Lower blepharoplasty: transconjunctival fat repositioning

Traditionally, lower eyelid herniated fat is removed, which may cause a sunken or hollow lid appearance, especially in patients with a tear-trough deformity (nasojugal groove). Lower eyelid transconjunctival fat repositioning, defined as the subperiosteal repositioning of the medial and central lower eyelid herniated orbital fat into the nasojugal fold, may prevent the surgical hollow lower eyelid appearance while treating the herniated fat. Fat repositioning may be combined with an endoscopic subperiosteal midface-lift, transcutaneous skin pinch, and transconjunctival orbicularis oculi excision. This technique offers a powerful tool in the surgical armamentarium of the facial plastic surgeon.     

Evolution in techniques for endoscopic brow lift with deep temporal fixation only and lower blepharoplasty-transconjunctival fat repositioning

As we become more confident with our surgical skills following our fellowship training, some of our approaches and techniques will be modified or changed. My primary evolutionary change involves procedures of the upper third of the face, primarily the brow lift and treatment of lower eyelid fat techniques. Traditional methods of forehead and brow rejuvenation, such as coronal, pretrichal, and direct brow lifts, have provided facial plastic surgeons with effective brow elevation for many years. In the past decade, the endoscopic brow lift has rapidly become accepted as part of the surgical armamentarium and is frequently the technique of choice. In general, the temporal dissection, temporal fixation, forehead subperiosteal or subgaleal dissection with release, and treatment to the brow depressor musculature have been standardized. Methods of bony fixation remain a controversial topic as there are numerous methods. We advocate deep temporal fixation only without bone fixation to achieve effective, long-term brow elevation. Traditionally, lower eyelid herniated fat is removed, which may cause a sunken or hollow lid appearance, especially in patients with a tear trough deformity (nasojugal groove). Lower eyelid transconjunctival fat repositioning, defined as the subperiosteal repositioning of the medial and central lower eyelid herniated orbital fat into the nasojugal fold, may prevent the surgical, hollow lower eyelid appearance while treating the herniated fat. Fat repositioning may be combined with an endoscopic subperiosteal midface-lift, transcutaneous skin pinch, and transconjunctival orbicularis oculi excision. This technique offers a powerful tool in the surgical armamentarium of the facial plastic surgeon.     

The “no flap” technique for lower-lid blepharoplasty

The transconjunctival approach to fat pad excision has gained popularity for use on those patients who require fat excision but not redundant skin excision. For skin excision cases, the pinch technique for raising the cuff of redundant skin of the lower lid has been found helpful, particularly in the older patient with latent senile ectropion. We find that elevating the skin or the skin/muscle flap produces edema of the already weak musculature predisposing it to postoperative senile lid hang. Avoiding lower-lid flaps in a lower-lid blepharoplasty has helped prevent this troublesome problem.     

Power of the pinch: pinch lower lid blepharoplasty

Lower lid blepharoplasty is performed with great variation in technique. Conventional lower lid blepharoplasty with anterior fat removal via the orbital septum has a potential lower lid malposition rate of 15% to 20%. Lower lid malposition and the stigma of obvious lower lid surgery have led plastic surgeons to continue to change their approach to lower lid rejuvenation. In recent years, some surgeons have come to rely on alternative procedures like laser resurfacing alone or in conjunction with transconjunctival fat removal and canthopexy in an effort to avoid such complications. The pinch blepharoplasty technique removes redundant skin without undermining. This allows for more controlled wound healing, predictable recovery, and potential for simultaneous laser resurfacing. The combination of pinch blepharoplasty with transconjunctival fat removal leaves the middle lamella intact and reduces the chance of scleral show or ectropion. The purpose of this series is to demonstrate that pinch excision of redundant lower eyelid skin can be safely performed and that it can be used with laser resurfacing and/or transconjunctival fat removal for optimal treatment of the aging eye. A retrospective review of 46 consecutive patients who underwent pinch blepharoplasty, either in isolation or with other periorbital procedures was performed. Follow-up was at least 4 months (range of 4-24 months). In addition, we performed a prospective study of 25 consecutive patients to quantify the amount of skin removed and evaluate results and complications. An average of 8 mm of skin was resected (range of 4-12 mm) with the pinch blepharoplasty technique. Of these patients, 5.6% also underwent transconjunctival blepharoplasty, laser resurfacing, and/or fat grafting of the nasojugal groove. Despite the addition of simultaneous laser resurfacing, we did not see an increase in lower lid malposition. Three of the 71 patients had temporary scleral show that resolved with lower lid massage. In total, only 4 patients had isolated pinch lower lid blepharoplasty. Twelve patients had orbicularis suspension and 15 had either canthopexy or canthoplasty. Five patients who had orbicularis suspension, canthopexy, or canthoplasty had periorbital edema. Two also had pronounced chemosis. Four patients had mild rounding of the lower lid. Pinch blepharoplasty is a versatile technique that produces consistent results. This study confirms that more skin from the lower lid can be resected than classically described. Pinch blepharoplasty can be performed safely in combination with other procedures to enhance lower lid appearance. The absence of skin undermining allows for safe simultaneous laser resurfacing. Preserving the middle lamella and supporting it when necessary allows one to resect significant amounts of lower lid skin without significant risk of scleral show, lower lid rounding, and ectropion. Patients with poor lid tone or laxity may benefit from supportive procedures such as the canthopexy or canthoplasty.     

Effects of endoscopic forehead/midface-lift on lower eyelid tension

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and quantify the increase in lower eyelid tension (stress) after endoscopic forehead/midface-lift in a cohort of patients with normal lower eyelid function preoperatively. METHODS: A prospective nonrandomized study was conducted at a private facial plastic surgery practice and ambulatory surgical center on 22 patients who underwent subperiosteal endoscopic forehead/midface-lift from October 2000 to June 2002. Patients were evaluated preoperatively, 4 to 6 months postoperatively, and approximately 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Compared with preoperative lower eyelid tension, there was a 4- to 5-fold increase in lower eyelid tension at 3 and 5 mm of distraction immediately after the operation. Four to 6 months after the operation, lower eyelid tension decreased but was still 2 to 3 times that of preoperative values. Twelve-month measurements for the 15 patients who remained in the study (the other 7 patients were lost to follow-up or refused to have measurements taken) showed that lower eyelid tension was 1.7 to 1.9 times preoperative values. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that lower eyelid tension increases following endoscopic forehead/midface-lift and that this increased tension is long lasting and quantifiable 12 months after surgery.     

睑袋整复术后下睑外翻的综合矫治

目的:探讨下睑整复术后其下睑外翻的综合矫正方法。方法:本组病例采用皮瓣和肌瓣的游离,眶隔松解,切除下睑三角形组织瓣,眼轮匝肌悬吊等综合治疗方法予以矫正。结果:本组下睑皮肤松弛和睑袋整复术后并发严重下睑外翻患者15例16侧,采用综合下睑外翻矫正术后均取得满意效果。结论:应用综合方法矫正下睑外翻是一种可行的下睑外翻的矫正方法。     

Blepharoplasty: various technics in surgery of eyelid aging]

The authors reviewing their own experience of blepharoplasty (92 cases) over the last ten years, discuss the principal approaches used depending on the age of the patient, the amount of adipose tissue, the lower lid tarsal and muscular laxity and the quality of the skin excess. In the lower eyelid they emphasize the value of the transconjunctival approach in young and or coloured people and the use of a cutaneo-muscular flap in the classical technique. In the upper eyelid, they combine the skin excision with an orbicularis muscle strip and in old people with suspension of the lateral canthus. A wise selection of these various approaches avoids the rare complications (ectropion and scleral show) because blepharoplasty must be considered to be a "variable geometry" operation.     

下睑袋个体化修复208例临床体会

目的：探讨提高下睑袋整复术的手术效果。方法：对208例下睑袋整复术者,针对其不同临床分型分别采用结膜入路眶隔脂肪切除术、皮肤切口入路眶隔缩紧和眼轮匝肌瓣骨膜悬吊固定术、眶隔脂肪移位眶隔膜固定术进行治疗。结果：208例患者术后下睑皮肤平整,无睑退缩及下睑凹陷等并发症,下眶缘、眶鼻沟的凹陷得到明显矫正,下睑缘轮廓自然,远期随访效果满意。结论：针对睑袋形成原因及不同病理改变采用个体化手术设计,术后恢复快,并发症少,手术效果明显、稳定,患者满意度高。     

眶肌筋膜韧带提紧睑袋整形术的临床应用

目的 探讨眶肌筋膜韧带提紧睑袋整形术的方法及临床效果。方法 常规行睑袋整形术的同时，解剖出位于眼轮匝肌外1／3和眶下缘外1／4骨膜之间的眶肌筋膜韧带，将其上提并固定于外眦韧带处。结果 28例患者术中，去除下睑皮肤量较常规的睑袋整形手术平均多5mm，术后下睑皱纹改善明显，且眶颧组织明显上移，术后效果接近于经眶缘骨膜下睑袋提紧的效果。结论 眶肌筋膜韧带提紧睑袋整形术，方法简便，术后效果明显，是治疗下睑松垂较好的手术方法。     

眶肌筋膜韧带提紧睑袋整形术的临床应用

目的探讨眶肌筋膜韧带提紧睑袋整形术的方法及临床效果。方法常规行睑袋整形术的同时,解剖出位于眼轮匝肌外1/3和眶下缘外1/4骨膜之间的眶肌筋膜韧带,将其上提并固定于外眦韧带处。结果28例患者术中,去除下睑皮肤量较常规的睑袋整形手术平均多5mm,术后下睑皱纹改善明显,且眶颧组织明显上移,术后效果接近于经眶缘骨膜下睑袋提紧的效果。结论眶肌筋膜韧带提紧睑袋整形术,方法简便,术后效果明显,是治疗下睑松垂较好的手术方法。     

下睑袋整形术后睑外翻及下睑凹陷的防治

目的:预防下睑袋整形术后睑外翻和下睑凹陷等并发症.方法:术中保留适量眶脂肪并充填眶下缘,缩紧眼轮匝肌,以加强下睑的支撑力.结果:本组80例,60例获随访6个月至3年,除1例因皮下血肿引起轻度睑外翻外,其余均获得满意效果.结论:睑袋整形术中保留适量眶脂肪、缩紧眼轮匝肌可提高手术效果.     

The fourth option: A novel approach to lower-lid blepharoplasty

Three basic surgical techniques exist for lowerlid blepharoplasty: (1) the skin flap, (2) the transconjunctival approach, and (3) the skin-muscle flap. Each addresses the problems of excessive skin, muscle, and infraorbital fat either alone or in combination. None of these procedures will correct fine wrinkles. In fact, in some patients the lower-lid wrinkling appears far worse after fat removal. We describe a fourth option to lower-lid blepharoplasty which corrects the problem of fine wrinkling, periorbital fat herniation, and mild skin excess. For these patients, we remove the fat through a transconjunctival approach and peel the lower lid using full-strength Baker's phenol solution. To date, we have performed this procedure in 17 patients with excellent results. There have been no complications. Our longest followup is 30 months. This procedure is indicated for patients with both excess infraorbital fat and lower-lid skin with associated fine wrinkling. Only the experienced surgeon should attempt this procedure. Caution should be exercised with patients who have previously undergone blepharoplasty as severe ectropion has been reported with chemical peel around the eyelids. Lower-lid chemical peel after a modified skin-muscle flap has been described, but we believe that peeling after a transconjunctival approach is safer. We feel that with more knowledge and experience using the fourth option of lower-lid blepharoplasty, it will become the procedure of choice for select patients.Presented at the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Zurich, Switzerland, September, 1989     

多方法合用修复睑袋术后并发严重下睑外翻

目的 睑袋术后并发严重下睑外翻是一种难以修复的畸形，探讨以多种方法联合应用修复严重下睑外翻的手术效果。方法 对于严重下睑外翻，应用颢浅动脉额支为蒂的额部岛状皮瓣转移、下睑水平缩短及下睑埋没导引缝合等多种方法予以修复。结果 2001年3月至2004年3月之间，应用上述方法共修复10例15只因下睑袋整形而导致的严重下睑外翻。对于大多数病例，应用额部岛状皮瓣转移修复即可。但对于更严重的外翻则需要同时进行下睑水平缩短和下睑板埋没导引缝合这几种方法的联合应用才能取得有效的修复效果。结论 颞浅动脉额支为蒂的额部岛状皮瓣转移、下睑水平缩短和下睑板的埋没导引缝合这三种方法联合应用可以可靠而稳妥地修复睑袋整形手术后并发的严重下睑外翻。     

Transconjunctival versus transcutaneous approach in upper and lower blepharoplasty

In this article, we review the traditional transcutaneous upper lid blepharoplasty technique and contrast it to the newly described transconjunctival upper lid blepharoplasty technique that has limited indications. The technique and application of the skin-muscle flap transcutaneous lower lid blepharoplasty and the transconjunctival lower lid blepharoplasty are also discussed. We prefer the transconjunctival lower lid blepharoplasty as it circumvents the risk of lower eyelid retraction associated with the transcutaneous approach. We also discuss application of adjunctive procedures to the transconjunctival approach to enhance cosmetic results.     

