Epicanthoplasty releases the small skin fold (the epicanthus) that covers the inner corner of the eye, lengthening the visible eye opening. At Garnet it is planned and performed by one board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. In-Soo Baek, from consultation through every follow-up.
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An epicanthoplasty is an eye-surgery procedure that releases the medial epicanthal fold - the small web of skin that covers the inner corner (medial canthus) of the eye - so the inner corner is exposed and the horizontal length of the visible eye opening is increased. Because the fold is released rather than simply trimmed, the aim is a more open inner corner that still looks natural for your face.
Many East Asian eyes have a medial epicanthal fold (sometimes called a Mongolian fold) - a curved skin fold that drapes across the inner corner of the eye and partly hides the pink inner-corner tissue and the natural angle. When the fold is prominent it makes the eye look horizontally shorter and the inner corners look further apart, and it can blunt the expression of the inner eye.
Epicanthoplasty addresses this by releasing the fold and the fibromuscular band beneath it, then re-draping the skin so the inner corner is exposed. The goal is not to make the eye larger for its own sake but to restore a proportion that suits your features. Because Asian skin in this area can scar visibly, the technique and incision design are chosen to keep any mark as inconspicuous as possible (Hwang, Plast Reconstr Surg 2025; DOI 10.1097/PRS.0000000000011533).
At Garnet this is a single-surgeon operation. Dr. Baek plans the case from the consultation, performs it himself, and reviews healing at set intervals; the clinic caps the day at two surgeries so each case has unhurried time. The stated aim is to address the concern you arrived with and to keep the inner corner looking like your own, rather than to chase the maximum possible opening.
From inner-corner assessment to the two-way fold release and fine closure - every step by Dr. Baek.
A single surgeon, start to finish. Dr. Baek plans the case, performs the operation himself and reviews every follow-up. The clinic caps the day at two surgeries, so each operation has unhurried time.
Epicanthoplasty typically takes about 30-60 minutes and is usually performed under local anaesthesia, with light sedation added where appropriate for comfort; the choice is decided with you and the anaesthesia team after your history is reviewed. The steps below outline how the two-way release is carried out at Garnet.
Dr. Baek assesses the inner-corner fold, the inter-corner distance and how the eyes balance with the brow and nose, and agrees the amount of opening and the incision design with you. Whether to combine double-eyelid surgery is discussed here.
The release is marked within the margins of the medial canthus so the eventual line sits in the natural inner-corner contour. The design is tailored to your fold height and skin so the opening looks proportionate, not exaggerated.
Working through the inner-canthal release, the fold band is divided in two directions (medial and upper) so the tethering tissue no longer pulls the skin across the corner. The deeper band is addressed, not just the surface skin, which is what helps the result hold.
The skin is re-draped over the opened corner and closed with fine sutures placed to keep the line discreet. Tension is kept low, which is one of the factors associated with a finer mark over time.
Where the consultation shows it, double-eyelid surgery or a lateral canthoplasty is performed in the same sitting so the inner and outer corners and the crease balance.
Dr. Baek reviews the closure himself. Because Garnet is single-surgeon, the doctor who planned and performed your case is the one who removes the sutures and follows you up.
Garnet's inner-corner technique is registered as the trademarked Two-way™ epicanthoplasty, a two-way (medial and upper) release of the fold band. Trademark registration describes the named technique, not a superior outcome.
The medial epicanthal fold is formed by skin and an underlying fibromuscular band that tethers the inner-corner skin across the medial canthus. Simply cutting the surface skin tends to recur and to leave a more visible scar, because the band that pulls the fold across is left in place. Effective epicanthoplasty therefore works on both the skin and that deeper band, releasing the tension that holds the fold over the corner (Chen et al., BMC Ophthalmol 2025; DOI 10.1186/s12886-025-04123-7).
Garnet's technique is a two-way (medial and upper) release of this fold band, planned for each eye individually so the inner-corner shape is opened without over-correcting. The same medial-canthus principles inform the matching inner-corner work that is sometimes combined with incision double-eyelid surgery or non-incision double-eyelid surgery, where the fold and the lid crease are considered together.
| Epicanthoplasty (medial) | Lateral canthoplasty | Round-eye correction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corner addressed | Inner corner | Outer corner | Outer corner / lower lid |
| What it does | Releases the inner fold | Extends the outer angle | Reshapes a rounded or retracted lid |
| Lengthens fissure | Horizontally (inner) | Horizontally (outer) | Restores shape, not length |
| Common pairing | Double-eyelid surgery | Lower blepharoplasty | Canthoplasty / lid support |
| Typical use | Prominent inner fold | Short outer eye angle | Over-rounded or scleral-show eye |
A cosmetic lateral canthoplasty technique that preserves the lateral canthal angle is described in Arch Plast Surg 2016 (DOI 10.5999/aps.2016.43.4.316). The right corner - or combination - is individual; Dr. Baek advises at consultation, and the matching pages for lateral canthoplasty and round eye correction explain each in detail.
Epicanthoplasty is usually performed under local anaesthesia, with light sedation added where it helps comfort over a short procedure. Your medical history and any allergies are reviewed beforehand, and the plan is agreed with you and the anaesthesia team.
