined by the characteristics of our body's recovery. Generally, scars will soften after 3-6 months, and the color will gradually return to normal. This is a disadvantage of canthoplasty that all doctors will face. Only by properly hiding the scars from canthoplasty can the impact of scars on the appearance of the eyes be minimized.

3. Risk of inner canthus opening resulting in unnatural appearance

There is also a risk of unnatural appearance after inner canthus opening. This is mainly related to the fact that the doctor did not combine the aesthetic basis of the three-thirds and five-eyes with the patient's facial features when designing the operation, or the patient insisted on having an exaggerated inner canthus effect. Only when the patient and the doctor cooperate well, set a reasonable and acceptable plan, and then have a professional doctor implement it scientifically according to the plan, can the risk of unnatural appearance after inner canthus opening be avoided.

4. Risks of canthalectomy: tear of lacrimal duct

After the inner canthus opening, some girls have the risk of continuous tears. This is the risk of inner canthus opening - the symptom of tear duct rupture. The inner canthus of the eye has delicate anatomical structures. If the plastic surgeon is not familiar with these eye structures when opening the inner canthus, many important tissues may be accidentally damaged, resulting in the sequela of tear duct rupture during the inner canthus opening surgery. Tears duct rupture has become a risk that is easy to occur during the inner canthus opening surgery.

5. Risk of epicanthoplasty: skin flap necrosis

Canthoplasty surgery may also cause the risk of double eyelid flap necrosis. This happens because some doctors do not have sufficient experience in canthoplasty surgery and hold the flap for too long when pulling it, causing trauma to the eye flap, or the doctor opens the flap at too small an angle, causing ischemia and difficulty in surviving the flap. Flap necrosis can easily cause new scars, and due to the special nature of the skin at the corner of the eye, scars formed by this risk of flap necrosis are difficult to repair.

6. Risk of infection after epicanthoplasty

There is also a risk of infection in inner canthus surgery. Such sequelae usually occur when the doctor fails to completely disinfect during the operation, or when the patient does not perform proper postoperative care (including failure to clean the corners of the eyes in time when there are secretions and oils). Once the eyes show any abnormality during the recovery process after inner canthus surgery, you need to see a doctor immediately.

Step 1 (cutting the skin): According to the preoperative plan, use scissors to cut the skin and conjunctiva of the outer canthus in full thickness along the horizontal direction of the outer canthus.

Step 2 (separation of tissue): Use scissors to bluntly separate the conjunctival incision upward and downward to the nasal side to loosen the conjunctival fornix.

Step 3 (formal operation): Pull the bulbar conjunctiva horizontally to the apex of the incised lateral canthus, fix it with a stitch, make intermittent sutures between the upper and lower fornix conjunctiva and the incised skin, and completely or partially cut off the lateral canthal ligament if necessary.

Step 4 (Tissue Suturing): At the newly formed outer canthus, a mattress suture is made through the conjunctiva, the needle is taken out from the outer canthus skin surface, and tied on the gauze pillow to form the (temporal) lateral fornix. When suturing the conjunctiva and skin, if the conjunctiva tension is too large, the bulbar conjunctiva can be cut vertically between the outer side of the cornea and the outer canthus to reduce the tension.

If you are afraid of pain, it is particularly important to choose an experienced and regular doctor. Only doctors with superb medical skills and skilled operation can perfectly complete the inner canthus opening surgery and minimize the pain of the patient. However, if the doctor is not professional or has little experience in clinical operation, pain will be inevitable for the patient. Since the inner canthus opening surgery must have a relatively sterile operating environment and more complete surgical equipment, we still recommend that patients go to a regular plastic surgery hospital for the inner canthus opening surgery, so as to ensure that the inner canthus opening surgery is safer and smoother.