Epicanthoplasty: Social and historical perspectives

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Ophthalmology
• Medical History

Background:

• The epicanthus is a common eyelid feature, particularly in East Asian populations.
• Surgical correction of the epicanthus originated for congenital conditions like Down syndrome in Western medicine.
• In the last 150 years, cosmetic surgery to alter the Asian eyelid has emerged, largely driven by East Asian patients and surgeons.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the historical development and demographic trends of epicanthus surgery.
• To examine the shift in motivation from reconstructive to purely cosmetic procedures.
• To document the changing authorship in the scientific literature concerning epicanthus surgery.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of epicanthus surgery, focusing on historical context and authorship.
• Analysis of publication trends and author demographics since 1989.
• Historical research into the cultural and societal influences on eyelid surgery.

Main Results:

• Epicanthus surgery was initially developed for medical reasons in the West.
• Cosmetic eyelid surgery for the epicanthus has become predominantly performed by and for individuals of East Asian descent.
• East Asian authors have dominated the epicanthus surgery literature since 1989.

Conclusions:

• The practice and literature of epicanthus surgery have significantly shifted towards cosmetic procedures within East Asian populations.
• Cultural perceptions and Western influence appear to have played a role in the evolution of this surgical specialty.
• The trend indicates a self-driven evolution of cosmetic eyelid surgery within East Asian communities.