Correcting Mucosal Exposure with Lateral and Lower Canthoplasty Reversal (Lateral Canthoplasty)

Lateral and Lower Canthoplasty Reversal: Case Study

For a more open eye shape,

or to soften a sharp impression,

many people choose canthoplasty,

such as lateral or lower canthoplasty.

When canthoplasty is successful,

the desired change in eye shape can be felt,

but excessive or improperly performed canthoplasty

1. The eye gapes open in a "C" shape

2. Eyelash loss + conjunctival exposure

3. Eyelid eversion

can lead to side effects like those above.

The way to resolve these side effects is

canthoplasty reversal (lateral canthoplasty).

In this case, the outer corner of the patient's left eye gaped open,

and the lower tarsal plate, because of the lower canthoplasty,

was everted downward, exposing the red mucosa.

The outer corner of the patient's right eye was also gaping,

and the eye can be seen to be bloodshot.

At 6 weeks after outer corner restoration surgery,

the gaping outer corner has closed fully,

mucosal exposure is no longer visible,

and the corner forms a clean triangular apex.

Before the reversal, because of the lateral canthoplasty,

the corner gaped, exposing red mucosa about 4 mm in diameter,

and because of the lower canthoplasty, the lower tarsal plate ran horizontally

toward the outer corner.

After outer corner restoration surgery, the lower tarsal plate and

the upper tarsal plate were sutured precisely to each other at the outer corner,

forming a triangular apex,

and mucosal exposure is no longer visible.

The lower tarsal plate, which before the reversal ran horizontally from the front to the outer corner,

changed in direction:

after the reversal, from the middle of the tarsal plate toward the outer corner,

it angles slightly upward and looks natural.

The patient's right outer corner was less severe than the left,

but before the reversal the corner gaped

and the tarsal plate ran horizontally.

After the reversal, the outer corner is likewise cleanly closed,

and from the center of the iris, the tarsal plate

rises slightly as it runs toward the outer corner

and meets the upper tarsal plate to form a triangular apex.