Fox Eye Lift Using V Soft Lift Lifting PDO Threads
Medically reviewed by: Elizabeth Williams RN
Updated: 3/2/2025
There are actually two types of Fox Eye lift procedures — a more invasive surgical one and the less invasive “lift” variety.
To give you a better idea of which entails, we’ll explain and contrast the two procedures, focusing on the lift so you know what to expect.
As you’ll soon see, getting the best results from your Fox eye lift isn’t just about choosing the right medical provider but also choosing a provider that uses the best PDO threads on the market.
The Fox eye lift procedure was developed in the 1960s in Hawaii by Dr. Robert Flowers and Dr. Edmund Kwan1. Dr. Kwan traveled to Hawaii to learn under Dr. Flowers and also learn more about his Asian blepharoplasty techniques — which is a fancy way of referring to anti-aging surgery for eyelids.
One of the techniques was the precursor of the modern “Fox eye” for rejuvenating the natural appearance of Asian eyelids. It required only sedation as well as a small incision that was made between the brow and lash line.
Dr. Flowers developed his expertise in large part because a large majority of his Asian-heritage patients in Hawaii were interested in maintaining the beauty of natural creases in their eyelids.
Dr. Kwan then combined what he learned under Dr. Flowers’ tutelage with his own experience with facial reconstruction surgeries to share the lift technique as well as surgical options for achieving the “Fox eye look.” He eventually shared this with the world from his practice in the upper east side of New York City.
To this day, many patients who appreciate the delicate enhancement that a thinner eyelid crease provides choose the non-invasive Fox eye treatment to achieve the desired aesthetic.
Fox eye surgery is formerly called a canthoplasty2, but many people refer to it as “cat eye,” “almond eye” or “fox eye” surgery. The surgical procedure lifts and repositions the lateral canthus, or the corner of your eye.
This helps to rejuvenate or shape a more “almond eye” appearance, or to correct drooping of the lower eyelids. Many physicians refer to this surgery as blepharoplasty3, or anti-aging for the eyelids.
The Fox eye surgery removes excess fat and skin from the top eyelid, which can become “hooded” as people age4. In advanced cases, the drooping can even make it difficult for patients to see.
The end result of the surgical procedure is correcting eyelid droop and/or visual obstruction, along with giving patients a more youthful appearance in their eyelids and the positioning of their brow above.
The procedure usually takes about two hours to complete. While the results are permanent, it still is very invasive, as it involves cutting into the eyelids.
The typical recovery period for the Fox eye surgery is about two weeks. During this time, patients usually experience bruising and general soreness. After that time, patients will usually be able to see the results of the procedure.
Not keen on having a physician cut into your eyelids but want the results of the Fox eye surgery? A great alternative is the non-surgical, non-invasive procedure known as the Fox eye lift.
With this procedure, providers insert PDO threads between the brow and eyelids via a sharp needle so that a cannula may be inserted and the threads can be placed. Modern PDO threads, such as those produced by V Soft Lift, incorporate the cannula into the needle, which provides added safety.
Once these PDO threads are positioned in the right place, they are tightened gently until the tissue and skin vectors are slowly lifted into place.
There are tremendous benefits of a fox eye thread lift, especially compared to surgical options. The fact that it is minimally invasive is perhaps the biggest benefit.
You don’t need to undergo surgery, nor do you need general anesthesia for the procedure. The procedure doesn’t take a lot of time to complete, and there is very little downtime and recovery time.
Another major benefit is that you will get immediate results from a fox eye thread lift. You’ll see some of the effects once the procedure is done, and then those results will only get better in time.
Not only that, but the results of a fox eye thread lift are much more natural and subtle. This gives you a nice boost, making you look younger without a drastic change to how you look.
| Feature | Fox Eye Lift (PDO Threads) | Fox Eye Surgery (Canthoplasty) |
|---|---|---|
| Procedure Type | Non-surgical, minimally invasive | Surgical, invasive |
| Anesthesia | Local anesthesia or mild sedation | General anesthesia |
| Duration | ~30 minutes | ~2 hours |
| Recovery Time | 1-2 days | ~2 weeks |
| Results | Temporary (6 months – 2 years) | Permanent |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
The simple answer is no. The procedure only requires mild sedation, and the entire process typically takes only about 30 minutes.
