Mini-incision Blepharoplasty with Pretarsal Fasciectomy for Double-Eyelid Surgery

Application of retaining the vessels around the orbicularis oculi muscle in blepharoplasty

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of retaining the vessels around the orbicularis oculi muscle on reducing local swelling after blepharoplasty.

METHODS

A total of 309 patients undergoing blepharoplasty (total incision) were observed and randomly assigned to three groups; (A) conventional operation; (B) preservation of deep vessels; (C) preservation of anterior vessels of orbicularis oculi muscle. The groups were compared based on intraoperative blood loss, operation time, swelling, satisfaction, and complications.

RESULTS

Among the 309 patients, 39 were lost to follow-up. c Additionally, A had the shortest operation time, followed by C with slightly longer duration. On the 7th day, 15th day, and 1 month after surgery, both B and C demonstrated significantly lower levels of swelling compared to A. Moreover, patient satisfaction was higher in B and C than in A.

CONCLUSION

Retaining either superficial or deep veins of the orbicularis oculi muscle can effectively reduce short-term postoperative swelling. However, when retaining the superficial central group of this muscle during surgery, it is crucial to strictly control the amount of surrounding tissue around vessels.

Single Mini-incisional Blepharoplasty with the Orbicularis-Orbital Septum Fixation Technique for the Creation of a Natural Double Eyelid

BACKGROUND

Mini-incisional double-eyelid blepharoplasty has increasingly gained popularity in oriental populations. Moreover, many related studies have made a detailed technical introduction to this topic. This study aims to introduce a simple single mini-incisional blepharoplasty procedure with orbicularis-orbital septum fixation technique to create a physiologically natural double eyelid with no visible scar and a short postoperative recovery time.

METHODS

A single mini-incisional blepharoplasty with orbicularis-orbital septum fixation technique is described in detail and is illustrated with pictures. Patients who underwent this procedure in our department from November 2020 to May 2023 were retrospectively reviewed RESULTS: This study included 159 patients who underwent a single mini-incisional blepharoplasty with the orbicularis-orbital septum fixation technique. Surgery duration ranged from 16 to 42 minutes (mean 27 minutes). The majority of the swelling was reduced in 5 days and completely disappeared in 2 weeks for most patients. The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 31 months. All the double eyelids were natural and dynamic, and the creases were stable with no visible scar. Asymmetries occurred in 1.2% (2 of 159), and crease disappeared in 0.6% (1 of 159) of patients; during the follow-up period, no other complications were reported. Of the 159 patients, 99.4% (158) were satisfied with the surgical outcomes CONCLUSIONS: The single mini-incisional blepharoplasty with the orbicularis-orbital septum fixation technique offers a simple, safe, and effective approach to creating double eyelids. It provides natural, stable, scarless, and rapid recovery results with a low risk of complication.

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 .

Small-Incisional Double Eyelid Blepharoplasty: A Retrospective Study of Our Minimally Invasive Technique with Three Mini Incisions

BACKGROUND

Small-incisional double eyelid surgery has been increasingly performed these years and achieved good aesthetic results, but the techniques vary greatly between literatures. The authors reviewed the cases of three-small-incisional double eyelid surgery performed in the past three years and introduced their surgical technique in detail.

METHODS

A total of 87 patients receiving bilateral three-small-incisional double eyelid surgery were included in this retrospective study. The pretarsal folds were designed meticulously, along which three evenly distributed 2 mm-long incisions were made. A minimal amount of orbicularis oculi muscle and pretarsal soft tissue were removed to expose the pretarsal fascia for further fixation. An appropriate amount of orbital septal fat was removed through the lateral incision if required. The superficial orbicularis oculi muscle and dermis on the lower margin of the incision were fixed onto the pretarsal fascia with some underlying tarsus on the upper margin of the tarsus. The skin was closed by one stitch for each incision.

RESULTS

The average follow-up was 9.9 ± 5.2 months (range: 6-27 months). All the patients were satisfied with the result. None of them experienced loss of the pretarsal fold, bilateral asymmetry, scar hyperplasia, or persistent swelling after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Our three-small-incisional technique with minor soft tissue debulking offers a simple, safe, and reproducible approach to double eyelids. It can create a stable and natural-looking pretarsal fold with a short recovery period.

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 .

Does Double-Eyelid Blepharoplasty Improve Forehead Wrinkles? A Prospective Study Using FACE-Q Scale and Anthropometric Measurements

BACKGROUND

Single eyelids are common among Asians. It is not uncommon to see people with single eyelids raise their eyebrows to wide open their eyes. This results in frequent compensatory contraction of the frontalis muscle and thus leads to deep forehead wrinkles. Double-eyelid blepharoplasty creates a larger visual field. In theory, patients who receive the surgery will stop overusing the frontalis muscle. Therefore, the forehead wrinkles can be improved.

METHODS

35 patients who underwent double-eyelid blepharoplasty were enrolled. FACE-Q forehead wrinkle assessment scale was adopted to evaluate the forehead wrinkles preoperatively and postoperatively. In addition, anthropometric measurements were taken to indirectly evaluate frontalis muscle contraction in maximum eye-opening position.

RESULTS

According to the FACE-Q scale, forehead wrinkles were improved after double-eyelid blepharoplasty, and the improvement was long-lasting in the 3-month follow-up. This was because the frontalis muscle contraction reduced after the surgery, as shown by the anthropometric measurements.

CONCLUSION

This study used subjective and objective methods to prove that double-eyelid surgery improves forehead wrinkles.

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 .

Unsatisfactory Upper Blepharoplasty Revision Technique: Reconstruction of the Upper Orbital Septum and its Fusion Point

BACKGROUND

The orbital septum prevents both superficial eyelid infection and the spread of bleeding into the orbit. The fusion point between the upper eyelid orbital septum and the levator aponeurosis or the tarsal plate plays an important role in determining the width of the natural double eyelid. We observed a number of unsatisfactory upper eyelid blepharoplasty outcomes resulting from improper handling of the orbital septum-such as excessive destruction of orbital septum tissue and failure to form a firm attachment point between the orbital septum and the levator aponeurosis or palpebrae plate-during primary surgery.

OBJECTIVES

The three most common types of unsatisfactory upper blepharoplasty outcomes include abnormally high double eyelid creases, multiple creases, and disappearance of creases. In the repair operation, we try to determine the remaining orbital septum tissue for reconstruction and form a firm attachment between the orbital septum and the levator aponeurosis or tarsal plate. Follow-up after surgery was performed to observe whether our technique can ensure effective and favorable long-term natural-looking upper eyelid blepharoplasty outcome.

METHODS

From January 2018 to January 2020, secondary blepharoplasty involving the above-mentioned unsatisfactory double eyelid results was performed in 83 patients, including 63 patients (141 eyes) with abnormally high skin creases, 6 patients (8 eyes) with multiple creases, and 14 patients (24 eyes) with double eyelid disappearance. The outcomes were assessed 6 months to 2 years after the surgery by reviewing the photographs to evaluate the esthetic outcomes including stability of double eyelid, double fold curve, symmetry, patient satisfaction, and the incidence of complications.

RESULTS

After an average follow-up of 12 months, most patients achieved a better double eyelid appearance. The esthetic outcome was graded as good in 80 patients, poor due to recurrence of double eyelid disappearance in 2, and poor because of asymmetry of the double eyelid curve in length or width in 1 patient. All patients had acceptable scars. No cases of infection or ptosis were observed.

CONCLUSION

Reconstructing the orbital septum and ensuring a firm fixation with the levator aponeurosis or tarsal plate is an effective method to repair unsatisfactory upper eyelid blepharoplasty. Moreover, it is very important to protect the orbital septum and proper treatment during the initial surgery.

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 .