A fox eye lift gives the outer eye corners and brow tails a subtle upward angle. Surgical options such as canthoplasty suit healthy adults with good lower-lid support and last years; threads are temporary. Plan about 7 days in Istanbul.
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“Fox eye” is a popular name, not a medical term. It describes outer eye corners that sit slightly higher than the inner corners, with brow tails that sweep gently upward. Surgeons call this angle the canthal tilt, and a fox eye lift aims to restore or gently raise it so it suits your face.
| Procedure time | Typically 1–2 hours; longer when combined with eyelid or brow surgery |
|---|---|
| Anaesthesia | Local anaesthesia with sedation, or general anaesthesia |
| Hospital stay | Usually day-case |
| Recommended stay in Istanbul | About 7 days |
| Stitches | Removed around day 7 |
| Back to desk work | Usually 7–10 days |
| Social downtime | Visible bruising and swelling mostly settle in 2–3 weeks |
| Exercise | Walking from day 1; strenuous exercise after about 3–4 weeks |
| Full recovery | About 4–6 weeks |
| Final shape | Around 3 months |
| Anticipated results | Long-lasting (surgical options: years); thread lifts usually months |
Canthal surgery changes a delicate support structure. If the anatomy is not right, your surgeon will say so and may suggest a less invasive route.
Three options are surgery: lateral canthoplasty, canthopexy and a lateral brow-tail lift. Thread and toxin lifts are not surgery, and cannot change the eye corner itself.
Through a small outer-corner incision, the surgeon releases the canthal tendon, shortens it if needed and re-anchors it slightly higher on the orbital rim. It is reserved for anatomy that supports it.
The existing tendon is tightened and lifted with sutures, without cutting it. Recovery is often gentler, and it is commonly combined with lower blepharoplasty.
Short incisions hidden in the temporal hairline let the surgeon lift and fix the outer brow and temple tissue. It does not touch the eye corner.
Not surgery: a thread fox eye lift and a toxin brow lift only lift the brow tail temporarily — see the comparison below. For more on the brow tail, read our temporal and lateral brow lift article.
Fox eye surgery at Vivid Clinic is planned around three structures. These are the tendon that anchors the outer corner, the lower-lid support and the brow-tail position.
Sitting upright, corner and brow-tail position marked for symmetry.
Local with sedation, or general anaesthesia for combined surgery.
Canthoplasty or canthopexy through a small outer-corner incision, if planned.
Small temporal hairline incisions; tissue elevated and fixed, if planned.
Fine stitches; lubricating ointment protects the eye.
Cold compresses and a short rest, then back to your hotel.
Day 1
A VIP transfer takes you from the airport to your hotel, where your patient coordinator welcomes you. Interpreter support is available.
Day 2
A face-to-face check of canthal tilt, lid laxity and tear film, then blood tests and surgery at the partner hospital. Most patients return to the hotel the same day.
Days 3–6
A wound check at Vivid Clinic on day 3, with your eye drop and ointment routine explained. Then head elevation, cold compresses and gentle walks.
Day 7
Stitches are removed, and corner position and eye closure are checked before you fly. The 24/7 support line stays available at home.
With your eyes relaxed and open, a plastic surgeon reviews your canthal tilt, lid support and brow position. You hear whether surgery, threads or no treatment suits you. Free, no obligation.
Expect a subtle lift that makes the eyes look more open and rested. A slightly over-lifted look in the first weeks is normal and softens as swelling settles.
Canthoplasty, canthopexy and brow-tail lifts are long-lasting, but your face continues to age. Thread results typically fade over months, and toxin lifts last about 3–4 months.
In the first week, keep your head elevated, use cold compresses and follow the eye drop and ointment routine. Gentle walks are fine from day 1.
In short: only surgery can change the eye corner itself and last years. Threads lift the brow tail and temple temporarily, with little downtime.
| Surgical fox eye lift | Thread fox eye lift | |
|---|---|---|
| Is it surgery? | Yes — canthoplasty, canthopexy or brow-tail lift | No — minimally invasive |
| What it changes | Eye-corner angle, brow tail, or both | Brow tail and temple tissue only |
| Downtime | About 7 days in Istanbul; swelling settles in 2–3 weeks | Little downtime |
| How long it lasts | Years | Usually months |
| Possible downsides | Asymmetry, corner rounding, lower-lid pull, dry eye, scars | Dimpling, visible thread ends, asymmetry |
A toxin brow lift is lighter still and lasts about 3–4 months — see our Botox Turkey guide. If your concern is lid skin or bags, see blepharoplasty; to raise the whole brow, see endoscopic brow lift. Eyelid results are in our before-and-after gallery, and all options are on our face aesthetics page.
A fox eye lift in Turkey is priced only after a surgeon reviews your photos, because the right combination differs for each face. The consultation is free, and suitability and safety come first.
Typically covers:
Your price depends on
The plastic surgeon who medically reviewed this page.
Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeon
Fox eye surgery involves a delicate area, and every operation carries some risk.
Travelling from the UK? Read the NHS guidance on cosmetic surgery abroad.
Surgical options last much longer. A canthoplasty, canthopexy or lateral brow-tail lift repositions and anchors tissue. The effect typically lasts for years, although your face keeps ageing naturally. A thread fox eye lift relies on dissolvable threads and the tissue response around them, so the lift usually fades over months. Toxin lifts last roughly three to four months. Your surgeon will match the option to how long you want the change to last.
A surgical fox eye lift works on anchoring structures. Canthoplasty or canthopexy reposition the outer eye corner, and a brow-tail lift fixes the outer brow through small hairline incisions. It needs anaesthesia and a week of recovery, but lasts years. Non-surgical options such as threads or toxin injections lift the brow and temple tissue temporarily, with little downtime. They cannot change the eye corner itself.
Plan about seven days. You arrive on day 1, have your consultation and surgery on day 2, and usually return to your hotel the same evening. A wound check follows the next day, then several days of rest with cold compresses. Stitches are removed around day 7, when your surgeon checks eye closure and corner position before clearing you to fly home.
Yes, and combinations are common. A canthopexy is often added to lower blepharoplasty to support the lid. A brow-tail lift can be paired with upper blepharoplasty when hooding and a drooping brow tail occur together. Combining procedures means one anaesthetic and one recovery, though surgery takes longer and swelling may last a little longer. Your surgeon will advise whether combining is sensible for you.
Often it can, but it is a more complex operation. Lower-lid surgery sometimes weakens the outer-corner support, leaving a downturned or rounded corner. A revision canthoplasty or canthopexy can re-anchor the tendon and restore a more natural angle, sometimes with added lower-lid support. Scar tissue makes results less predictable, so your surgeon will assess your lid tone, tear film and previous operation notes before recommending it.
No. A fox eye lift changes the angle of the outer eye corner and the brow tail. Blepharoplasty removes excess eyelid skin and bags without changing the corner angle, while an endoscopic brow lift raises the whole brow and forehead. Many patients combine two of these. See our blepharoplasty page and endoscopic brow lift page, or ask your surgeon which combination suits your eyes.
Most people return to desk work after about 7–10 days. Visible bruising and swelling mostly settle within 2–3 weeks, so many people plan social events after that. Walking is fine from day 1, but strenuous exercise usually waits about 3–4 weeks, until your surgeon agrees. Full recovery takes about 4–6 weeks, and the corners relax into their final, softer shape at around 3 months.
Send clear front and three-quarter photos of your eyes, relaxed and with eyes open, via WhatsApp or our online form. A plastic surgeon at Vivid Clinic reviews your canthal tilt, lid support and brow position. You are told honestly whether surgery, threads or no treatment suits you, then receive a personalised plan for your trip to Istanbul. The consultation is free.
Send clear front and three-quarter photos of your eyes, relaxed and with eyes open. It is free and there is no obligation.
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