One of the biggest benefits of the Fox eye lift is that the recovery period usually lasts only about a day or two, and only normally includes mild puffiness and/or soreness.
Because of the quick timeframe, the procedure is often referred to as the “lunchtime lift.”5
The results of this procedure can last anywhere from six months to two years. Even though the results aren’t permanent, the procedure can be repeated to achieve the desired results.
A fox eye thread lift is completely safe. PDO threads are made from a synthetic material that is 100% biocompatible and biodegradable.
This means that there is a very low chance of a negative reaction. Plus, your body will use natural processes to break down the threads over time after they’re inserted.
In fact, PDO threads have been used as dissolvable sutures in surgical procedures for more than 60 years now. They have proven effective and very safe, and are safe for this procedure as well.
The results from a fox eye thread lift will vary — both what they do and how long they last. Some of the factors that will affect the results include your age, skin type and condition and your body’s metabolism.
That being said, results typically last up to 12 months, and in some cases, they can last even longer.
There are many factors that determine how long the results from a Fox eye lift last. This includes a patient’s age, overall health, metabolism, quality of your skin and more. All of this plays a part in how long your body will naturally break down the PDO threads, which are essentially dissolvable sutures.
Another major factor is the type of PDO threads that are used in the procedure. Like many things in life, the higher the quality of the PDO threads, the longer-lasting the results will be.
That’s why many Fox eye lift providers are turning toward the PDO threads produced by V Soft Lift, especially the company’s V Soft Arte line. These PDO threads were specifically designed for the Fox eye lift and are optimized for different types of skin and tissue thickness.
Once your procedure is over, you will be able to resume most of your daily activities. Your practitioner will give you a list of all the things you should avoid doing in the first few weeks after your procedure so that you don’t move the threads and promote healing as much as possible.
This includes avoiding deep facial massages or cleansing, avoiding strenuous activities and taking certain medications that can interfere with healing.
You should only experience mild side effects after your procedure is over, including temporary bruising and/or swelling and possible some discomfort as well. You can treat these symptoms with ice and certain medications, though they should resolve themselves after about a week.
If you have extreme bruising, swelling and/or pain — or if any of those side effects last for longer than a week — you should advise with your practitioner.
| Benefit | Risk |
|---|---|
| Minimally invasive | Potential for minor swelling/bruising |
| No general anesthesia required | PDO thread misplacement (if done incorrectly) |
| Immediate & natural-looking results | Temporary results (may need repeat treatments) |
| Quick recovery (1-2 days) | Risk of infection (if not performed in a sterile environment) |
The first step to a fox eye thread lift is a consultation with your provider. They will go over what it is that you’re looking to achieve, as well as what the procedure will entail.
Next, the practitioner will use local numbing agents to ensure that you are comfortable for the procedure. This could involve numbing creams and/or small injections.
After you are sufficiently numbed and ready for the procedure, the practitioner will insert the PDO threads into your skin using a preloaded cannula. This is very similar to how an IV line is inserted.
Once inserted, the practitioner will move the threads and position them into place, ensuring that the threads have lifted up the skin in the right way. They will then snip off the end of the PDO thread and make sure that everything is properly under the skin.
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| Consultation | Meet with the provider to discuss goals and determine candidacy. |
| Preparation | Numbing agents (cream/injections) are applied to ensure comfort. |
| Thread Insertion | PDO threads are inserted via a preloaded cannula. |
| Thread Adjustment | The provider tightens and positions the threads for the desired lift. |
| Post-Treatment Care | Avoid strenuous activities, facial massages, and certain medications for a few weeks. |
A big part of the preparation for a fox eye thread lift treatment is the consultation with your practitioner. During this meeting, you’ll discuss what it is that you want done and also your medical history.
