Your eyes are often the first thing people notice when they look at you. Therefore, feeling confident about the appearance of your eyes is important. Aesthetic issues around the eyes, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and skin sagging—usually a result of natural aging and lifestyle factors—damage this confidence. These issues can also cause both cosmetic and functional issues. Several cosmetic procedures can address these issues, but two of the most popular are blepharoplasty and canthoplasty. You may wonder, what is the difference between canthoplasty and blepharoplasty? Below, you will find helpful information about the procedures that will help you determine which one is right for you.
What Is the Difference Between Canthoplasty and Blepharoplasty?
With so many people looking for ways to address functional and cosmetic eye concerns, cosmetic and reconstructive eye surgeries have become increasingly popular. Canthoplasty and blepharoplasty are two common procedures that address eye issues. They are similar in the sense that they both improve your eye area. However, they have a few unique differences. Consider the following information about canthoplasty and blepharoplasty below.
What Is Canthoplasty?
Canthoplasty is a surgical procedure that improves the shape and tightness of the outer corner of the eye. The outer corner is known as the lateral canthus. It is the area around your eye where the upper and lower eyelids meet. The specialized surgical procedure enhances the area by creating a more defined, almond-like shape by lifting the skin in that area.
The surgery tightens and repositions the tendons and tissues around the lateral canthus. A skilled oculoplastic surgeon carefully enhances the outer corner of the eye. This results in an improved look for your overall eye. It also improves the function of the eye as it provides eyelid support. Due to how delicate the eye area is, it is necessary to work with a skilled and experienced surgeon.
Candidates for Canthoplasty
Canthoplasty addresses functional and cosmetic issues around the eye with very noticeable improvements to the shape of your eye, so candidates should have severe, prominent aesthetic or functional issues on the outer corners of the eyes if they are going to undergo the surgery. If you do fall into this category, you will find that the surgery has reduced many unwanted symptoms caused by issues with your lateral canthus.
Functional Improvements From Canthoplasty
Canthoplasty offers functional improvements for certain candidates. Those who have lower eyelid drooping or laxity may suffer from eye irritation and excess tearing. It may also be difficult to fully close the eyes. These eye issues can lead to even more problems, including dry eyes and infection. Unwanted symptoms can leave people feeling insecure and may isolate themselves, which can have profound impacts on your quality of life and overall well-being.
Cosmetic Improvements From Canthoplasty
Canthoplasty can have a dramatic impact on your appearance. These many cosmetic benefits are the reason so many candidates opt for the procedure. Canthoplasty can provide a more youthful look as it lifts and elongates the eyes. The procedure is also beneficial for addressing eye asymmetry. For those with droopy eyelids, especially around the outer corners, this procedure offers effective results.
What Is Blepharoplasty?
Blepharoplasty is a common eyelid procedure. It is highly effective and provides amazing results. The procedure enhances the appearance of your eyes. The aging process and certain lifestyle factors can result in fine lines, wrinkles, and skin sagging. In addition to the cosmetic benefits, the procedure is also beneficial in addressing functional issues impacting the eyes. Sometimes, sagging skin can impact your vision, which can make daily activities like reading or driving much more difficult.
Blepharoplasty can be performed on your upper eyelids, lower eyelids, or both. In each case, blepharoplasty removes excess skin, fat, and muscle from the eyelids to create a much smoother appearance around your eyes. Specifically, the removal of the excess muscle and fat in the eyelid area lessens the appearance of puffiness around your eyes. The procedure also includes the tightening of muscles on the upper eyelid, which lifts the lids more and creates a more wakeful appearance. All together, the aspects of the procedures can make candidates look many years younger.
Candidates for Blepharoplasty
Because blepharoplasty addresses drooping and sagging of the upper and lower eyelids, candidates for this procedure should have cosmetic or functional issues related to that area of the skin.
Functional Improvements From Blepharoplasty
Upper eyelid skin sagging can droop down over your eye and cause issues with your vision. It can impact your daily life and make everyday tasks like reading and driving much more difficult. Upper eyelid sagging can also cause headaches as a result of needing to constantly raise one’s eyebrows to be able to see things without obstruction. Blepharoplasty can easily address these issues and improve the overall quality of life of candidates.
Cosmetic Improvements From Blepharoplasty
Natural aging and certain lifestyle habits can lead to signs of aging around your eyes. Such signs include fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin, which can impact both the upper and lower areas of your eyes. Excess skin on the upper eyelids can leave you looking tired and angry. Excess skin on the lower lids makes you look much older than you are. In addition to skin sagging, fine lines and wrinkles age you. They often appear around your eyes first as the skin is much more delicate. Blepharoplasty can address and improve the signs of aging around your eyes.
Key Differences Between Canthoplasty and Blepharoplasty
While canthoplasty and blepharoplasty both address issues with your eyes, they are uniquely different in several ways. To determine which procedure is right for you, you should consult with a skilled oculoplastic surgeon. Consider the key differences between the procedures below.
Surgical Technique
The surgical techniques are uniquely different between canthoplasty and blepharoplasty. Canthoplasty addresses the lateral canthal tendon specifically. The procedure tightens and repositions the outer corner of the eye. It improves the structure and shape of the eye.
Blepharoplasty involves the removal of skin, fat, and muscle around the eyes via a number of small incisions at the target area. The location of the incision depends on if you are getting upper blepharoplasty, lower blepharoplasty, or both. The procedure is focused on surface-level improvements that reduce the signs of aging around the eyes.
Purpose of the Procedure
Several different types of procedures can enhance and improve the area around the eyes. Despite the same area being addressed, there are different purposes for canthoplasty and blepharoplasty. The purpose of canthoplasty is to reshape and reposition the outer corner of the eye to enhance its appearance. However, it also improves functional issues that worsen vision and create additional unwanted symptoms.
The purpose of blepharoplasty is to reduce the signs of aging that make people look much older than they are. Some of the most common targets for the procedure are puffiness, wrinkles, and under-eye bags. Eyelid sagging that impedes your vision can also be addressed.
Procedure Results
The results of both procedures are significant yet subtle. Both offer a natural improvement to your overall appearance. However, canthoplasty offers a noticeable change in the shape of the eyes. It offers a defined and lifted appearance. It also improves the stability of the lower eyelid.
Blepharoplasty offers noticeable results that are mostly seen around the eyelids. For those who get lower blepharoplasty, the under-eye area is also noticeably improved. The results leave you looking younger, more awake, and refreshed by getting rid of noticeable issues around the eyes.
Combining Canthoplasty and Blepharoplasty
Canthoplasty and blepharoplasty can be combined. Patients can be good candidates for both procedures. In fact, getting both can optimize your results and leave you with both cosmetic and functional benefits. Combining the procedures provides comprehensive results that will leave your eyes looking better than ever. Patients often notice a more balanced, youthful, and refreshed appearance. They also report an increase in self-confidence due to the results.
In addition to the benefits of the results, combining the procedures also reduces your recovery time and risks. Two separate procedures can result in recovery periods that are around two weeks each. Combining them allows you to recover in just two weeks. The reduced risk of going under anesthesia or sedation twice is also a major benefit. You also get to see your results much faster. Addressing the functional issues can reduce your unwanted symptoms and quickly improve your enjoyment of life.
Schedule A Consultation
The first step in moving forward with canthoplasty or blepharoplasty is scheduling a consultation. Consult with a skilled oculoplastic surgeon who has experience in canthoplasty and blepharoplasty. The oculoplastic surgeon can assess your eyes and determine if you are a good candidate for one or both of the procedures. At the appointment, be sure to ask any questions that you have and share your expectations for the treatment. Your surgeon will use this information to curate a specific treatment plan to address your specific aesthetic goals.
If you are interested in either blepharoplasty or canthoplasty, contact the team at Taban MD Oculoplastic Surgery to schedule a consultation.