Three-Dimensional Z-Epicanthoplasty Retains the Depth of the Medial Canthus With Scars That Are Less Visible

Abstract

Background: Traditional coronal Z-epicanthoplasty usually generates visible scars, and V-Y advancement or skin redraping can damage the normal shape of the lower eyelid. In addition, these methods usually lead to loss of the medial canthus depth, which is important for the natural appearance of East Asians. This report aims to describe a 3-dimensional Z-epicanthoplasty that can maintain the depth of the medial canthus with fewer visible scars.

Methods: Patients who underwent 3-dimensional Z-epicanthoplasty from January 2016 to December 2019 were included. In our method, excess skin in the horizontal direction was first rotated to the vertical position and then turned inward from a coronal to a sagittal orientation to supplement the skin deficiency of the medial canthus in the sagittal orientation. The skin flap turned in the sagittal orientation and maintained the depth of the medial canthus and the natural appearance of the eye.

Results: In total, 138 patients were included, and the follow-up interval ranged from 6 to 36 months. After the surgery, the epicanthi were removed, and the shapes of the patients' eyes were significantly improved and appeared natural. The surgical scars were hidden in the sagittal orientation rather than in the coronal orientation, which cannot be seen easily. The depth of the medial canthus was well preserved without any lower eyelid destruction. Patients were satisfied with the natural appearance of the medial canthus.

Conclusions: This method could not only correct the epicanthal fold effectively with scars that are less visible but also maintain the depth of the medial canthus and make the appearance of the eye look more natural.