Arcus Marginalis Release II Via Endoscopic Midface-Lift

Tear troughs in combination with midfacial ptosis may be early and synergistic signs of aging. Premaxillary and suborbicularis oculi fat (SOOF) descent decreases soft tissue volume covering the orbital rim, while prolapsing retroseptal fat actually underscores the resulting tear trough shadow. This volume change precedes skin redundancy. Thus, volume redistribution avoiding external skin incisions is the adequate treatment. De la Plaza’s transconjunctival lower lid blepharoplasty is a reliable tool for arcus marginalis release. For patients also requiring an endoscopic midface-lift, even the transconjunctival incision for intraorbital fat compartment realignment can be avoided by performing the release of the lower orbita septum via the buccal mucosa incision. Presented in part at the XXth anniversary meeting of the Mediterranean Society of Plastic Aesthetic Surgery, Nice France, 13–15 April 2007     

Extended lower eyelid skin muscle blepharoplasty

A patient presenting to a facial plastic surgeon with lower eyelid aging often has accompanying midface descent. Many surgical options exist to address these deformities. Blepharoplasty techniques include both the transcutaneous skin-muscle flap as well as the transconjunctival approach. The midface can be addressed via a multitude of techniques, including percutaneous suspension of the malar fat pad, deep plane dissections, subperiosteal and endoscopic midface lifts, and transorbital approaches. Patients who have some midface ptosis but do not meet the standard criteria for formal midface lifting, or who want to avoid the extended recovery associated with such techniques, could benefit from less invasive procedures. We propose the extended skin muscle blepharoplasty to address midface descent and lower lid aging to patients as an alternative to formal midface lifting. The extended skin muscle blepharoplasty is an excellent technique for patients with orbicularis hypertrophy, skin redundancy, a tear trough deformity, and premalar ptosis, as it addresses each of these deformities with minimal downtime. Results for patients with mild but visible midface descent are gratifying.     

内眦蒂眼轮匝肌瓣在眶缘凹陷睑袋整复术中的应用

目的 探讨睑袋整复术中眼轮匝肌瓣的转位利用和效果.方法 在经皮肤入路下睑袋整复术中,还纳疝出的眶隔脂肪,将眶隔膜收紧缝合固定于眶缘.提紧眶肌筋膜韧带,将多余的松弛眼轮匝肌形成内眦蒂肌皮瓣,转位填充于眶下缘与睑囊筋膜之间.结果 自2006年3月至2008年7月,共施术97例,3例术后内眦部小丘状隆起,1～2个月恢复;2例下睑区硬化,经局部热敷、按摩,2～3个月软化;1例出现轻度的睑球分离,2个月后自然恢复.其中93例患者获随访3～15个月,均获得了满意的效果,睑袋、眶缘凹陷均得以矫正,睑颊过渡区恢复年轻态,无皮下索状隆起和异物感,无下睑退缩、睑外翻等并发症发生.结论 内眦蒂眼轮匝肌瓣在修复眶缘凹陷的同时,加强眶隔膜作用,恢复眶前壁的张力,进而恢复年轻化的眶区生理结构,效果理想持久.     

Surgical advances. A comprehensive approach to surgical rejuvenation of the eyes

Methods to rejuvenate the eye region include shortening of the forehead, raising the brow, improving the upper eyelids by excision of blepharochalasis tissue, and reducing lower eyelid fat pads by a transconjunctival approach and at the same time elevating the stretched lateral canthus by an effective canthopexy. The risks and complications of these procedures are minimal, circumscribing the shortcomings of conventional blepharoplasty.     

Combined skin and skin-muscle flap technique in lower blepharoplasty: a 10-year experience

Because of the important function of the pretarsal orbicularis muscle in blinking and tear drainage, the skin and skin-muscle flap technique for lower blepharoplasty was conceived to preserve the anatomical integrity of this muscle as well as its intimate relationship with the tarsal plate. The procedure involves elevating a skin flap over the pretarsal part of the orbicularis muscle followed by a skin-muscle flap at the preseptal part of the orbicularis muscle. This technique permits easy access to orbital fat pads while leaving the pretarsal orbicularis muscle intact and, in turn, facilitates the lateral suspension of the preseptal orbicularis muscle only. Trimming of the excess muscle is performed at the level of the preseptal orbicularis muscle, which is much less important functionally than the pretarsal orbicularis muscle, the part removed in the McIndoe-Beare muscle flap technique. This procedure, which has been performed on 700 eyelids (350 patients) from 1979 to the present, has successfully corrected lower eyelid deformity as a result of aging, particularly lower eyelid atonicity and infrapalpebral crease. The method also offers a safe and fast approach to the infraorbital bony structures in patients undergoing trauma operations or other surgical procedures.