Because Garnet caps the day at two surgeries, the procedure is unhurried and the same surgeon who planned the case carries it out and reviews recovery - there is no separate operating doctor and no rotation of care.
Garnet is registered with Korea's foreign-patient programme; pre-operative checks, scheduling and after-care are coordinated for international visitors in English.
If an inner-corner release would over-open the eye or is not needed, or if a different combination suits you better, that is said at the consultation. Photos can be reviewed before you travel.
The epicanthoplasty line is placed within the margins of the inner corner, following the natural contour where the upper and lower lids meet, so it settles into existing creases as it heals. Asian skin in the medial-canthus area can scar more visibly than elsewhere, which is exactly why the incision is kept short, the deeper band is released to lower tension, and the skin is re-draped rather than simply excised.
Scars are permanent but are designed to be inconspicuous once mature, and most are not obvious in everyday settings. Healing varies by individual and skin type, and a small proportion of inner-corner releases settle with a more noticeable line; Dr. Baek reviews scar maturation at the 1-, 3- and 6-month visits and advises on scar care and, if ever needed, revision.
Inner-corner results are identifiable, so full before/after sets are reviewed privately at consultation with consent rather than published here. Results, recovery and suitability vary by individual and are not guaranteed.
Request before & after examples privatelyKeep the head elevated early, use cold then warm compresses as advised, take medication as prescribed, keep the area clean and dry, and keep your follow-up visits.
Rubbing or stretching the inner corners, eye make-up until cleared, strenuous exercise and bending early on, alcohol and smoking, and direct sun on the healing line.
Because epicanthoplasty releases the fold band rather than only trimming surface skin, the opening of the inner corner is intended to be a lasting structural change. Published medial epicanthoplasty series report durable lengthening of the visible fissure and high satisfaction, with revision needed in only a small proportion of cases (Hwang, Plast Reconstr Surg 2025; DOI 10.1097/PRS.0000000000011533).
Individual results depend on the original fold, skin type and how the area heals. A small number of inner-corner releases relax or scar in a way that a patient wishes to refine, which is assessed individually. The surrounding face continues to age normally, and the inner-corner result does not prevent or replace other eyelid procedures later.
Epicanthoplasty is very often planned with incision or non-incision double-eyelid surgery, since the inner corner and the lid crease shape the eye together.
Where the outer angle is also short, a lateral canthoplasty can be combined so the inner and outer corners are balanced in one sitting.
An upper blepharoplasty or ptosis work may be added where heavy or droopy upper-lid skin is part of the concern.
Where the lower lid or under-eye is also a concern, lower blepharoplasty may be planned alongside so the whole eye is considered as a unit.
Every operation carries risk. For epicanthoplasty the most relevant concern is scarring at the inner corner, because Asian skin in this area can scar more visibly; in reported series a small proportion of cases (around 1-3%) develop a more noticeable scar, and a minority seek a revision (BMC Ophthalmol 2025; DOI 10.1186/s12886-025-04123-7). Careful incision design and a tension-free closure are intended to lower this risk.
Other possible issues include over- or under-correction of the opening, mild asymmetry between the two corners, temporary redness or swelling, and, uncommonly, a need to adjust the shape. Over-opened inner corners can look unnatural, which is why Garnet plans a conservative release. These are explained individually at consultation.
What reduces risk in practice: realistic planning of how much to open, releasing the deeper band rather than only the skin, meticulous fine closure, and follow-up by the operating surgeon. Garnet's single-surgeon, low-volume model is built around exactly this kind of unhurried planning and personal after-care.
Most international patients plan roughly 7-10 days in Korea for an epicanthoplasty, so sutures can be removed by the surgeon before travel and the early swelling has settled. The coordinator confirms the timing for your specific plan, especially if you are combining it with double-eyelid surgery.
Before you travel, send clear photos (front and a relaxed close-up of the inner corners) and a note on your concern and dates through WhatsApp, LINE or the form below. You'll get an honest pre-assessment - including whether the release is worthwhile for your fold - rather than a hard sell.
Garnet is registered with Korea's foreign-patient programme and coordinates consultations, scheduling and after-care in English. After you return home, Dr. Baek can continue to review your recovery by messenger.
| Epicanthoplasty (medial) | Lateral canthoplasty | Round-eye correction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corner addressed | Inner corner | Outer corner | Outer corner / lower lid |
| What it does | Releases the inner fold | Extends the outer angle | Reshapes a rounded or retracted lid |
| Lengthens fissure | Horizontally (inner) | Horizontally (outer) | Restores shape, not length |
| Common pairing | Double-eyelid surgery | Lower blepharoplasty | Canthoplasty / lid support |
| Typical use | Prominent inner fold | Short outer eye angle | Over-rounded or scleral-show eye |
Citations are provided for general education. This page is informational and does not replace an in-person consultation; suitability, technique and recovery are individual.
Send photos and your question before you travel. An English-speaking coordinator reviews every enquiry and replies with honest guidance on whether surgery is appropriate, the likely plan and timing.
Prefer to chat now? Reach the coordinator directly: