Orbital Rim Osteotomies

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have purchased a book in which you were a co-author of called “Aesthetic Surgery of the Craniofacial Skeleton”. I have an inquiry on a certain procedure that is in it. I am looking to increase the width of my actual eyes (horizontally). (Lateral Orbital Rim Osteotomies) The book entry says you can reduce the width of the eyes by cutting the outer orbit bone and putting it closer in. But is is possible to do the reverse and position it further outward and this would lengthen the eyes?

Do you perform this procedure or have a college that performs is? I really want to make my eyes longer.

lateral-orbital-rim-osteotomy-dr-barry-eppley-indianapolisA: While Lateral Orbital Rim Osteotomies can be done to narrow eye width, it does not work in reverse to make the eyes horizontally longer. This is because of the lateral canthal attachments and the position of the lower eyelids. By moving the bone or corner of the eye outward, you end up pulling the lid margin away from the eyeball. That will cause multiple eye symptoms of irritation, dryness and even excessive tearing. The eye requires that it maintains good apposition of the lid margin right up against the eyeball.

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana