What is "epicanthoplasty"

n. The surgical removal of the canthal folds of the eye.

Epicanthoplasty is eye surgery to remove the epicanthal folds. It can be a challenging procedure because the epicanthal folds overlay the lacrimal canaliculi (tear drainage canals). Although an epicanthic fold can also be associated with a less prominent upper eyelid crease (a feature commonly termed "single eyelids" as opposed to "double eyelids"), and is a trait that appears more commonly in East Asian ethnicities, the two features are distinct; a person may have both epicanthal folds and an upper eyelid crease, one and not the other, or neither. Single eyelids are reshaped using Asian blepharoplasty.

Epicanthoplasty may leave visible post-surgical scar lines. A common corrective technique involves using Z-plasty.