Introduction to canthopexy surgery and methods

The presence of canthus affects the size and shape of the eyes and the effect of the eyelid, so as people become more aesthetic, more and more people are accepting and requesting canthus correction surgery, which we usually call opening the inner corner of the eye. There are two types of canthus: primary and secondary. Clinically, the canthus is divided into three types according to its alignment, namely, upper lid type, inner canthus type, and inverted type. In primary canthus, if it is accompanied by ptosis, small lid fissure, and obvious widening of the inner canthus, it is called eyelid syndrome. A combination of brow deformities is called eyelid-brow syndrome. If there is no other abnormality, the canthus is simple. Secondary canthus is most often caused by local scar contracture and pulling caused by mechanical trauma, burns, infection, etc. It is mostly unilateral and is often accompanied by damage to adjacent tissues. Generally speaking, canthopexy correction is suitable for people with severe canthus that affects the aesthetic appearance and is accompanied by deformities in neighboring areas, while simple mild canthus that does not cause any discomfort and does not affect the aesthetic appearance does not require treatment. However, as people seek to improve their appearance, more and more patients with mild canthus have the desire to improve their appearance, so there are more and more requests for endophthalmos correction along with blepharoplasty or simply endophthalmos correction. Canthopexy can be an effective solution to the problem of canthus, making the eyes larger, more attractive, and more charming. The following methods are common for canthus correction: 1. Inner canthus skin excision method: This method is suitable for patients with a small range of inner canthus. The effect of this surgical method is not very satisfactory, and it is rarely used now. 2.Y-V suture method: It is suitable for patients with light canthal redundancy. The method is to make a transverse Y-shaped incision in the medial canthus, the size of which is determined as needed, and the width of the upper and lower canthus should generally be greater than the lid cleft. The canthus is traction sutured to the nasal side, and the wound is transverse V-shaped after suturing. 3. Blair-Brown’s method: It is suitable for patients with larger medial canthal type redundancies. The method is to make an incision in the inner canthus, peeled into two triangular flaps, deep to the medial canthal ligament, the medial canthal ligament to the nasal side close suture, the two flap tips to the nasal side traction suture in the top of the transverse incision, and finally suture each skin wound edge in isin shape. 4.Ping He method: Applicable to patients with medial canthus type superfluous skin. The method is to make a gt-shaped incision in the inner canthus, peel the flap, fix a needle in the inner canthus, and loosen the superfluous skin. The skin protruding above and below the canthus is excised and then sutured into an lt shape. 5.Z-formation method: It is suitable for patients with various kinds of canthus. The method is to make a Z-shaped incision in the inner canthus, peel the subcutaneous tissue around the incision, make two triangular flaps, exchange the position of the two flaps, and then suture the skin edges. At present, there are two types of incisions: positive “Z” and negative “Z”, of which the negative “Z” method has better concealment, faster recovery, and less obvious scars. Mustarde’s method (quadruple flap surgery): suitable for patients with inverted canthus, medial canthus, combined with widened medial canthus, small lid fissure and ptosis. The method involves making four flaps in the medial canthus, exchanging positions and then suturing them together. 7. Speath flap correction method: This is suitable for patients with canthal hypertrophy combined with mild lower lid ectropion. A tongue-shaped flap is made on the medial side of the upper eyelid in the medial canthus, peeled and rotated to the skin defect area of the lower eyelid, and the wound edges are sutured so that no scar can be seen for 3-6 months.