Current Concepts in Blepharoplasty
Current Concepts in Blepharoplasty
Learning Objectives: After studying this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Discuss nomenclature and anatomy
associated with upper blepharoplasty. 2. Perform preoperative assessment, decision-making, and counseling of patients.
3. Describe current surgical planning, eyelid marking, and various techniques used in upper blepharoplasty, including
lasers. 4. Recognize and treat postoperative complications from blepharoplasty.
Traditional blepharoplasty has often involved the exci- not hollow, with a crisp tarsal upper lid crease
sion of both lax skin and muscle and excessive removal of fat, and elastic support of the underlying soft tis-
leaving patients long term with a hollow orbit and a harsh,
operated appearance that accelerates the aging process. Cur- sue, creating a smooth, taut pretarsal and pre-
rent methods of periorbital rejuvenation are more conser- septal upper eyelid (Fig. 1). The pretarsal eye-
vative, are based on concise preoperative evaluation, and lid show is often only 2 to 3 mm in the
involve the limited resection of the coveted soft tissue from aesthetically attractive eye. Periorbital skin is
the eye to restore a youthful appearance. The authors de- smooth with no rhytids or redundant folds.
scribe anatomy, preoperative assessment, decision-making
and counseling of patients, surgical planning, eyelid mark- The eyebrows must always be addressed in the
ing, and various techniques, including lasers, along with evaluation of the eyelid for proper restoration
postoperative complications associated with current con- of a youthful and functional eye.
cepts in aesthetic upper blepharoplasty. (Plast. Reconstr.
Surg. 113: 32e, 2004.)
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
Eyelid surgery was described in an Indian
The eyes, or more precisely, periorbital tis- document, the Susruta, more than 2000 years
sues, are paramount in facial beauty, exhibit- ago. Arabian surgeons cauterized excess eyelid
ing youth and a plethora of expressions. Un- skin to relieve drooping in the tenth and elev-
fortunately, this area is also one of the first to enth centuries.1 Avicenna (980 to 1037) per-
show aging from the effects of gravity, ultravi- formed the first recorded blepharoplasty, ex-
olet radiation, and animation. Traditional cising excess upper eyelid skin. Paré2 described
blepharoplasty has involved the excision of lax the functional correction of excess eyelid skin
skin and muscle and the removal of fat, some- in the sixteenth century. In the 1830s several
times leaving patients long term with a hollow authors discussed the resection of redundant
orbit and harsh, operated appearance and of- eyelid skin.3–5 Sichel,6 in 1844, described her-
ten accelerating the aging process. Current niated intraorbital fat. Bourguet7 reported sep-
methods of periorbital rejuvenation are more arate fat compartments in the eyelids and his
conservative in the resection of coveted soft technique for excising excess fat through a
tissue from the eye. This is consistent with transconjunctival approach to prevent scar-
other areas of the face where precious soft ring. The modern blepharoplasty and detailed
tissue is shaped, not necessarily removed. The anatomy of the orbital fat compartments were
ideal youthful appearance can be seen in mod- described by Costañares in 1951.8 Loeb9 and
els and movie stars by studying the appearance Furnas10 described removing redundant mus-
of their eyes. Beautiful young eyelids are full, cle in the late 1970s. These techniques focused
From the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Received for publication May 24, 2002; revised November 13, 2002.
DOI: 10.1097/01.PRS.0000105684.06281.32
32e
Vol. 113, No. 3 / AESTHETIC UPPER BLEPHAROPLASTY 33e
In the Asian eyelid, the orbital septum in-
serts more inferiorly onto the distal expansion
on the levator aponeurosis, which allows more
preaponeurotic fat to reside lower on the up-
per eyelid. This results in a lower or absent
eyelid crease.16 Siegel reported that the levator
aponeurosis in Caucasians joins a network of
fascia in the upper lid rather than the dermis.17
He believes the major difference between Cau-
casian and Asian eyelids is the level at which
the fascia fuses to create the fold. The layers of
fascia are infiltrated with fat in Asians.18 The
two main compartments of orbital fat are
found posterior to the orbital septum. They are
the nasal or medial (orbital) and temporal or
lateral (preaponeurotic) compartments, which
are separated by the superior oblique muscle.
The medial fat is usually pale yellow or white,
and the lateral fat is yellow.
