Transcutaneous Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty With Fat Excision

Vectra 3D Simulation in Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty: How Accurate is it?

BACKGROUND

Estimating the volume of fat to be resected during lower lid blepharoplasty can be challenging. While the excess fat is clearly visible in the upright position, it retracts into the orbital cavity when the patient is in decubitus. Several tools have been developed to predict the volume required for adequate outcomes and to reduce the risk of complications. Among these, 3D photography, in addition to being noninvasive, radiation-free, portable and relatively inexpensive, can be used to make simulations.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the level of agreement between Vectra H1 camera simulations and the outcome of lower eyelid blepharoplasties with volume removal based on these simulations.

METHODS

Preoperatively, a 3D camera and simulation software (Vectra H1, Canfield Imaging Systems) was used to estimate the fat pad volume to be resected from the lower eyelids in a sample of 35 patients (female n = 34) aged 55 years on average. Following the procedure, the patients were photographed at 1, 3 and 6 months and the outcome was compared to the simulation.

RESULTS

The agreement between the simulated volume and the intraoperative volume was high. While the difference between the postoperative volume and the simulated volume decreased over time, at 6 months the actual volume was still 0.30 mL (right eye) and 0.24 mL (left eye) larger than the simulated volume.

CONCLUSIONS

A systematic and significant difference was found between the simulation volume and the postoperative volume. The low level of agreement observed suggests that the accuracy of the tested software is insufficient for reliable simulations.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these evidence-based medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Lower eyelid blepharoplasty: An overview

Of the two common techniques of lower blepharoplasty, the transconjunctival approach is limited to young patients with prominent herniation of lower fat pad without skin excess and the transcutaneous approach to patients requiring skin excision. However, the current trends not only highlight the traditional sculpting of the three orbital fat pads in lower lid blepharoplasty but also additional relocation of the intraorbital fats for correcting the inferior orbital hollowing. The purpose of this review is to analyze the published literature on common types, techniques, indications, and outcomes of the multiple surgical variants of lower lid blepharoplasty often aimed at treating the redundant skin, steatoblepharon, tear trough deformity, lid laxity, and dermatochalasis, thereby to correct the negative vector and inferior orbital hollowing along with effacement of the lid cheek junction. An extensive survey of peer-reviewed literature published in English in electronic databases, as well as bibliographies from cited articles, was conducted. Databases such as MEDLINE PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase were scanned using relevant medical subject heading (MeSH) terms. Clinical studies with a minimum of five study cases were included. Level III evidence, case reports, letters, editorials, and case series with fewer than five eyes were excluded. This article provides a concise overview of available literature and as such no meta-analysis was done due to the narrowed scope of the involved studies and the variety in surgical approaches and techniques of lower lid blepharoplasty.

Percutaneous Lower Blepharoplasty: A Novel Technique in Lower Eyelid Aesthetics

BACKGROUND

More preservative approaches are being adopted in periorbital surgery each day. To avoid the possible complications of transcutaneous and transconjunctival blepharoplasty, the author has developed the safe and simple "Percutaneous Lower Blepharoplasty" technique, which he has been performing since 2008. The technique consists of the removal and transfer of lower orbital fat pads through 4-mm skin incisions with minimal dissection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study is designed as a retrospective analysis of the operations done by the author from 2008 to 2018. The author performed 297 percutaneous lower blepharoplasty operations alone or in combination with tear-trough deformity correction, pinch skin excision, and/or carbon dioxide laser application. The video of the technique is demonstrated in the supplemental digital content.

RESULTS

The patients were followed for an average of 58.8 months. All the patients were satisfied with the result. There were no retractions or scleral show seen. The only complication was chemosis in 1 patient that subsided with steroid ointment.

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous lower blepharoplasty is a novel technique that has the following advantages: Simple and fast, low complication rates, good cosmetic outcomes, tear trough deformity correction, better estimation of fat amount to be removed, and minimal dissection and avoidance of violation of lamellar structures. It can be performed safely alone or in combination with pinch excision and/or fractional laser resurfacing.

Lower Eyelid Blepharoplasty: Does the Literature Support the Longevity of this Procedure?

BACKGROUND

Lower eyelid blepharoplasty has continued to evolve with ongoing debate regarding optimal techniques. Despite large case series publishing excellent results and minimal complications, the true longevity of these procedures remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine how thoroughly the aesthetic surgery literature assesses the longevity of lower blepharoplasty.

