Simple Approach to Cosmetic Medial Epicanthoplasty: A Modification of the Skin Redraping Method

Background: The medial epicanthal fold is a common ethnic trait in East Asian faces, and there is a significant demand for its correction for cosmetic reasons. Numerous epicanthoplasty techniques have been proposed; however, visible scarring and unnatural canthal shapes have been challenges. This study aimed to introduce a simpler approach for medial epicanthoplasty to address these issues and evaluate its outcomes.

Methods: From January 2020 to October 2023, 199 patients who were followed up for more than 6 months and had no history of prior medial epicanthoplasty were included in the study. The intercanthal distance (ICD) was measured from preoperative and recent medical photographs, and the ratio of the ICD to the corneal diameter was calculated for magnification correction. Postoperative complications and patient-reported aesthetic outcomes were evaluated.

Results: The medial epicanthoplasty techniques used were the elliptical excision method in 94 patients and the mini-redraping method in 105 patients. The average follow-up period was 10.8 months. The ICD measurements demonstrated a statistically significant reduction after surgery in both groups. In the elliptical excision group, 14 patients (14.9%) reported dissatisfaction with their surgical outcomes. Two patients had prominent medial vertical scars, and 12 patients reported undercorrection. In the mini-redraping group, only 4 patients reported dissatisfaction with the surgical outcome (3.8%), all owing to undercorrection. No significant postoperative complications were observed in either group.

Conclusions: With the mini-redraping method, the medial epicanthal fold can be effectively addressed with minimal complications while achieving the natural shape and symmetry of both canthi in a straightforward manner.