Almond Eye Surgery in London

Key Information

PRICE

Call for more info

TIME OF PROCEDURE

2 hours

DOWNTIME

2-3 weeks

DISCOMFORT LEVEL

3 out of 5

AVERAGE SESSION REQUIRED

Not applicable

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What Is Almond Eye Surgery?

Almond eye surgery is a surgical procedure that addresses sagging of the lower lid contour, which is a common feature in many individuals and can result in a tired, sad, and withdrawn appearance. This procedure is a specialised form of blepharoplasty and must be carried out by a highly skilled oculoplastic surgeon.

Almond-shaped eyes are characterised by a slightly raised outer corner or canthus, and a lower eyelid that sits at the lower edge of the iris. Many people have the almond eye shape naturally due to ethnicity or genetics, while others may have a different shape altogether.

At The Ezra Clinic, our almond eye surgery is expertly performed by top oculoplastic surgeons, each highly skilled in this specialised form of blepharoplasty. Our commitment is to provide a seamless and supportive patient journey, from initial consultation through to aftercare. With our surgeons’ expertise, we ensure each procedure is performed with the highest standard of care, backed by cutting-edge technology. Choose The Ezra Clinic for your almond eye surgery to rejuvenate your appearance with trusted hands that value integrity and excellence in every step.

What Causes Lower Lid Sag?

There are many causes for lower lid sag and retraction, which can either be due to diseases, age, or lifestyle. The pathological causes include a variety of conditions affecting the skin, such as dermatitis, burns, and skin tumours. More often, sagging lower lids are a constitutional feature due to genetic predisposition.

Moreover, in specialised oculoplastic aesthetic practice, there is a significant number of patients with post-blepharoplasty retraction — a complication as prevalent as up to 20% in some studies. Thyroid eye disease and other forms of inflammatory orbital conditions can also cause this.

Most patients with constitutional lower lid sag are usually seen in the context of myopia, widely known as short-sightedness. Myopic eyes have a larger diameter and tend to protrude forward in what is described as a “negative vector” eye configuration. In these settings, the lower lids have less support and often appear to be sagging. It is also associated with canthal dystopia (the drooping of the outer corner of the eye), which can give rise to a lethargic or sad appearance.

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Why Is Almond Eye Surgery Carried Out?

Conventional blepharoplasty is effective at reducing excess tissue but is not able to correct changes in the shape of the lid contours. Almond eye surgery, on the other hand, focuses on changing the shape of the eye, rather than the reduction of skin and eye bags. The procedure, therefore, appeals to those seeking specialist aesthetic treatments, which is particularly the case for younger patients.

A variety of eyelid shape parameters can be changed using established treatments such as:

Ptosis correction, which is performed to raise the upper lid position in people with droopy eyelids.
Canthoplasty, which is used to lengthen the eyelid in selected cases
Levator recession, which is carried out to lower the upper lid and reduce the palpebral fissure height.

However, one of the most difficult issues to treat is lower lid sag, which often requires lower lid elevation and a change in canthal tilt. Canthal tilt, meaning the angle formed by your eyelids, can significantly impact your appearance. Almond eye surgery, therefore, represents another step in the ongoing evolution of aesthetic eyelid surgery and is a procedure that can be carried out effectively and safely.

What to Expect from Your Procedure

Your canthal lift procedure is an advanced form of treatment designed to help you feel like yourself once more. The team at the Ezra Clinic want you to feel completely comfortable before you undergo this surgical procedure.

Before Almond Eye Surgery

Before canthoplasty surgery, you will meet with a specialist here at The Ezra Clinic. They’ll perform a full examination of your eyes to ensure you’re a good fit for surgery. They’ll also need to know about any medication you’re taking and lifestyle choices such as drinking or smoking.

What our patients say

“Prof Ezra and his team provided exceptional care and professionalism throughout my surgery, inspiring confidence and making the experience highly positive.”

– Ann l

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During Almond Eye Surgery

Almond eye surgery and the correction of lower lid sag requires complex procedures with very narrow margins of error. Such procedures should only be performed by highly skilled oculoplastic surgeons, who will carry out planning and examination of the eyes themselves. The eyelid is a complex multi-layered structure so as with all eyelid surgery, this procedure requires a detailed biomicroscopic assessment of the ocular surface before proceeding.

