Treatment of Suture-related Complications of Buried-suture Double-eyelid Blepharoplasty in Asians

Supraciliary Incision as a Modified Approach for Asian Blepharoptosis Patients

BACKGROUND

Blepharoptosis may result in an unattractive appearance and vision problems. According to the severity of ptosis, patients may undergo correction surgery using upper eyelid retractors. The conventional incision for surgical procedures was the double-eyelid incision, potentially resulting in an obvious and unnatural scar or long-lasting edema and prolonged recovery time.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to introduce a supraciliary incision as an alternative to the double-eyelid incision for blepharoptosis correction that creates a scarless, natural appearance with a quick recovery time.

METHODS

From June 2019 to June 2021, 32 patients (36 eyelids) underwent blepharoptosis correction through a supraciliary incision. MRD1, the height of the eyelid fissure, and the patient's satisfaction with the shape and scar as well as postoperative complications (eyelid insufficiency, conjunctival prolapse, inadequate correction of ptosis, and excessive correction of ptosis).

RESULTS

All 32 patients (36 eyelids) were followed up for 6 to 18 months, with an average follow-up of 11.6 months. The postoperative satisfaction rate was 96.43%. There was no overcorrection, but one patient (1 eyelid, 2.8%) was under correction that required secondary correction. One patient (1 eyelid, 2.8%) experienced conjunctival prolapse. Sixteen patients showed lagophthalmos early after surgery, in which one patient experienced early-stage keratitis and completely recovered within two months.

CONCLUSION

Blepharoptosis correction via supraciliary incision allows for broader indications and fewer surgical scars without disrupting eyelid integrity, resulting in quick recovery after 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 .

Misdiagnosis and Treatment of Corneal Complications Caused by Suture Exposure After Buried-Suture Double-Eyelid Blepharoplasty

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to summarize the misdiagnosis and treatment of corneal complications associated with suture exposure in cases of buried-suture double-eyelid blepharoplasty.

METHODS

This study retrospectively analyzed 14 patients with palpebral conjunctival and corneal complications due to suture exposure after buried-suture double-eyelid blepharoplasty at the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from January 2020 to July 2022. The patients' clinical symptoms included photophobia, lacrimation, pain, foreign body sensation, swelling of the eyelids, conjunctival hyperemia, secretion, etc. We recorded the patient's sex, age, surgical method, length of exposed suture, suture type, number of double-eyelid surgeries, surgical site, timepoint when eye discomfort occurred, misdiagnosed disease and treatment.

RESULTS

Three patients were misdiagnosed with dry eye, nine patients were misdiagnosed with viral keratitis, and two patients were misdiagnosed with allergic conjunctivitis. All 14 patients had manifestations of photophobia, lacrimation, pain, foreign body sensation and conjunctival hyperemia. Eight patients had manifestations of swelling of the eyelids. Five patients had manifestations of eye secretions. There were 8 patients with corneal epithelial injuries and 6 patients with corneal ulcers. All patients underwent suture removal without further progression. Ten patients were treated with artificial tears, and 4 patients were treated with calf serum deproteinized gel after suture removal.

CONCLUSION

If there is postoperative eye discomfort caused by eyelid and corneal complications in patients after buried-suture double-eyelid blepharoplasty, clinicians should carefully check whether there is suture exposure and determine the cause in a timely manner. Suture removal is the best way to treat this 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 .

Depth of Upper Lid Crease Construction in Asian Blepharoplasty

The elegance of retrospective analysis of crease construction based on the levels of attachment is that it may be used to correlate a crease’s construction method with an outcome of crease depth based on medical record review. It expands on the current knowledge beyond simply describing a crease as being superficial or deep, and is useful for objective analysis of a technique’s merit.

A Modified Palpebral Marginal Incision Technique Using Levator Aponeurotic Flap in Blepharoplasty

BACKGROUND

Double-eyelid surgery is one of the most common cosmetic surgeries performed in Asians. The palpebral marginal incision technique (PMIT) conceals the incision scar and creates natural-looking double eyelids. However, the amount of eyelid skin removed by conventional PMIT is limited, which potentially results in an unnatural crease or swollen-like inferior skin below the palpebral crease.

OBJECTIVES

To introduce a modified PMIT which creates scarless, dynamic and natural double eyelids with a limited amount of eyelid skin excision.

METHODS

From January 2018 to December 2020, 382 patients (764 eyelids) underwent double eyelid surgeries using the described technique. The key point was to form a pretarsal levator aponeurotic flap, acting as a soft motor transmission to bridge tarsus, orbicularis oculi muscle (OMM), and skin dermis. The overall aesthetic outcomes, which are indicated by surgeon and patient self-assessed satisfaction, and complications, were postoperatively evaluated at different follow-ups.

RESULTS

The mean follow-up period was 7.6 months (range, 6-12 months). Of the patients, 332 (86.9%) reported a satisfactory self-assessment of outcomes and 37 (9.7%) as fair. Secondary operations were required for 13 (3.4%) patients for double-eyelid asymmetry or crease curve malformations. Early-stage hematoma (12 cases) and lagophthalmos (19 cases) were observed and completely recovered within 1 month.

