Medial epicanthoplasty without a vertical scar.

Area of Science:

• Oculoplastic surgery
• Cosmetic surgery
• Asian blepharoplasty

Background:

• The epicanthal fold (Mongolian fold) in Asians can negatively impact aesthetic outcomes of eyelid surgery.
• Medial epicanthoplasty is frequently combined with double fold or blepharoptosis correction in Asia.
• Scarring is a significant concern following epicanthoplasty procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a novel epicanthoplasty technique designed to minimize scarring.
• To assess the aesthetic results and patient satisfaction compared to previous methods.

Main Methods:

• A modified epicanthoplasty technique involving an additional incision parallel to the ciliary margin was applied to 60 cases.
• Procedures were performed between December 2006 and July 2011.
• Patient and surgeon satisfaction were evaluated using visual analog scale scores.

Main Results:

• High patient satisfaction was reported, with only minor complications (1 hypertrophic scar, 4 undercorrections).
• Mean patient and surgeon visual analog scale scores were 4.6 and 4.2, respectively.
• The technique demonstrated simplicity and resulted in minimal scarring in the epicanthal area.

Conclusions:

• The described epicanthoplasty method effectively addresses the Asian epicanthal fold.
• This technique offers a solution for minimizing vertical scarring associated with eyelid surgery.
• The procedure shows potential as an effective option for Asian blepharoplasty aiming for improved aesthetics.