Epicanthoplasty with modified Y-V advancement procedure

The presence of epicanthal folds and lack of supratarsal folds are unique features in most Asian eyelids. Although many surgical procedures are available to eliminate epicanthal folds, scarring on the medial canthus is still an obstacle for surgeons to overcome. From January of 1989 to November of 1997, we used modified Y-V advancement procedures in 148 cases to correct epicanthal folds in Asian eyelids. Five of those cases involved congenital palpebral anomalies, including congenital entropion, congenital ptosis, and Down syndrome. There were few complications in our series. We believe that the modified Y-V advancement procedure causes minimum scarring on medial canthus in correcting Oriental epicanthal folds and congenital palpebral anomalies. This procedure can also be simultaneously combined with blepharoplasties and corrective procedures of eyelids.