CONCLUSIONS

Our modified PMIT technique was capable of achieving scarless and natural-looking double eyelids with biomimetic anatomical structure.

Arcade Suture Upper Blepharoplasty Combined With the Forceps Technique

BACKGROUND

Double-eyelid blepharoplasty is the most popular cosmetic surgery in Taiwan. The creation of a small palpebral fold along with reduction of eyelid fullness makes the eye look slightly larger, thereby leading to an appearance of youthfulness, alertness, and vitality. Herein, we propose a method of combining the techniques of arcade buried suture and forceps, which is designed to create a more physiologically natural double eyelid.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of 45 patients who underwent double-eyelid surgery between December 2015 and December 2019. The procedures were performed by one senior surgeon using arcade suture upper blepharoplasty combined with the forceps technique. The patients' age ranged from 18 to 38 years (mean, 28 years). Ninety-one percent of the patients were women and were undergoing surgery for cosmetic reasons.

RESULTS

Of the 45 patients who underwent arcade suture upper blepharoplasty with the forceps technique, no patients developed stitch abscess or granuloma, obvious asymmetry, disappearance of line, chemosis, and corneal injury. The follow-up period ranged from 3 months to 4 years (mean, 32 months). Patient satisfaction was very high.

CONCLUSIONS

The arcade suture upper blepharoplasty combined with the forceps technique is a simple method for establishing a durable double eyelid without serious complication and providing excellent results.

Nonincisional Blepharoplasty for Asians

Various nonincisional techniques for double eyelid surgery have been introduced in the past. They are simple, noninvasive, and efficient techniques to create a double eyelid. The authors prefer the full-thickness single continuous method using the 7-0 nylon, round long needle. Appropriate choice of the patients and surgical method results in a natural, esthetically pleasing eyelid and decreases the loss of eyelid crease.

Cause and Management of Suture-related Ocular Complications after Buried-suture Double-eyelid Blepharoplasty

BACKGROUND

Buried-suture double-eyelid blepharoplasty is very popular in Asia, especially in China, but there are few reports related to the cause, management, and prevention of suture-related complications of corneal injury and other damages to the eye. The study aims to determine the cause, management, and prevention of suture-related complications after buried-suture double-eyelid blepharoplasty.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted from January 2016 to January 2019 on 12 patients with corneal and other injuries to the eye after they underwent buried-suture double-eyelid blepharoplasty. The study included patients who underwent intermittent and continuous buried-suture double-eyelid blepharoplasty with the following symptoms: red eye, foreign body sensation, photophobia, pain, tears, and decreased vision. The clinical characteristics, examination method, and treatment were noted.

RESULTS

The patients were all females. Ocular injuries included: corneal epithelial punctate or diffuse injury in nine patients, corneal ulcer in two patients, and a perforating eye injury in one patient. The corneal injury was repaired after exposed nylon thread ends were removed. A suture on the surface of the eye penetrating the sclera was detected in one patient, who then had a vitrectomy caused by endophthalmitis.

CONCLUSION

Suture-removal surgery is indicated to treat suture-related complications. Less experienced clinicians should use an eyelid protection plate to protect the cornea and eyeball during surgery. The conjunctiva of the fornix should be examined after surgery. The clinician should inquire about the operation history in detail and check the conjunctiva of the fornix with an eyelid retractor to avoid misdiagnosis.

Simultaneous Orthognathic Surgery With Asian Double Eyelid Suture Blepharoplasty

BACKGROUND

The main objective of contemporary orthognathic surgery is to correct dentofacial deformities. Nonetheless, many adjunct procedures to enhance the esthetic outcome in orthognathic surgical cases have been successfully incorporated to improve patient satisfaction. The authors report our preliminary experience of performing simultaneous orthognathic surgery with Asian double eyelid suture method blepharoplasty in the same surgical setting.

METHOD

This case series report includes all 19 consecutive cases presenting to the Chang Gung Craniofacial Center for combined orthognathic surgery with Asian double eyelid suture method blepharoplasty. The double eyelid crease height was measured as the vertical line between the upper eyelid margin (eyelid lash) and the upper eyelid crease, observed at the mid-pupillary line with the eyes in primary gaze.

RESULTS

There were no complications or relapse reported within this time period. There was significant improvement in the left and right mid-pupillary double eyelid crease height postsurgery. There were no statistically significant differences between the left and right mid-pupillary double eyelid crease heights after surgery indicating good eyelid crease height symmetry bilaterally was obtained.

CONCLUSIONS

Orthognathic surgery combined with suture method blepharoplasty can be safely performed in the same surgical setting without inappropriate rise in costs or operating room time. This case series demonstrates that excellent esthetic results can be obtained in simultaneous bimaxillary orthognathic surgery with suture method Asian blepharoplasty.

