What Is Fox Eye Surgery? Pricing and What to Expect

If you find yourself longing for the look of wide, almond-shaped eyes, you’re in luck. Fox eye surgery and cat eye surgeries represent one of the hottest trends in cosmetic surgery today — changing your eye shape in a way many people describe as alluring.

Yet no cosmetic procedure is without potential side effects, and the cost of fox eye surgery can be substantial. Here’s what you need to know about this trendy procedure.

What Is Fox Eye Surgery?

Medically called “canthopexy” or “canthoplasty,” fox eye surgery lifts the outer corners (canthi) of your eyes, drawing them slightly upward and outward.¹

Plastic surgeons, dermatologists and eye surgeons perform canthopexy and canthoplasty for medical reasons, as well as cosmetic ones. These procedures tighten the lower eyelid to correct drooping that can be caused by normal aging or disease processes. Surgeons perform the less-invasive canthopexy to reinforce existing lid structure using more minimal techniques like placing a single suture. They perform canthoplasty to provide substantial structural support and tightening to the lower eyelid.²

Interestingly, what pop culture terms "fox eye surgery” often isn’t a single procedure. To achieve the look of a wide, tilted eye, some plastic surgeons perform several procedures in a single surgery, including canthoplasty or canthopexy, blepharoplasty (removal of skin and fat in the upper or lower eyelids), midface lift and eyebrow lift.³

If you’re considering fox eye surgery, you should consult several plastic surgeons to find out what they recommend to achieve the look you desire.

Fox eye surgery vs. cat eye surgery

If you’re wondering what is the difference between fox eye and cat eye surgery, well, many people use these terms interchangeably. But others say that cat eye surgery more dramatically changes the eye shape by lifting the outer canthus higher and pulling it farther outward than fox eye surgery does.

It’s important to understand that your individual results from either of these cosmetic procedures may not look exactly the way you’d imagined they would. In other words, you might desire “fox eye” surgery but come away with more of a “cat eye” look simply due to differences in how plastic surgeons perform the procedure, the way you heal and other factors beyond anyone’s control.

Types of Fox Eye Surgery

You might not need surgery at all to achieve the fox eye look.

Fox eye surgery involves performing one or more invasive procedures, usually while you are under general anesthesia. This surgery results in a more permanent change in your appearance, though no cosmetic procedure is truly permanent. Natural aging processes ultimately cause skin relaxation that can result in drooping — even to your eyelids. With surgery, though, this change happens more gradually, over a longer period of time, which means your fox eye look should last for years or maybe even decades.

Fox eye thread lift

One alternative to fox eye surgery is the fox eye thread lift. This minimally invasive procedure involves placing one or more thin sutures (threads) under your skin using local anesthetic. The edges of these threads are dotted with barbs or cones to grasp soft tissues and pull them upwards when the surgeon tightens them.⁴

The threads are made of materials that your body will absorb over time — usually over six months to a year. After the threads dissolve, your tissues will relax again, and the fox eye look will gradually go away. A fox eye thread lift is the perfect choice for someone who wants a temporary change of appearance instead of a long-term commitment.⁴

How Much Does Fox Eye Surgery Cost?

The national average cost* of a canthoplasty fox eye surgery is $6,702, but costs can range from $5,173 to $10,993. Costs can vary based on the surgeon's experience, your geographic location and other factors.⁵

Canthoplasty fox eye surgery cost by state/district

Below is a breakdown of the average cost* of canthoplasty fox eye surgery by all 50 states and the District of Columbia:⁵

If you have multiple procedures done during fox eye surgery, such as a midface lift, brow lift, dermal fillers or BOTOX® Cosmetic injections, your cost may be substantially higher.

How Much Does Fox Eye Thread Lift Cost?

By contrast, a fox eye thread lift is less expensive because it is performed in the plastic surgeon’s office under local anesthesia.

The national average cost* of a fox eye thread lift is $2,708, but costs can range from $2,095 to $5,199. Costs can vary based on the surgeon's experience, your geographic location and other factors.⁵

Fox eye thread lift cost by state/district

Below is a breakdown of the average cost* of fox eye thread lift by all 50 states and the District of Columbia:⁵

Does Insurance Cover Fox Eye Surgery?

As a cosmetic procedure, fox eye surgery likely would not be covered by health insurance.

However, medically necessary canthoplasty or canthopexy to treat eyelid abnormalities leading to complications like chronic dry eye or damage to the cornea may be covered by health insurance. Your surgeon can advise you on this issue.

Is Fox Eye Surgery Right for You?

