If you're a TikTok user (duh) then it's likely the words ‘I wish I had a time machine’ will immediately conjure up the catchy tune by Muni Long (incidentally called Time Machine) that's been doing the rounds on the video platform, as people upload videos of themselves talking about, or showing, something they regret.
In October 2021, Jessie Carr uploaded her own video set to the song, captioning it “I can’t take myself seriously,” adding an alien emoji alongside the hashtags #foxeye #foxeyethreads #foxeyethreadlift #botched #botchedsurgery. She turns her head side to side, showing viewers two oddly shaped scars, sitting atop bumps underneath the skin just alongside her eyebrows as she mimes along to the words.
The scars are from a cosmetic procedure called a fox eye lift, and it's a trend that seems to be sweeping TikTok, touted as a minimally invasive treatment that can achieve a sculpted, A-lister look in just half an hour.
However, some users have been pleased with the effect that the procedure has created, using the app to show followers the results.
The procedure involves inserting biodegradable threads under the skin to lift the eyebrows and has been raved about by celebrities, including the Kardashians.
For years, people have been achieving the look using clever eyeliner and shadow makeup techniques and various tweezing methods to create a visual sweep upward to the corner of the eye, but, just like Jessie, many are now choosing to have the look permanently created on their face.
The procedure sees supposedly invisible strings put in above the eyes to pull them upwards. It uses biodegradable threads to surgically lift the eyes and the results can last anything from weeks up until a year. It costs around £500 a pop and can take just half an hour to achieve the look. The question is though, is it actually safe or are cases like Jessie Carr's pretty rare?
“Essentially, the fox eye lift is a thread lift which are quite good when used by a doctor in an experienced environment, where they know what they’re doing. Unfortunately, with a lot of these types of cosmetic procedures, they are unregulated and as such can be done by beauty therapists, medical aestheticians and people who are under qualified,” Dr Ross Perry, Medical Director of Cosmedics, explains.
And Dr Ross warns that because this kind of procedure can be so widely carried it, there is a greater risk of something going wrong. “It also means patients are at risk of serious complications which can include infections, eyesight problems, swelling, bruising and even nerve damage in the eye area.”
He adds: “It can also cause facial weakness or paralysis in the muscles in the face so this is definitely something which needs to be performed by an expert and certainly a medical practitioner, preferably a doctor or plastic surgeon so that the nerves in the area aren’t damaged and there aren’t other problems.”
Like many of other types of treatments though, the severity of complications can also depend on how quickly help is sought. “The other aspect with this is if people do have a complication, then the person performing the treatment needs to have the resources to find someone who can give antibiotics if there is an infection and often beauty therapists or other individuals who are not medically qualified are unable to do this, and that delays getting appropriate treatment and can make complications more severe,” Dr Ross tells GLAMOUR.
However, he is keen to point out that it's not all doom and gloom when it comes to the fox eye procedure, as “in the right hands” it can help you achieve the desired look and is a minimally invasive surgery and so has little to no downtime. “If it is performed correctly, [the fox eye procedure] will lift the lateral brow and it can be a nice lifting effect for those whose natural brow is a little bit lower.” It can be uncomfortable though, so it is often performed under local anaesthetic and can leave swelling for up to two weeks.
Unlike various other cosmetic procedures, the results of this one are only temporary and last for around six months; great news if you're keen to try something new but are tentative about a permanent change, although for those looking for a lasting change to the upper area of their face, getting the thread topped up can become a pricey habit.
The UK government is taking steps to regulate the aesthetics industry, announcing an amendment to the Health and Care Bill which intends to introduce a licence for non-surgical cosmetic procedures, such as Botox and fillers, that could extend to the fox eye treatment, but for the moment it remains largely unregulated.
In short, don't assume that just because the procedure is minimally invasive compared to other forms of cosmetic surgery that it doesn't come without its risk. In fact, it's precisely the fact that the procedure is at the lighter end of the surgery spectrum, that it can go so wrong, with fewer regulations around how can preform it and so greater room for error depending on where you choose to have it.
How to achieve a fox eye lift with makeup
So, if you do weigh up the pros and cons and decide that perhaps it's not worth the risk, we spoke to top makeup artist Phillippa Louise about we can achieve the fox eye look with makeup instead.
“You don’t need to go under the knife to create the fox eye trend we are seeing everywhere. There are certain makeup hacks to achieve this and lift the eyes,” Phillippa explains.
1. Brush brows up: this instantly lifts the face! This is THE PILLAR to our facial framework. Do fix brows with brow fix. Fill in brows lightly keeping feather-like brush strokes.
To cheat and lift the brow arch use a pale flesh tone or highlight on the browbone
2. Curl lashes to open up eye: Concentrate on more product to end of lashes which is longer part and wing them up. Keep them fluttery. For more drama Apply cluster lashes in the outer edge of an eye or a strip lash that is heavier on the outer corner like demi-wispies
3. Contour the crease: If applying shadow concentrate on the outer half of the eye along lash lines to wing the eye up and out. Always contour crease just under brow bone again to lift the eye up and out
4. Upward eyeliner flick: a really really important step to lift the eyes is to follow the lower lash line and place dot where you want the line to finish. Connect dot back to lash line and thinly line top lash line to about halfway. Use micellar water to sharpen up the feline flick and apply a little pencil liner to the inner V corner of the eye that opens it up top and bottom
Top tip: when applying a liner feline flick always look straight into the mirror and place the dot where you want the flick to finish. If you hold skin up it won’t work as the flick line will drop
5. Tie hair back in to high pony and pull at temples and grip back: some tape behind ears to pull hair is also a trick to help lift eyes
6. Finish by using a natural but strong contour like NARS Laguna and lift cheekbones up angling contour and highlight on high point of cheekbones again to lift.
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