METHODS

A 20-year comprehensive literature review from 1997 to 2017 was conducted. The titles and abstracts of 180 articles were reviewed, yielding 86 potential publications; 49 studies met inclusion criteria and were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 10,698 patients were included for analysis. Reported follow-up ranged between 1 week and 192 months. Mean follow-up was 14.8 months for the 29 studies (59.2%) that reported these data. Pooled analysis of complication rates demonstrated 0.77% (n = 82) reoperation, 0.37% (n = 39) scleral show, 0.25% (n = 27) lid malposition, and 0.24% (n = 25) ectropion rates, among others. Forty-four studies (89.8%) published postoperative photographs with a total of 141 unique postoperative time points that were supported with photographic evidence (mean: 15.3 months; range: 1 week-192 months). In this series, for only 10 patients (0.094%) were postoperative photographs available at time points beyond 24 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Lower eyelid blepharoplasty is a powerful procedure with seemingly minimal morbidity despite its technical demands. The longevity of this procedure is poorly supported with photographic evidence in the literature. Studies do not adequately report or represent their follow-up to capture long-lasting results. Standardized reporting of results is needed to ensure that anyone seeking this treatment can be adequately counseled.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4

An Update on Lower Lid Blepharoplasty

Aging changes to the lower eyelids and midface include pseudoherniated orbital fat, tear trough deformity, lid laxity, and dermatochalasis. Surgical repair often aims at treating redundant skin or orbital fat malposition with a lower eyelid blepharoplasty. Either a transcutaneous or transconjunctival approach may be used, though recent trends have favored the transconjunctival technique if procedures require more than simple skin excision. In manipulating the inferior orbital fat pads, a surgeon has many options including excision, repositioning, or augmentation with synthetic dermal filler, autologous fat grafts, or acellular dermal allografts. The authors review and detail indications, preoperative evaluation, techniques, and complications of lower lid blepharoplasty.

The volumetric change of orbital fat with age in Asians

Lower eyelid prominence occurs as an aging process. Several causes of age-related lower eyelid prominence including herniated excessive intraorbital fat or fat atrophy, weakening of supporting components, and globe descent have been proposed. However, actual occurrence of excessive intraorbital fat herniation is still controversial. We measured volume of total orbital fat (OF) and fat anterior to the inferior orbital rim (IORF) using computed tomography (CT) to evaluate volumetric change of orbital fat with age in Asians. A total of 130 patients (65 men and 65 women) were evaluated, and volumes of OF and IORF were measured. OF and IORF volumes increased until the 60 years of age, and then decreased in both male and female groups. IORF/OF ratio increased with age, and, unlike fat volume, there was no decline after 70 years of age. Increase of orbital fat volume contributed to lower eyelid prominence. Reduction of anterior orbital fat volume could improve age-related lower eyelid prominence, and conservative fat excision in lower blepharoplasty can be useful in management of lower eyelid prominence.

Comprehensive considerations in blepharoplasty in an Asian population: a 10-year experience

BACKGROUND

This article discusses the effectiveness, patient selection criteria, complications, and the appropriate procedures for lower blepharoplasty in an Asian population.

METHODS

During the past 10 years (1998-2008), a total of 2400 patients underwent lower blepharoplasty in our department. Four different types of lower-blepharoplasty procedures were performed, including the traditional transcutaneous skin flap procedure (n = 862), the transcutaneous skin-muscle flap procedure (n = 738), the transconjunctival procedure (n = 433), and Hamra's procedure (septal reset and fat-replacing technique) (n = 367). Among these 2400 patients, 925 were available for follow-up. The length of follow-up ranged between 1 month and 10 years.

RESULTS

Most of the patients were satisfied with the result, but 32 patients had some postoperative complications, including five patients with ectropion, five with hollow eyes, two with dry eyes, and 20 with retraction.

CONCLUSIONS

Transconjunctival blepharoplasty is the first choice for primary eyelid bags. Transcutaneous lower blepharoplasty (skin flap or skin-muscle flap procedures) is indicated for the senile eyelid with excess skin and muscles. If supporting structures (skin, muscle, and septum) show laxity and other aging stigma are present, including tear trough deformity and obvious skeleton rim, Hamra's procedure (septal reset and fat-replacing technique) is performed.

Outcome measures in facial plastic surgery: patient-reported and clinical efficacy measures

OBJECTIVE

To survey the existing literature to identify, summarize, and evaluate procedure- and condition-specific outcome measures for use in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

METHODS

A review of the English-language literature was performed to identify outcomes instruments specific for targeted facial plastic surgery interventions and conditions. A search was performed using MEDLINE (1950 to September 2007), CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health) (1982 to September 2007), and PsychINFO (1806 to September 2007). Outcomes instruments were categorized as patient-reported or clinical efficacy measures (observer-reported or objective measures). Instruments were then categorized to include relevant details on the intervention, degree of validation, and subsequent use.

RESULTS

Sixty-eight distinct instruments were identified (23 patient-reported, 35 observer-reported, and 10 objective measures), with some overlap among categories. Most patient-reported measures (76%) and half observer-reported instruments (51%) were developed in the past 10 years. The rigor of validation varied widely among measures, with formal validation being most common among the patient-reported outcome measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Validated outcomes measures are present for many common facial plastic surgery conditions and have become more prevalent during the past decade, especially for patient-reported outcomes. Challenges remain in harmonizing patient-reported, observer-based, and other objective measures to produce standardized clinically meaningful outcome measures.