Your surgeon will help you decide if fox eye surgery or a fox eye thread lift is right for you. Your overall suitability for a cosmetic procedure will depend on many factors, including your general health, ability to tolerate anesthesia, any chronic diseases you have and more. Certain chronic conditions like diabetes might lead to more complications.⁶

How Does Fox Eye Surgery Work?

If you decide to have fox eye surgery, your surgeon’s office will provide specific preoperative instructions. You should follow these closely to achieve the best results from your procedure.

Preparation

Typical preoperative instructions for eyelid surgery include:⁷

• Avoiding aspirin or other blood-thinning medications for a period of time prior to surgery

• Avoiding smoking

• Avoiding alcohol consumption

• Discontinuing food and beverages at the time specified by your surgeon

Before fox eye surgery, you also should:

• Fill prescriptions for any pain medications provided in advance by your plastic surgeon

• Arrange for transportation home because you won’t be able to drive yourself

• Arrange your sleeping area for recovery (Some surgeons recommend elevating the head after eyelid surgery, so you may need to prop yourself up on pillows or sleep in a recliner for a few days.)

Procedure

On the day of surgery, you will report to an operating room facility. This may be at the plastic surgeon’s office, or it may be at a different location, like a hospital or ambulatory surgery center.

You should leave valuables at home and wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing.

You’ll change into a hospital gown, receive an IV with fluids and medications, chat with an anesthesiology provider and be transferred to the operating room. The anesthesiology provider will administer medications that make you go to sleep, during which your surgeon will perform the procedure. The next thing you know, you’ll be waking up in the recovery room.

After the surgery, you may experience:

• Bruising

• Grogginess

• Pain (usually minimal)

• Swelling

You may have bandages or compression wraps on the areas of your eyes and face that received surgical procedures. You should read your discharge instructions carefully regarding when and how to remove any dressings or compression wraps.

Possible Side Effects of Fox Eye Surgery

No surgical procedure is without potential complications. General anesthesia alone carries significant possible effects and any invasive surgery carries the possibility of infection.

That said, eyelid surgeries like fox eye surgery tend to be safe for most people. Potential complications from fox eye surgery may include:⁸

• Adverse reaction to medications

• Asymmetry of the eyes (the fox eye shape doesn’t match on both sides)

• Eyelid drooping or paralysis

• Damage to the eye or loss of vision

• Dry eyes

• Inability to fully close the eyes (usually due to swelling that ultimately resolves)

• Scarring

• Slow healing

Although fox eye thread lift is minimally invasive, it nonetheless can result in the following:⁴

• Asymmetry of the eyes

• Pain

• Puckering or dimpling of the skin where the threads were inserted

• Visible threads under the skin

You should thoroughly discuss potential side effects with your surgeon in advance of having a fox eye procedure. Make sure you communicate well with your surgeon and share the same vision for the aesthetic results you expect after the procedure.

Fox Eye Surgery Recovery Tips

Your surgeon will provide specific, detailed instructions for what to do in the first hours and days after your fox eye procedure. Follow these instructions carefully because failure to adhere to the post-op instructions can result in injury or poor aesthetic results.

Common post-procedure instructions for fox eye surgery or thread lift include:

• Elevating your head, including while sleeping, for several days

• Not lifting objects weighing more than a few pounds (your surgeon will provide specifics)

• Not exercising, other than walking

• Taking any pain medications as prescribed

• Caring for sutures as instructed

• Changing or removing bandages or compression wraps on a specific schedule

Follow up with your surgeon on the schedule provided. Call the office if you experience excessive wound discharge, excessive swelling, loss of vision or other nonemergency symptoms.

Fox eye surgery may be a hot trend in cosmetic surgery, but it involves real surgical procedures with real potential side effects. Fox eye thread lift may offer a less-invasive procedure but still is not without potential complications as well.

That said, if you desire fox eye surgery to look better or feel more confident in your appearance, go for it! Just make sure you go into it with … your eyes open.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fox Eye Surgery

Do you still have questions about fox eye surgery? Here are answers to some commonly questions about this procedure.

Financing Fox Eye Surgery With the CareCredit Credit Card

Ready to revitalize your appearance and boost your confidence? The CareCredit credit card makes it easy to pay for fox eye surgery and related expenses not covered by health insurance.** Use our Acceptance Locator to find a doctor or cosmetic surgeon near you that accepts CareCredit so you can stop dreaming and start living your best life. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to cosmetic procedures, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, pet care, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Elizabeth Hanes, R.N., has substantial clinical experience and diverse expertise including critical care, plastic and reconstructive surgery, heart health, nutrition and senior health. For over 20 years, she has blended her clinical background with writing for leading healthcare publications, such as WebMD, Anthem, Healthgrades and Modern Healthcare, among others. She is committed to creating exceptional healthcare content that informs and educates both patients and health professionals.