Eyes
Canthoplasty in Korea
Canthoplasty, or outer eye corner surgery, opens the outer corner so the eye looks longer; lower canthoplasty lowers the outer lower lid to soften an upturned look. Each takes 30 minutes to 1 hour with sedation, and you go home the same day. Expect stitch removal on day 5 to 7 and a 5 to 7 day stay in Seoul.
Who is a good candidate for canthoplasty?
- You would like your eyes to look longer toward the outer end, or they still look closed in after double eyelid surgery
- The outer ends of your eyes tilt up sharply, so you look stern or fierce when you are not
- Little of the colored part of the eye shows, and the eye looks small from top to bottom
- You cannot have inner corner surgery because your eyes are already close together, but the inner corner looks covered
When it may not be the right choice
- Your eyes are prominent or your lower lid is loose. The lower lid is then more likely to pull down after lower canthoplasty, and the surgeon may advise against it
- There is little space at your outer corner. The eye can only be lengthened a little, so the change may be small
- You have dry eye that is not under control, or a current eye infection
Which method fits you?
Canthoplasty covers several operations on different parts of the eye corner. Some people have one, others combine two or more, often with double eyelid surgery. The surgeon chooses after looking at your eye shape, the tilt of the corner and how firm your lower lid is.
| Method | What happens | Suits | Downtime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lateral canthoplasty | A small cut at the outer corner releases the tissue there and sets the corner a little further out. | Eyes that look short or closed in at the outer end | About a week before daily life, with stitches out on day 5 to 7 |
| Lower canthoplasty | The outer part of the lower lid is released and set a little lower, so the eye looks rounder from top to bottom and the upward tilt softens. | A sharp upward tilt at the outer end, or little of the eye showing from top to bottom | Stitches out on day 5 to 7. The lower lid can feel tight while it heals |
| Upper canthoplasty | The surgeon works on the skin that covers the upper inner part of the eye, instead of lengthening the corner toward the nose. | Eyes that are close together, where inner corner surgery is not advised, but the inner end looks covered or pointed | Stitches out on day 5 to 7 |
| Combined (dual or four-way) | Two or more of these, sometimes with epicanthoplasty, done in one operation. | Eyes that look short both across and from top to bottom | More swelling than one corner alone. Ask how it changes your stay |
What happens on the day of canthoplasty?
- Consultation. The surgeon checks the shape and tilt of each corner, the space at the outer corner and how firm your lower lid is, then marks the plan.
- You have sedation, so you are drowsy and relaxed.
- The surgeon releases and resets the corner through a small cut and closes it with fine stitches. One corner procedure takes 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- You rest until the sedation wears off, then head back to your hotel the same day with sunglasses on.
What is recovery like after canthoplasty?
- Days 1 to 3
- The corners are swollen and bruised, and the outer ends can look red. Use cold packs, sleep with your head raised and keep from rubbing your eyes.
- Days 5 to 7
- The stitches come out. The corners still look puffy, and the lower lid can feel tight after lower canthoplasty.
- Weeks 1 to 4
- Most people go back to daily life after about a week. Swelling keeps going down, and the shape of the corner can shift slightly from week to week.
- Months 3 to 6
- The scar fades and the corner settles. Some of the opening can shrink back as it heals, so the outcome is judged at this stage.
How long should you stay in Seoul after canthoplasty?
Corner surgery needs only the stitch check, so 5 to 7 days in Seoul is enough for canthoplasty on its own: you can fly once the stitches are out, between day 5 and day 7. The clinic lists no other follow-up visits. When canthoplasty is part of a combined plan, such as double eyelid surgery with dual canthoplasty, the operation with the latest stitch day sets your flight. Sunglasses help with glare and cover any bruising on the way home.
What are the risks of canthoplasty?
- Swelling, bruising and redness at the corners in the first one to two weeks
- The opened corner closing up again as it heals, so the change is smaller than planned and a further operation may be discussed
- After lower canthoplasty, the lower lid can drop too far, leaving white showing under the iris (scleral show), or turn outward (ectropion)
- Pink inner lining showing at the outer corner, or a corner that looks rounded rather than pointed
- A visible scar, or corners that look different from each other
- Dry or irritated eyes, watering, infection, and the risks of sedation
- Rarely, bleeding near the eye can affect sight. If vision blurs suddenly or you have severe pain, get emergency care first, then tell the clinic
What affects the cost of canthoplasty in Korea?
We do not list a canthoplasty price yet. The clinic quotes after looking at photos of your eyes. Which corners are treated changes the quote most, along with combining it with double eyelid surgery or epicanthoplasty. The written quote should name the surgeon, list each corner procedure separately, and say how stitch removal is arranged.
More questions
Can the outer corner close up again after canthoplasty?
It can. As the wound heals, scar tissue can pull the opened corner back, so part of the change is lost. Surgeons fix the corner in different ways to reduce this, and a re-opening is possible later. Ask the surgeon how they handle it.
Is lower canthoplasty safe if my eyes are prominent?
It needs extra care. With prominent eyes or a loose lower lid, the lid is more likely to pull down or turn outward after surgery. The surgeon checks how firm your lower lid is and may suggest a smaller change or a different plan.
Can men have canthoplasty to soften upturned eyes?
Yes. Lateral and lower canthoplasty are also done for men whose eyes tilt up sharply and look fierce. Tell the surgeon how much softening you want, and ask how the change will look on your face.
Can canthoplasty be done with double eyelid surgery?
Yes, and it often is. The crease and the corners are planned together, so the eye shape stays balanced. A combined plan means more swelling for the first week.
Related procedures
Sources
- Clinic figures as published by Urban Plastic Surgery, collected October 3, 2026. Your surgeon confirms your own plan.
- Canthoplasty. EyeWiki, American Academy of Ophthalmology
- Cosmetic Lateral Canthoplasty: Preserving the Lateral Canthal Angle. PubMed Central, US National Library of Medicine
- The Evolution of Looks and Expectations of Asian Eyelid and Eye Appearance. PubMed Central, US National Library of Medicine
- Eyelid Surgery Risks and Safety. American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Cases and clinic figures come from our partner clinic, Urban Plastic Surgery. The partnership does not change what we publish about risks and recovery.