Fox Eye, Cat Eye & Almond Eye Surgery

"Fox eye", "cat eye" and "almond eye" are not medical terms. They describe a look: the outer corner of the eye and the tail of the brow sitting a little higher, so the eye appears more lifted and elongated. Different procedures can create that look. Some reshape the outer corner of the eye itself, some lift the brow and temple, and some use threads whose effect is temporary.

This page explains those options honestly, so you can discuss fox eye surgery in Turkey with a clear idea of what each one can and cannot do. Plastic Surgery Turkey Group (PSTG) plans your treatment and coordinates your trip; the procedure is carried out at a contracted healthcare institution authorised for international health tourism in Istanbul or Antalya, and the treating surgeon decides which approach, if any, suits you.

Eye-corner and brow-tail lifting sits alongside the other face procedures in our plastic surgery guide.

Who is a good candidate#

These procedures tend to suit adults in good general health who:

• have outer eye corners that tilt downwards, naturally or with age;
• have a brow tail that has dropped, creating heaviness or hooding at the side of the upper lid;
• want a moderate lift at the outer eye and brow, in keeping with their own features.

Extra caution is needed, or a different plan may be advised, if you:

• have prominent eyes or a loose lower lid, as tightening the outer corner can pull the lower lid down;
• have dry eye, active thyroid eye disease or other eye conditions;
• have a bleeding disorder, take blood thinners that cannot be paused, or smoke and cannot stop for the period advised;
• have an active skin infection in the temple or brow area (for thread techniques);
• are under 18, pregnant or breastfeeding;
• are hoping to recreate a filtered or photo-edited look, or a shape your bone structure cannot support.

How much lift is possible depends on the shape of your eye socket, the laxity of your lids and the quality of your skin. If most of the heaviness comes from excess eyelid skin rather than the brow or eye corner, eyelid surgery may address it more directly. If the concern is sagging across the cheeks and jawline, a facelift deals with a different layer altogether.

Techniques and options#

Surgical lateral brow lift (temporal lift)#

Small incisions are made inside the hairline at the temples. The surgeon lifts the tissues of the outer brow and temple and secures them to a firmer, deeper layer. This raises the tail of the brow and softens hooding at the side of the eye, which is what most people mean by a surgical "fox eye" look. It does not change the shape of the eye opening itself. Results last considerably longer than threads, although the tissues continue to age. The temporal lift page covers this procedure in more detail.

Canthopexy#

In a canthopexy, the tendon that anchors the outer corner of the eye is tightened or re-anchored without being cut. It gives support and a subtle lift, and is often used to create a softer, more almond-shaped outline or to support the lower lid during eyelid surgery.

Canthoplasty#

In a canthoplasty, the tendon is released and re-attached in a new position. This changes the shape and angle of the outer corner more clearly and is the procedure often marketed as "cat eye" surgery. It is more powerful than a canthopexy, and it also carries more risk and a longer recovery. Changes to the eye corner are not easily undone, so this option needs careful discussion.

Thread lift#

Absorbable barbed threads are inserted through tiny entry points in the temple or hairline and used to pull the brow tail upwards. It is done under local anaesthesia and recovery is short, but the effect is temporary. As the threads dissolve and the tissues relax, the lift usually fades over months rather than years, and repeat treatment is needed to maintain it. Threads cannot remove excess skin.

Almond eye and combined approaches#

What is called almond eye surgery is usually a combination: a canthopexy or canthoplasty, sometimes with lower eyelid work, aimed at a balanced shape rather than a strong upward tilt. Many plans combine a brow-tail lift with eyelid surgery. For some people, a doctor may suggest trying a temporary non-surgical option first, such as muscle-relaxing injections that give a small lift to the brow tail.

How the procedure is carried out#

Your surgeon first examines your brows, lids, eye corners and eye health, and agrees with you on the degree of lift that looks natural for your face. Markings are made with you sitting upright.

• Thread lift: local anaesthesia; usually under an hour.
• Surgical brow-tail lift, canthopexy or canthoplasty: local anaesthesia with sedation, or general anaesthesia, as the surgeon and anaesthetist decide; typically around one to two hours, and longer when combined with eyelid surgery or other procedures.

Incisions are closed with fine sutures or, in the hairline, sometimes with small clips. You may return to your hotel the same day or stay one night, depending on the procedure and anaesthesia.

Recovery and results#

After a thread lift, swelling, tenderness and some bunching of the skin at the temples are common for the first days to a couple of weeks. You are usually asked to avoid wide mouth opening, facial massage, sleeping face-down and strenuous exercise for a few weeks so the threads can settle.

After surgery, recovery typically looks like this:

• First days: swelling, bruising and a feeling of tightness around the eyes and temples. Cold compresses and keeping your head raised help.
• About a week to ten days: sutures or clips are removed, depending on the technique.
• First few weeks: the corners can look more pulled or tighter at first, which usually relaxes as swelling settles. Strenuous exercise is typically avoided for two to three weeks, or as your surgeon advises.
• Following months: scars fade and the tissues soften into their final position.

Results differ by technique. A surgical brow-tail lift is long-lasting but does not stop ageing. Canthal changes can relax somewhat over time. Thread results are temporary by design.

Risks and limitations#

Risks shared by these procedures include swelling, bruising, infection, asymmetry and a result that is more or less lifted than planned. There are also technique-specific risks:

• Canthoplasty and canthopexy: rounding or webbing of the outer corner, the lower lid being pulled down, dry or irritated eyes, loss of the correction over time, and the need for revision surgery.
• Surgical brow-tail lift: scarring in the hairline, some hair thinning along the incision, numbness or altered sensation of the scalp, and, rarely, weakness of the nerve that raises the brow.
• Thread lift: dimpling or puckering, threads that can be felt or seen, a thread working its way out through the skin, infection, and early loss of the lift.

It is also worth being clear about limits. None of these procedures changes the bone structure around the eye, and an exaggerated upward tilt can look unnatural or affect how the lower lid sits. Because the fox eye look is partly a trend, it helps to think about how you would feel about the result in ten years.

Planning your treatment in Turkey#

For a preliminary online assessment, send clear photos of your face from the front and at three-quarter angles, with your eyes open and relaxed, looking up, and smiling, taken in good light without makeup. Include your medical history, any eye conditions and your medications. After the medical assessment you receive a written treatment plan and quote.

Length of stay depends on the technique. A thread lift may need only a few days, while surgical options usually call for around a week, so the surgeon can check you and remove sutures before you fly. PSTG coordinates pre- and post-operative consultations, a 4–5-star hotel, airport and clinic transfers, a personal interpreter or assistant, 24/7 support, post-operative medication, follow-up appointments and virtual follow-up once you are home.

For background on the look itself, see our article on fox eye lift surgery in Turkey. If you are still deciding whether to have surgery abroad, our guide on what to check before plastic surgery in Turkey is a useful starting point.

Where treatment takes place#

Treatment takes place at a contracted, licensed healthcare institution authorised for international health tourism in Istanbul or Antalya. The treating surgeon examines you, recommends a technique and makes every clinical decision. PSTG, a health-tourism intermediary affiliated with TÜRSAB, coordinates your plan, travel and aftercare.

If you would like to know which of these options, if any, fits your eyes and your goals, you can send your photos for a free, no-obligation assessment. You will get a straightforward explanation of what is realistic, including when a temporary or less invasive option makes more sense.