Why is ‘fox eye surgery’ dangerous and what are the safer alternatives?
What is fox eye surgery?
If you’re tuned into the world of beauty and cosmetics and you’ve spent any time online in recent months, chances are you’ll have heard of fox eye surgery (also sometimes called ‘cat eye surgery’). Trends come and go, and one that seems to be very popular lately is the ‘fox eye’ look. This is when the outer edge of your eyebrow is lifted to extend upwards rather than following the natural brow bone. This lifts the corners of your eyes and the skin around the area, mimicking a face lift and blepharoplasty with what has been referred to as a ‘minimally invasive surgery’. So far, so good. But how is the end of your eyebrow actually lifted? How long does it last? And what are the risks?
What makes fox eye surgery dangerous?
Essentially, fox eye surgery is a thread lift which sounds pretty straightforward. The procedure was allegedly invented 50 years ago Honolulu but has grown in popularity massively in recent years. A surgeon – or more commonly an aesthetics practitioner – inserts the threads into the area using a needle. There are two types of thread that can be used: polydioxanone (PDO) threads and silhouette soft threads. PDO threads are often used in surgery to close wounds, while silhouette soft threads have small hooks on them which attach onto the skin. This attachment, described by some doctors as ‘barbed thread’, is what causes the skin to be lifted when the threads are pulled, as the thread hooks into the skin from the inside. Inserting foreign bodies into the skin doesn’t always go well, and this is only reiterated by the complications commonly associated with fox eye surgery.
Disfiguration isn’t uncommon in fox eye surgery patients as healing varies from person to person. There is no way of knowing how your body will react to the small hooks on silhouette soft threads, or to being pulled by PDO threads. Ripples and skin puckering are known side effects of fox eye surgery, as are infection and encapsulation.
Although both types of threads are supposed to dissolve naturally over the following months, many patients report being able to feel the threads through their skin. The lifting effects of the fox eye procedure are said to only really last up to a year and, with prices starting at £500, it’s hard to see how the risk and the cost could be outweighed by the benefits.
While fox eye surgery is available with aesthetics practitioners, it’s important that – as with any surgery – you have it carried out somewhere which is CQC registered, and with a surgeon who is fully qualified.
What cosmetic eye surgery alternatives are there?
As the results of fox eye surgery can vary so dramatically, if you’re looking for private cosmetic eye surgery, perhaps you could consider blepharoplasty or eyelid surgery at Optimax? We offer both of these procedures in our private clinics, with fully qualified surgeons who you can trust. Discover more about these two types of cosmetic surgery available at Optimax.
Blepharoplasty
This is also known as cosmetic eye surgery and it is one of the most popular facial procedures currently available. As you age, your skin loses some of its elasticity and stretches, as the muscles underneath weaken. Often, this leads to a hooded or sunken eye appearance accompanied by some puffiness around the area. This is a part of the face that many people feel self-conscious about, which is where blepharoplasty comes in.
During this surgery, the surgeon carefully removes the excess skin, fat and muscle from the eyelids to create a brighter, more youthful appearance. This process can be performed both on the upper and lower lids, and the surgeon will advise on which option is likely to be the best choice for you. The treatment typically takes between 1-2 hours to carry out, depending on the appearance of your eyes and how much skin you are having removed. The surgery is carried out under a local anaesthetic.
Treatment costs typically start from around £4,000 but this varies from patient to patient and is dependent on a number of factors. You will discuss pricing in more depth with your surgeon at a consultation to cover exactly what type of blepharoplasty you will have. You can read more on our dedicated website page.
Eyelid surgery
It is very common for people to experience lumps and bumps on their eyelids due to bacteria or blockages in the oil glands. Sometimes, these bumps will disappear on their own, but on other occasions they can remain and begin to interfere with your vision. They can also, depending on their position, irritate your eyes. In these cases, removal of the bumps may be necessary in order to restore unimpeded vision and prevent further irritation.
Surgery removal for these lumps is a quick, straightforward procedure carried out under local anaesthetic. It typically takes around 20 minutes to perform, during which time the lump or bump is removed and the wound repaired to aid quick healing. The cost of this surgery starts from £695 but a consultation will be required in order to determine the final price and your individual treatment plan.
You can read more about eyelid surgery at Optimax here.
If you have any questions about booking your surgery with Optimax, please give us a call on 0800 093 1110 or send us an email to enquiry@optimax.co.uk. Alternatively, you can request your free info pack to learn more about the options available. We look forward to welcoming you for a consultation soon.
