Surgery · Inner and Outer Corners

Medial vs Lateral Canthoplasty

Two corners of the eye, two separate operations

Apgujeong, Seoul | Board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Jonghwan Choi
Inner and outer corners listed apart · KHIDI-registered for international patients

Medial or Lateral Medial or Lateral Medial or Lateral Medial or Lateral 
Define

Inner corner or outer corner

What separates a medial from a lateral canthoplasty?

The comparison in one paragraph

They work at opposite ends of the eye. The medial operation, usually called epicanthoplasty, sits beside the nose: Rewind incises the epicanthal fold inward along a design drawn against the medial canthus and closes it inward, uncovering a corner the fold was hiding, so the eye reads longer from side to side. The lateral operation sits toward the temple: mucosa at the back of the eye is removed, the inner conjunctiva is incised and the tissue is fixed to the periosteum, which changes the tail and slant of the opening. Rewind pairs the outer trim with a lower-lid trim and prices both corners separately.

Taken from Rewind's Korean surgical page on eye-opening procedures, which gives each corner its own three steps. Anaesthesia, operating time and the day stitches come out are not published there, so none of them is given on this page.

The labels muddy things. English-language searches mix epicanthoplasty, medial epicanthoplasty and medial canthoplasty for the inner corner, while lateral canthoplasty almost always means the outer one. Here, medial means the corner beside the nose and lateral means the corner toward the temple, whatever name a search result happens to use.

Which corner is holding your eye short is a reading taken at the chair. Rewind looks at how much of the inner corner the fold covers, how far apart the two corners already sit and how the lower lid and outer tail are angled; the answer is often one corner, occasionally both, sometimes neither. The inner-corner operation on its own is covered on the main epicanthoplasty page.

Consultation desk at Rewind Plastic Surgery where both corners of the eye are assessed
Fig. 01 — One examination, both corners read side by side
Result

Case photographs

Inner-corner cases from Rewind, and why no outer-corner pair appears

Both pairs below are medial epicanthoplasty. Rewind has no registered outer-corner case cleared for this page, so none is shown, and a comparison built on borrowed outer-corner photographs would say nothing about this clinic's own work. Look at the tissue beside the nose in each frame: that is where the change sits, while the outer tail was left as it was.

Rewind patients — inner corner, eye-level crop

Before a medial epicanthoplasty done as the only operation, inner corner close-up After a medial epicanthoplasty done as the only operation, inner corner close-up BEFOREAFTER
case 01
Medial epicanthoplasty alone; the outer corner was not operated
Individual results may vary.
Before a non-incisional crease combined with a medial epicanthoplasty in one session After a non-incisional crease combined with a medial epicanthoplasty in one session BEFOREAFTER
case 02
Non-incisional double-eyelid crease + medial epicanthoplasty, same session; outer corner untouched
Individual results may vary.

Rewind photographed these patients itself and the images are unretouched. They show the inner corner at the moment each after photograph was taken and do not predict how either of your corners would respond; individual results may vary. Bleeding, infection, swelling, a visible or thickened line at the inner corner, asymmetry between the eyes and a release that goes further than planned are all recognised risks, and the outer and lower trims carry their own, set out in the recovery section. A consultation with the surgeon comes first.

Corners

Side by side

How the inner and outer corner operations differ, point by point

Four questions separate the two procedures cleanly: what is cut, what the tissue is anchored to, what changes in the mirror and which eyes the clinic turns away. Rewind's own descriptions answer each of them differently at each corner.

point 01
What is incised
Inner corner: the skin of the epicanthal fold, cut inward along a line set by the medial canthus. Outer corner: the mucosa behind the eye is removed and the conjunctiva on its inner side is opened.
point 02
What holds the new shape
Rewind names no deep anchor for the inner corner; the fold is closed inward on itself. The outer trim is fixed to the periosteum, the membrane over bone, and the lower trim to fascia.
point 03
What you see change
Releasing the fold adds horizontal length where the fold was covering the eye. The outer and lower pairing opens a closed look and softens a sharp one by altering the tail and the lower curve.
point 04
When the clinic says no
Inner: eyes set close together, or pink corner tissue already prominent. Lower: a sunken eye with a full lower lid, or white already visible beneath the iris. No outer-specific exclusion is published.
Steps

Operative steps

How each canthoplasty is carried out at Rewind

Rewind publishes three steps per corner. Laid next to each other they follow the same order, design first and closure last, applied to tissue that behaves very differently at each end of the eye.

01Design

Each corner is drawn against its own landmark

The inner release is designed after the structure of the eye and the surrounding muscle are checked, with the medial canthus as reference. The outer trim is drawn to the eye's own shape and proportions, and the lower trim is positioned using the pupil as its guide.

02Medial

Medial side: releasing the fold toward the nose

The incision runs into the epicanthal fold following the canthus, and the closure follows the same line back. How far inward it travels is the central decision: a short release leaves the corner partly hidden, an over-long one draws the two corners visibly nearer.

03Lateral

Lateral side: mucosa removed, tissue fixed to the periosteum

Behind the outer corner the mucosa is taken away and the inner conjunctiva is incised. The tissue is then fixed to the periosteum and closed with the line kept to the inner surface of the lid.

04Lower

Lower lid: conjunctiva opened, tissue anchored to fascia

The lower trim, which Rewind pairs with the outer corner, opens the conjunctiva of the lower lid and fixes the tissue firmly to the fascia. The clinic describes the combined outer-and-lower work as drawing the lower lid into a new position with a suture, so a closed-looking eye appears more open.

Dr. Jonghwan Choi operating under loupe magnification at Rewind Plastic Surgery
Fig. 02 — Magnified work, whichever corner is being opened
Rewind

Why here

Why Rewind chooses between the two corners at one examination

A corner operation is small, and small operations are easy to add without asking what they are for. Rewind treats the medial and lateral procedures as answers to different complaints, so the first task at consultation is naming the complaint precisely.

01Complaint

Short and closed, or sharp and slanted

An eye that reads short because a fold hides its inner corner points one way. An eye that reads narrow at the tail, or harsh in expression, points the other. Patients often arrive asking for both corners when their photographs show only one of those findings.

02Listings

Two corners, two lines on the quote

The medial release and the outer, lower or upper trim are separate listings with their own prices. Either can be removed from a plan without disturbing the rest, and neither is folded quietly into a crease operation.

03Continuity

One surgeon reviews both corners through the settling year

Dr. Choi designs, operates and holds every review. The corners take six months to a year to settle, so the person comparing them at the end is the one who drew them at the start. International patients are supported in their own language, and Rewind is KHIDI-registered for patients from abroad.

Dr. Jonghwan Choi discussing an eye plan with a patient at Rewind Plastic Surgery
Fig. 03 — The complaint is named before a corner is chosen
Theatre

In the operating room

Where both corner operations take place in Apgujeong

Operating room at Rewind Plastic Surgery in the Richro Building, Apgujeong

Fig. 04 — Rewind's operating room, Richro Building

Procedure room prepared for surgery at Rewind Plastic Surgery

Fig. 05 — Draped and ready before either corner is marked

Rewind is on levels four and five of the Richro Building in Apgujeong, Gangnam, Seoul. Consultations run Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:00 to 19:00 and Saturday from 10:00 to 16:00, by appointment; the clinic is closed on Thursday and Sunday. Whichever corner is chosen, the medical director draws the design, performs the operation and sees you at each review.

Inner: fold incised and closed inward
Outer: mucosa removed, fixed to periosteum
Lower: conjunctiva opened, fixed to fascia
Each corner quoted as its own line
Settling: six months up to a year
Operated by Dr. Jonghwan Choi
Dr. Jonghwan Choi, board-certified plastic surgeon

Board-certified plastic surgeon

Dr. Jonghwan Choi is certified in Korea in Plastic Surgery and is the only surgeon operating at Rewind, on either corner. The clinic is a KHIDI-registered institution for international patients, Reg. M-2025-01-08-09288.

Cost

Pricing

What medial and lateral canthoplasty cost in Seoul

Inner and outer corners carry separate list prices, and a crease, where one is planned, adds its own. A quote from Rewind is the sum of the lines the examination supported and nothing beyond them.

Medial epicanthoplastyInner corner: the fold released and closed inward
₩1,200,000
Lateral, lower or upper canthoplastyOne listing covering the outer-corner trim and its lower and upper variants
₩1,200,000
Non-incisional double-eyelid creaseAdded only when the lid also needs a fold; planned on its own terms
₩1,200,000

List prices, VAT excluded, with anaesthetic fees already inside each figure. If both corners are agreed, the quote shows two lines, one per corner. Which of them applies to you, and whether a crease belongs in the plan at all, is set out at consultation.

Fit

Suitability

Which eyes suit the inner-corner operation, and which the outer

Findings that point to one corner

  • A fold covering much of the inner corner, with the brows set wide, so the eye reads short: the medial release
  • Wanting more horizontal length than the eye has naturally, where the fold is the limit: again the medial side
  • Wanting to change the angle of the eye's tail: the outer trim is the procedure the clinic lists for that
  • An expression that reads sharp, or an eye that looks closed at its lower edge: the outer-and-lower pairing
  • A crease already done, with the shape of the eye still not right: either corner, depending on which finding remains

Reasons Rewind leaves a corner alone

  • Inner corners already close together, since a release shortens that distance further
  • Pink caruncle tissue that already shows sharply at the inner corner
  • A sunken eye with a thick lower lid, which a lower trim can make look puffier
  • White already showing beneath the iris, which a lower trim can increase
  • Pregnancy, an active eye infection, or medication and conditions that affect bleeding and healing
After

Recovery

Recovery after medial and lateral canthoplasty compared

Rewind gives one instruction and one timescale for all of its corner operations: keep hands away from the operated area, and allow at least six months, up to a year, for a natural and stable result. What differs between the two corners is where the healing line sits and how much of it you can see along the way.

Early period
Hands off both corners
Rubbing or touching the operated corner is to be avoided for a period after surgery. Take particular care removing eye make-up, which is where the instruction is most often broken.
While it heals
Different lines in different places
The inner-corner line lies on skin beside the nose and can be seen as it matures. The outer and lower trims are opened from the conjunctival side, so their incisions face inward.
Six months
First fair comparison
Rewind treats six months as the minimum before the shape counts as settled. If both corners were operated, compare them at the same time point, since either may still be moving before this.
Twelve months
Final shape, and any adjustment talk
Stabilisation can take a full year. Discussion of adjusting either corner belongs after that, following a re-examination by the surgeon.

Any surgical procedure carries risk. At the inner corner the named risks include bleeding, infection, swelling, asymmetry between the eyes, a scar that thickens or remains easy to see, and an inner corner opened more than planned. For the lower trim, Rewind warns that a sunken eye can look puffier and that visible white beneath the iris can increase. How much of an outer-corner change holds as the tissue settles varies between individuals. Tell the surgeon about every earlier eye operation and any regular medication before a date is set.

Doctor

Professional

At Rewind, one board-certified plastic surgeon carries every case — from the first consultation to the final follow-up. Because a face is a story, and a story deserves a single author.

Dr. Jonghwan Choi, board-certified plastic surgeonRewind,
Dr. Jonghwan Choi presenting at an academic session
Fig. 06 — Academic presentation, thread-lifting session

Rewind's Doctor

Dr. Jonghwan Choi Medical Director

One surgeon, from the first
consultation to the last follow-up.

A board-certified plastic surgeon devoted to anti-aging lifting — with the precision and restraint built through years of craniofacial practice.

Board-certified plastic surgeon (Plastic Surgery)
10 peer-reviewed publications
Medical Director, Rewind Plastic Surgery
Korean Society of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeons
Former chief director, Apgujeong Y&T Plastic Surgery
Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
J Craniofac Surg · JKMS · Arch Craniofac Surg
Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association
Ask

