Almond Eye Surgery or Almond Eye Filler?
Surgery for an almond eye appearance (almond eye surgery) and the filler procedure (almond eye filler) are often confused. Both aim to make the outer corner of the eye look more upturned; however, they differ in how they work, the length of the process, how long they last and their risks.
What Is an Almond Eye Appearance?
An almond eye is an eye shape in which the outer corner sits slightly higher than the inner corner and which resembles an almond. The angle of the eye corner naturally varies from person to person. A downward-sloping eye corner can give the face a tired or sad expression. When eye shape is assessed, the face should be considered as a whole together with the eyebrows, eyelids, temples and cheekbone area.
Almond Eye Surgery
In almond eye surgery (canthoplasty or canthopexy), the ligament supporting the outer corner of the eye is tightened or reattached at a higher point; if necessary, procedures that lift the outer part of the eyebrow or the temple area and eyelid surgery are added. With this method, the position of the eye corner actually changes. The operation requires incisions, has a recovery period for swelling and bruising, and carries surgical risks. For details you can read our article Almond Eye Surgery (Canthoplasty): Process, Recovery and Risks.
Almond Eye Filler
In almond eye filler, a filler usually containing hyaluronic acid is injected into areas such as the temple, the outer part of the eyebrow or around the cheekbone to support the volume there. The position of the eye corner does not change; because the surrounding tissues are supported, the eye corner looks more upturned. The procedure is short and is usually performed with a numbing cream or local anaesthesia. The effect is temporary; how long it lasts depends on the product, the treated area and the person, and the procedure must be repeated to maintain it.
Risks of Filler
Bruising, swelling, irregularity and asymmetry may occur after filler. A rare but serious risk is the filler entering or blocking a blood vessel; this can lead to skin damage and, with treatments around the eye, to loss of vision. If sudden visual disturbance, severe pain, or whitening or discolouration of the skin occurs during or after the procedure, a doctor should be seen without delay. Hyaluronic acid fillers can be dissolved when necessary. For this reason, filler should be performed by a doctor who knows the anatomy of the area and can manage possible complications.
Main Differences
- Effect: surgery changes the position of the eye corner; filler changes the appearance by supporting the surrounding volume.
- Duration: the effect of surgery is long-lasting but ageing continues; the effect of filler is temporary and needs repeating.
- Recovery: rest is needed after surgery for swelling and bruising; after filler most people return to daily activities within a short time.
- Risks: surgery carries surgical risks, while filler carries rare but serious risks such as blockage of a blood vessel.
Which Method May Be Considered for Whom?
The surgical option may be considered in people with a marked downward slope of the outer eye corner, laxity of the lower eyelid or excess eyelid skin. Filler may be considered in people with mild volume loss around the eyes who do not want surgery. If the eyelid itself is drooping (ptosis), neither method solves this problem; for details you can read our article Drooping Eyelid (Ptosis): What Is It and How Is It Treated?. Which method is suitable is decided after an examination, once the advantages and risks have been discussed. For detailed information you can visit our almond eye surgery page.
Author: Op. Dr. Yücel Sarıaltın