14 Oct The “Fox Eye Lift” is Not an Eyelid Lift: Find Out the Differences
An eyelid lift is an eyelid lift, right? Not at all—and there are actually different types of eyelid lifts. At RefinedMD, double board-certified Dr. Sudeep Roy offers an upper eyelid lift and lower eyelid lift. These lifts are known as blepharoplasty and are often performed at the same time. However, they are completely different than the so-called “fox eye lift” which has been sweeping Tik Tok in recent months. The latter isn’t really a lift at all and it will be difficult to find a reputable surgeon who will perform it. So, what exactly is this “lift” and what can happen with it?
Recently, reality star Geordie Shore shared her experience with the fox eye lift on social media. She felt like she needed to step forward after her friend, fellow reality star Ryan Ruckledge, talked about his own failed fox eye lift with This Morning. Shore says, “I need to tell everyone about my experience and what has happened to myself. I had the same procedure as Ryan done [sic] seven months ago and still to this day I’m left with terrible scars on my face which may never go away.”
Fox Eye Lift Procedure
A fox eye lift isn’t actually a surgery. Instead, invisible threads are placed at the sides of the eyes (near the temples) in order to make the eye longer and more almond-shaped, creating a “fox eye look.” There’s a reason this procedure isn’t widely available: it often fails and can lead to complications like those experienced by Shore. Shore says that she has watched the popularity of this procedure skyrocket, and while she knows it won’t happen to everyone, she wants to make sure her followers are aware of what happened to her. She shared a closeup of the scar, which looks red and inflamed, saying, “It’s literally ruined my face…I now have a dint [sic] in the side of my face.” She then turns and asks someone off-camera, “You don’t think it’s going to stay that pink, do you?” Her companion replied, “Nah, it’ll go down. You’ve got a big hole in the [explicit] side of your head.”
Understandably, Shore is now very self-conscious about her appearance. She says, “I honestly wish I never did [it], if I could turn back time now, I literally would turn it back in a heartbeat. But I didn’t expect when I was getting that treatment that I would be left with a permanent scar and a dint [sic] in the side of my face.” She ends the video saying, “I have been through hell with it, I have been to the hospital, I have been on tablets.”
Here’s What a Real Eyelid Lift Entails
Eyelid lifts are performed to address skin laxity, sags, and bags. They are one of the quickest and simplest cosmetic surgeries with very small incisions required. Eyelid lifts are popular by themselves or as add-ons to other procedures such as liposuction or breast augmentation. An upper eyelid lift fixes ptosis, the technical term for sagging upper eyelids. Laxity can happen with age, trauma (such as too much eye rubbing), loss of collagen in the skin, or worn-out levator eyelid muscles. Incisions are made along the eyelid’s natural crease for easy camouflage.
A lower eyelid lift can address undereye bags and wrinkles. Liposuction might also be paired with this procedure to remove uneven fat pads that happen with age. Sometimes a combination of liposuction and skin removal is needed. If it’s just liposuction of the fat pads, the incision is made inside the lower eyelid. If skin removal is necessary, the incision is along the lower lashline.
With both types of blepharoplasty surgeries, it is not uncommon to experience swelling and sometimes numbness at the surgical site. Both of these side effects are temporary. Lower blepharoplasty might temporarily cause the lower lashes to fall out, but this is a short-term event and does not happen to everyone. Fortunately, lower lashes are shorter and grow back quickly.
Is an Eyelid Lift for You?
The fox eye “lift” is a no-no for anyone, but many people benefit from upper and/or lower blepharoplasty. The eyes is where you typically find the first signs of aging, so patients as young as 30 are routinely requesting this procedure. To find out more and see if you’re a good candidate, call RefinedMD today or fill out the online contact form to request a consultation.