Histologically, the differences are in a
FIG. 1. Periorbital volume depletion with aging. Adapted
greater amount of connective tissue and blood
from Fagien, S. Advanced rejuvenative upper blepharoplas- vessels in the medial fat; the lateral fat has a
ty: Enhancing aesthetics of the upper periorbita. Plast. Re- greater amount of carotenoids.19 Preseptal
constr. Surg. 110: 278, 2002. retroorbicularis fat is located between the or-
bital septum and the orbicularis. It is often a
on resection of redundant tissue, and only re- significant factor in lateral lid hooding and
cently have authors gained an appreciation for puffiness. Subcutaneous fat may be present be-
the conservative resection of periorbital fat.11–13 tween the orbicularis and the skin immediately
Deep or “hollow” upper eyelid sulci are com- beneath the eyebrow and also contributes to
mon results of the modern blepharoplasty, pre- full upper eyelids.20,21
sumably from overresection of soft tissue.14 The motor nerve supply to the upper eyelids
This is especially true in patients with a prom- is from the buccal, zygomatic, and frontal
inent globe or negative upper periorbital vec- branches of the facial nerve. Multiple inter-
tor. Siegel15 believes that the height of the fold communications among facial nerve branches
should be determined by the balance of mo- result in an extensive nerve supply to all pe-
tors—the levator versus the orbicularis. If the ripheral areas of the orbicularis.22 Studies in
levator is weak, a slightly lower fold should be monkeys showed that resection of preseptal
chosen. and supraorbital orbicularis oculi muscle or
pretarsal muscle only did not result in lagoph-
ANATOMICAL CONSIDERATIONS thalmos, but resection of all three components
The upper eyelid can be divided into tarsal did.23 During sleep there is a persistent tone of
and orbital portions at the level of the supra- the orbicularis to keep the eyes closed. If the
tarsal fold. In Caucasians, it is located approx- motor nerves are blocked, the upper lid will
imately 8 to 10 mm from the palpebral margin open.
and results from a fusion of the levator apo-
neurosis, orbital septum, and fascia of the or- CLINICAL EVALUATION
bicularis oculi into the dermis. In the tarsal The surgical approach must take into con-
portion, these layers insert onto the anterior sideration the repositioning of underlying soft
surface of tarsus. This area degenerates with tissue and the redraping of skin. These tissues
age, which may lead to a high fold, with or lose elasticity and support with aging, a condi-
without upper lid ptosis, and/or skin laxity of tion termed dermatochalasis in the skin.
the lid. Loss of crease attachments may cause Blepharochalasis is a recurrent, intermittent,
the skin to rest toward or beyond the upper inflammatory condition of the eyelids resulting
eyelid/lash margin, with a tendency to inter- in edema, erythema, and thin excess eyelid
fere with upper outer visual fields.14 skin secondary to histamine response and re-
34e PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY, March 2004
lated to increased immunoglobulin E. In con-
trast to dermatochalasis, blepharochalasis is
difficult to correct and likely to recur. In the
older population, a fold of excess upper eyelid
skin can impair the function of the eye, specif-
ically by obstruction of visual fields. A preoper-
ative workup may include a consultation with
an ophthalmologist for documentation of vi-
sual field impairment to determine whether
the obstruction is of visual significance (so that FIG. 2. The planned surgical incision is located 2 to 3 mm
its correction is medically necessary) to qualify below the apparent supratarsal fold. Adapted from Fagien,
patients for potential insurance benefits. S. Advanced rejuvenative upper blepharoplasty: Enhancing
aesthetics of the upper periorbita. Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 110:
Evaluation of the upper eyelid must include 278, 2002.
an evaluation of the eyebrow.24 Brow ptosis
should be corrected to achieve repositioning of
heavy eyebrow skin, which may be compen- mm from the lower edge of the brow and not
sated by frontalis contraction to keep the eye- include any thick brow skin. The use of a pinch
brows above the orbital rim. Aging causes the test for redraping the skin is helpful.14 The
eyebrow fat to descend over the upper lid, shape of the skin resection is lenticular in
giving it a full appearance. Once the visual younger patients and more trapezoid-shaped
obstruction has been removed by eyelid skin laterally in older patients (Fig. 3). The index of
resection, the brows may look even heavier safety is much higher laterally (one can remove
since elevation is no longer needed for the more skin) and becomes more critical as the
visual field. This results in a more aged appear- incision proceeds medially (Figs. 4 and 5). The
ance.25–27 If this tissue is resected rather than incision may need to be extended laterally with
resuspended, an overexposure of under- a larger excision, but extension lateral to the
lying tissues may result, giving a hollow orbital rim should be avoided if possible to
appearance.14,28 prevent a prominent scar, especially in male
Medical and ophthalmologic histories must patients and patients with thick skin. Similarly,
be obtained from the patient, including any the medial markings should not be extended
history of chronic illness, hypertension, diabe- medial to the medial canthus for larger resec-
tes, cardiac disease, bleeding disorders, thyroid tions because extensions onto the nasal side-
disturbances, or surgery. Medications, includ- wall result in webbing. If excessive skin is
ing aspirin and other anticoagulants, are listed present medially, a W-plasty may need to be
and withheld for at least 2 weeks preopera- performed. The amount of fat to be resected
tively. Patients must be specifically questioned should be determined preoperatively, with the
concerning dietary supplements that may also patient in up-gaze, down-gaze, and medial and
affect clotting29 as well as concerning their vi- lateral ranges of motion, with photographic
sion, corrective lenses, previous surgery or documentation.