Questions

Medial vs lateral canthoplasty: questions about choosing a corner

Which corner procedure makes the eye look longer from side to side?
The inner-corner release. Rewind describes it for eyes where the epicanthal fold covers much of the inner corner and leaves the eye short and closed; uncovering that corner adds visible horizontal length. The outer and lower trims change the slant of the tail and the lower curve. How much length is available depends on how much corner the fold hides.
Is medial canthoplasty another name for epicanthoplasty?
In everyday searches, usually yes. Both terms are used for the inner-corner operation that releases the epicanthal fold, and medial epicanthoplasty is the more precise label. Lateral canthoplasty refers to the outer corner. If a quote or an article uses these words loosely, ask which corner, nose side or temple side, is actually being operated on.
My eyes look sharp and narrow at the tail. Is that an outer-corner question?
Possibly. Rewind lists the outer trim for patients who want to change the angle of the eye's tail, and describes the outer-and-lower pairing as softening a sharp impression. A short eye hidden by an inner fold is a different finding. The surgeon checks both ends of the eye before recommending either operation, or neither.
Can the inner and outer corners be operated in one session?
They are separate listings, so a plan can include one, the other or both, and the quote shows each as its own line. Whether both belong in your plan depends on the examination and the findings at each corner. Both follow the same settling window of six months to a year, so they are judged together at the end.
Can one corner be suitable while the other is ruled out?
Each has its own refusal criteria. The inner release is advised against for close-set eyes and for prominent pink tissue at the corner. The lower trim is advised against for a sunken eye with a thick lower lid, and where white already shows beneath the iris. A plan can therefore keep one corner and drop the other.
Where does each corner operation leave its scar?
The inner-corner incision is made in the skin of the fold beside the nose, where a line is readily noticed while it matures. The outer and lower trims are opened through the conjunctiva, on the inner surface of the lid. How any individual line heals cannot be promised, and scar risk at the inner corner is discussed before surgery.
What holds each corner in its new position?
Rewind fixes the outer-corner tissue to the periosteum, the thin membrane covering bone, and the lower trim to fascia. The clinic names no deep anchor for the inner corner: the fold is incised inward and closed inward on itself. That difference is part of the reason the two are planned and priced separately.
If both corners are operated, when can the result be judged?
Not early. Rewind gives at least six months, and up to a year, for a natural and settled result, and the two corners may not settle at the same pace within that window. Compare them against each other only after six months, and keep any conversation about adjustment until the year has passed.
Voices

Google Reviews

What our patients say.

G 5.0 ★★★★★ 51 Google reviews · Rewind Plastic Surgery, Apgujeong — live-synced from Google Business Profile
★★★★★

Came to REWIND to get my facial treatment and i'm absolutely obsessed about it💞 the doctor is so kind and is an expert! Everyone must visit!

YunHee Hong2 weeks ago
★★★★★

There are just way too many cosmetic clinics in Korea and I'm so happy I found Rewind Clinic in Gangnam. Dr. Choi was so kind and patient while explaining the different face-lifting options, from threads to mini-lifts to deep-plane lifts…

J. S.5 months ago
★★★★★

I found Rewind clinic through a Korean chat forum and many local clients highly recommended it. The clinic is brand new, featuring large, clean rooms and many private waiting areas so it doesn't give off that "factory" clinic vibe. All the…

J. Siou5 months ago
★★★★★

Really nice environment. Doctor is easy to communicate and understands my visions. Waited two weeks to make a review and I confirm the results exceeded my expectations and I am super happy with it. Can't wait to come back!! :))

Kristie Chu5 months ago
★★★★★

I received a thread lift at Rewind Plastic Surgery. The clinic was clean and the atmosphere was comfortable. The consultation was thorough, and I felt confident because they kindly explained everything tailored to my facial condition. They…

한주연2 weeks ago · Translated by Google
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Location
Apgujeong, Gangnam
4F & 5F, Richro Building,
812 Nonhyeon-ro,
Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Hours
Mon·Tue·Wed·Fri 10:00–19:00
Sat 10:00–16:00
Closed Sundays & Thursdays
Lunch 12:00–13:00
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consultations available
Registration
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Reg. M-2025-01-08-09288

Scientific evidence

Journal papers on inner- and outer-corner canthal surgery

One paper deals with an inner-corner design that avoids a vertical line, one with outer-corner surgery intended to lengthen the lateral angle, and one with complications in the crease surgery these corners are often planned beside. Each describes its authors' own technique and patients. None is a study of Rewind, and none predicts how your own corners would respond.