Your provider will use this information to tell you whether you’re a good candidate for the procedure, and it’ll also help them determine exactly what they need to do to achieve the results you want.
In addition, it’s a good idea to stop taking blood-thinning medications such as ibuprofen and aspirin for at least a few days before your procedure. You should also refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol, not use any harsh skincare products in the area that’s going to be treated, get good rest, eat a healthy and balanced diet, and ensure that you are well-hydrated.
All of that will help to ensure that the results of your procedure are the best as they can be.
There are a few major differences between a fox eye lift and fox eye surgery.
For one, surgery will require that you go under general anesthesia. Once you’re “under,” the surgeon will actually reposition your skin and underlying tissue, and then secure it into place.
The results of fox eye surgery are permanent compared to temporary for a fox eye thread lift. This isn’t necessarily a good thing, though.
As you age and your body changes, it’s important that your skin be allowed to change with it. In other words, the results from your fox eye surgery may work for you now, but you might require tweaks later.
If you went the surgery route, you won’t be able to do anything about it — other than getting another surgery. With a fox eye thread lift, you can simply repeat the procedure to achieve your desired results — even if those results are different from what they were the first time.
Because of this, the results of a fox eye thread lift are often much more subtle and natural-looking compared to the surgical option.
Surgery is the much more expensive option, as well, and requires significantly more downtime and recovery time.
Any time that something is being inserted into your body, there is of course a chance for risks. With a fox eye thread lift — and any PDO threads procedure — the risks are minimal, but they are still there.
There is some potential risk for infection, since the practitioner will be inserting materials into your body. As long as they have a sterile office and do the procedure right, though, this shouldn’t happen.
It’s also possible that if they don’t do the procedure correctly, you could see a PDO thread poking out, or they could do damage to a vein in your face.
Again, though, the potential risks are very low when it comes to the fox eye thread lift, which is another major reason why it’s so popular.
V Soft Arte lifting threads raise the bar for eye lift treatments. These threads provide a cannula that is incorporated into the needle, which makes for a safer procedure than standard options that only use a sharp needle. The polydioxanone composition of the threads themselves is also robust enough that providers have been using it for more than 30 years!
Like other lift threads, V Soft Arte threads are designed to dissolve over time, typically within one year. However, these threads also have another amazing benefit — they stimulate neocollagenesis. In other words, they enhance the body’s natural healing process while maximizing the production of collagen in areas where it’s been used for treatment.
A Fox eye treatment typically requires between three and 12 V Soft Arte threads, depending on the patient’s skin. Practitioners will employ various threads to customize the procedure to each patient’s needs.
V Soft Arte threads come in the following sizes to meet the demanding standards of the procedure …
Whether you’re a patient receiving a Fox eye lift treatment or a practitioner administering it to a patient, you want to know that you’re getting the absolute best products.
V Soft’s FDA-approved threads are made by the largest provider of PDO threads in the world. V Soft provides a number of resources, including this Injector’s Brochure, that provide information about their lifting threads and why they are considered best-in-class.
As an industry leader, V Soft also offers training resources for practitioners. If you are already familiar with the product, click here to read a comprehensive list of all the procedures for which V Soft threads are optimized.
V Soft threads may also be combined with filler and neurotoxin techniques to produce as much as a 40% improvement with a treatment’s finished aesthetics and with longer-lasting results.
But, don’t take our word for it. Check out the resources above to see the hard numbers for yourself.
The best technique is only as strong as the materials you use. So, when it comes to lifting procedures such as the Fox eye treatment, trust the V Soft line to preserve a carefully cultivated aesthetic for all your patients!
Please be aware that you are about to access the international website for V Soft Lift PDO Threads. It’s essential to note that this site has not undergone evaluation by the USA FDA.
The information provided on this platform may discuss regulatory clearances in countries outside the United States. Consequently, it might include indications and uses that extend beyond the FDA-cleared labeling for the product.
It’s important to emphasize that the details presented on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This information should not be seen as a replacement for advice from a qualified physician or healthcare professional.
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