trauma, glaucoma, allergic reactions, excess
tearing, and dry eyes.30 A Schirmer test should SURGICAL TECHNIQUE
be conducted if the patient has dry eyes or Subcutaneous injection with 3 cc of 1% lido-
occasional symptoms, and referral to an oph- caine with 1:100,000 epinephrine using a 27-
thalmologist is recommended.31–33 gauge, 11⁄2-inch needle 7 minutes before oper-
ative scrub preparation will allow time for
PREOPERATIVE MARKINGS maximum vasoconstriction. Hyaluronidase has
Preoperative markings are critical to assess been added to the local anesthetic for more
and are made with the patient sitting upright rapid and even spreading of local anesthesia,
and in neutral gaze. The brow needs to be but diplopia and pupillary dilatation can occur
elevated to the proper position before any secondary to posterior spread of lidocaine.28
marks are made. The supratarsal fold is located The local anesthetic should be injected super-
at approximately 8 to 9 mm above the ciliary ficially to avoid any subcutaneous or intraor-
margin in women and at 7 to 8 mm in men. A bicularis hematoma formation. Incisions are
mark should be made just inferior to this fold made superficially with a fresh no. 15 blade
(Fig. 2). The upper marking must be at least 10 through the epidermis only, and the pre-
Vol. 113, No. 3 / AESTHETIC UPPER BLEPHAROPLASTY 35e
white fat; this fat is usually preserved to avoid
volume depletion of the upper periorbita that
can manifest as notches or depressions in this
region (Fig. 9).
Once fat resection is completed, a lower lid
lateral canthopexy may be performed through
the upper blepharoplasty incision (Figs. 10 and
11). An incision is made laterally to expose the
lateral orbital rim. A 5-0 Vicryl suture is placed
through the anterior lamella of the lateral can-
thus and secured to periosteum on the inside
of the lateral orbital rim at the level of the
upper limbus. It is important to place this su-
ture inside the rim and posteriorly to avoid
tenting the lower lid over the eye. This lift will
be subtle and will resolve over time while pre-
venting ectropion in the postoperative course.
Once hemostasis is obtained, any final adjust-
ments concerning shape are made, especially
laterally, to maximize the appearance of bilat-
eral eyelid symmetry. The incision is closed
MALE BLEPHAROPLASTY
In the United States, 16 percent of blepha-
roplasties are performed on men, and blepha-
roplasty is the second most common cosmetic
surgery performed on male patients.39 Men
excessive skin resection, but is usually managed and/or systemic antibiotics. If a fluid collection
conservatively with patient reassurance, light is present, it should be drained.49
massage, taping, and proper nocturnal lubrica- Postblepharoplasty ptosis is a common finding
tion. Studies show no change in blink dynamics in the recovery room and for several hours fol-
following blepharoplasty.48 lowing the procedure, due to the effect of local
Cellulitis is extremely rare in this highly vas- anesthesia on the levator. Ptosis that develops in
cular area, but it can be treated with topical the postoperative period is an uncommon com-
40e PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY, March 2004
FIG. 15. Upper blepharoplasty using selective skin resection only with orbicularis preservation. No fat removal
was performed. Lower blepharoplasty was also performed. (Left) Preoperative and (right) 2-year postoperative views.
FIG. 16. Upper blepharoplasty using selective skin resection, orbicularis preservation, and central fad pad removal. Endo-
scopic brow lift, laser resurfacing, and lower blepharoplasty were also performed, with no lower lid skin resection. (Left)
Preoperative and (right) 15-month postoperative views.
FIG. 17. Selective skin resection only, with orbicularis preservation and central fat pad removal. Levator advancement and
lowering of the supratarsal fold for correction of levator dehiscence. (Left) Preoperative and (right) 13-month postoperative views.
plication of blepharoplasty that should be evalu- and muscle have been replaced with conser-
ated thoroughly to determine the cause. Lid vative and careful resections of only redun-
asymmetry that persists after surgery or develops dant soft tissue. Ptotic soft tissues are relo-
postoperatively should be evaluated to determine cated rather than resected. The eyelid must
the degree of ptosis and the amount of levator always be considered in conjunction with the
function. Ptosis can be secondary to edema, op- eyebrow, and correction of periorbital aging
erative technique, or injury to the levator com- may require brow repositioning as well. Care-
plex. Severe ptosis with poor levator function ful perioperative technique, meticulous he-
requires reexploration with levator repair. Mild mostasis, and attentive postoperative man-
cases may resolve spontaneously and can be man- agement of blood pressure will prevent most
aged expectantly.50 complications.
CONCLUSIONS Rod J. Rohrich, M.D.
Blepharoplasty is a highly successful aes- Department of Plastic Surgery
thetic surgical procedure that requires care- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
ful preoperative planning and examination 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Suite E7.210
of the patient’s concerns and desires (Figs. Dallas, Texas 75390
15, 16, and 17). Standard resections of fat rod.rohrich@utsouthwestern.edu
Vol. 113, No. 3 / AESTHETIC UPPER BLEPHAROPLASTY 41e
ACKNOWLEDGMENT perimental surgery on the monkey. Plast. Reconstr.
Surg. 87: 32, 1991.
We sincerely thank Vikram Gavande, M.S., University of 24. Gunter, J. P., and Antrobus, S. D. Aesthetic analysis of
Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, Texas, for his the eyebrows. Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 99: 1808, 1997.
assistance with the manuscript. 25. Flowers, R. S., and Flowers, S. S. Precision planning in
blepharoplasty: The importance of preoperative map-
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