Almond eye surgery is performed under local or general anaesthetic and involves three critical parts: lower lid septo-retractor recession, mucograft implantation, and lateral canthoplasty. The precise details of the surgery are complex, but essentially, the surgery is performed through the inside of the eyelid, leaving no noticeable scars. Through the conjunctival incision, the natural retractor bands within the eyelid itself are released, and then the spacer graft is sutured in to elevate the eyelid and prevent retractor re-attachment. A canthoplasty procedure resets the lateral canthal position, to provide further support for the eyelid and ensure that the canthal tilt (angle between medial and lateral canthi) is improved.

Mucograft is commonly used in dental reconstruction. It is a highly versatile component allowing for full integration into the inner eyelid. This lower eyelid procedure represents a novel application for this material.

If patients have skin and muscle shortage (anterior lamella), this procedure is less likely to work, as raising the lower lid in the context of skin shortage is more complex, requiring midface elevation and is generally not recommended as a primary aesthetic procedure.

Figure 1: Demonstrating the multiple layers of the lower lid. The anterior lamella is made up of skin and muscle.

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Almond Eye Surgery Before and After

After Almond Eye Surgery

Recovery after almond eye surgery is usually between 2-3 weeks. Patients will be able to go home after the procedure but should get plenty of rest and refrain from strenuous activity for the first couple of weeks. It is common to notice some bruising and swelling for 7-10 days.

For some patients, recovery may be longer as they can experience chemosis (also known as conjunctival oedema), which is a type of swelling/inflammation of the eye, particularly prevalent in myopic patients.

After surgery, until the mucograft integrates into the lower lid tissues, it maintains a hard and roughened surface. Bandage contact lenses are used in the meantime to allow for comfort, along with prophylactic antibiotics to reduce pain and swelling.

Although patients can return to work and resume normal activities after 2-3 weeks, complete healing can take several months.

Canthoplasty Results

When performed by an experienced surgeon, the results of almond eye surgery are natural and long-lasting, avoiding any drastic changes to the eyes or facial appearance. As such, most patients are happy with the outcome of the surgery.

Usually, the elevation of the lateral and central parts of the eye can be as much as 2-3mm. Although this seems like a small amount, the normal palpebral aperture is between 8-9mm, which means the change after surgery represents a remarkable improvement.

The Ezra Clinic works with discerning clients and we only provide procedures where we feel we can meet your expectations. We’ll work with you to achieve transformative results that help you regain confidence and feel at home in your skin.

Our patients select The Ezra Clinic for an exceptional treatment experience, distinguished by very high levels of care. We are committed to your complete satisfaction, offering extensive aftercare that until you are fully content with the results.

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FAQ

Canthopexy vs. canthoplasty: What’s the difference?

Canthopexy before and after images usually show very subtle changes to the tilt of the eye. The procedure uses small sutures to adjust the overall eye shape. This procedure is innefective on its own at creating any significant change to canthal position.

Canthoplasty, on the other hand, uses more complex surgery to reshape the eye, often tightening the lateral tendon of the eye and refixing the tendon to the wall of the eye socket. . The results are usually more noticeable and longer lasting.

For patients requiring significant adjustment in the lateral cantla position, we will sometimes recommend bone drilled canthoplasty, where the tendon is fixed directy to the bone of the eye socket through small drill holes.

Does almond eye surgery leave scars?

All the surgical work is done inside the eyelid so once recovery is complete, the only evidence is your new, almond-shaped eyes. The exception to this is the canthoplasty which can leave small incisions in the outer corner. These are rarely noticeable and settle well.

Is almond eye surgery safe?

Yes, when you book your procedure to make eyes bigger, surgery is safe and effective with the team at The Ezra Clinic. our consultants have trained or practiced at the world-renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital and our specialists focus solely on oculoplastic procedures. Book a consultation before committing to any procedure to fully understand the overall process.

What factors need to be considered for almond eye surgery?

If you want hunter eyes, these can be achieved through almond eye surgery with or without canthoplasty. However, we’ll look at several factors before deciding if the almond eyes operation is right for you. For example, if your eyes are set further forward than your cheeks, the results may not last. Other factors include if you have dry eyes or blepharitis. Our expert team will assess the possibilities of these conditions carefully and suggest alternative treatment and care where appropriate.