Complications of Asian Double Eyelid Surgery: Prevention and Management

Double eyelid surgery remains one of the most popular aesthetic surgeries, especially among East Asian populations. Complications related to double eyelid surgery can be divided into various categories: (1) patient dissatisfaction, (2) problems with the eyelid crease, (3) problems with the eyelid height, (4) suture-related complications, and (5) complications related to eyelid surgery in general. As with all eyelid surgeries, it is important to understand and appreciate the normal and abnormal function and anatomy of the Asian eyelid to reduce the risk of complications. It is also important to recognize the various complications and their underlying causes so that the surgeon can confidently revise the surgery to achieve optimal outcomes.

Comparison of Palpebral Marginal and Traditional Incision Techniques for Double-Eyelid Surgery

BACKGROUND

The palpebral marginal incision technique is a novel method for double-eyelid surgery. However, studies comparing palpebral marginal and traditional incisions are scarce. We aimed to compare the two techniques with respect to post-operative patient satisfaction and complications.

METHODS

This retrospective analysis included 422 patients who underwent double-eyelid surgery with either the palpebral marginal incision or traditional incision at the Medical Cosmetology Department of Tianjin Eye Hospital from February 2015 to September 2018. Patients were divided into the palpebral marginal (n = 280, 66.4%) and traditional incision (n = 142, 33.6%) groups. Patient satisfaction at 3 and 6 months post-operatively and incidence of complications were compared between the groups. The average post-operative follow-up duration was 6.75 months.

RESULTS

The palpebral marginal incision group was younger than the traditional incision. There were no significant differences in sexes between the groups. Compared with the traditional incision group, the palpebral marginal incision group had greater patient satisfaction at 3 months post-operatively. Patient satisfaction at 6 months post-operatively and total incidence of complications were similar between the groups. Incidence of hypertrophic scar formation was lower in the palpebral marginal incision group. Other complications showed no significant between-group differences.

CONCLUSIONS

The palpebral marginal incision technique has similar surgical outcomes to the traditional incision technique. Our findings confirm that the advantages of the palpebral marginal incision technique include almost indiscernible surgical scarring and faster post-operative recovery, which may result in increasing popularity among young people. Therefore, we suggest that the palpebral marginal incision technique is reliable and worthy of recommendation.

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.

Transconjunctival Müller's muscle Tucking Method for Non-incisional Correction of Mild Ptosis: The Effectiveness and Maintenance

BACKGROUND

In patients with a mild degree ptosis who undergo non-incisional double-eyelid blepharoplasty, simultaneous correction of ptosis is needed to prevent loosening. The transconjunctival Müller's muscle tucking (TMMT) method may be useful in these cases.

OBJECTIVES

The authors performed this study to present the details of the current use of the TMMT method and to provide objective evidence for ptosis correction and its sustained effect.

METHODS

A total of 322 eyelids in 161 patients who underwent mild ptosis correction with the TMMT method from July 2012 to December 2017 were retrospectively examined. The continuous suture method using a single stitch was used for double-fold formation, and the TMMT method was used for ptosis correction for the other incision. The margin to reflex distance (MRD) 1 was evaluated at pre-operation, immediate post-operation, and at 2, 6 months post-operation.

RESULTS

A total of 34 patients who had more than 6 months of follow-up were included. Right-side MRD1 values were 2.08 (± 0.19) mm before the surgery, 3.49 (± 0.16) mm immediately after the surgery, 3.33 (± 0.14) mm at postoperative 2 months, and 3.22 (± 0.17) mm at postoperative 6 months (p < 0.001). The difference of MRD1 between immediate post-operation and at 6 months was 0.25 mm without statistical significance (p > 0.05). Complications (fold loosening, asymmetry, and ptosis recurrence) occurred in three cases (8.8%), all of which were re-corrected by applying the TMMT method.

CONCLUSIONS

The TMMT method was useful for correction of mild ptosis, showed little recurrence, and prevented loss of fold by giving a vertical force to the double-fold.

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 .

Double eyelid surgery by using palpebral marginal incision technique in Asians

BACKGROUND

Approximately 50% of Asians do not have upper eyelid creases. Full-incision methods may leave obvious scars and buried-suture methods cannot remove excess tissues to create a double eyelid. The new palpebral marginal incision technique masked the incision at the upper palpebral margin and removed the excess tissue, thereby achieving scarless and natural double eyelids.

METHODS

The modified technique involved the incision site and positioning processes. The incision line is 1.0-1.5 mm above the palpebral margin. A strip of orbicularis muscle beneath the positioned double eyelid must be removed. The orbital septum is then exposed, and a certain amount of orbital fat is removed. Next, the dermis and tarsal plate are sutured in an orderly manner. Finally, a strip of the redundant skin located approximately 1-3 mm above the incision is excised to correct blepharochalasis before the skin is closed.

RESULTS

This new technique was performed in 212 patients including 56 patients with blepharochalasis who had their skin excised during the surgery. The follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 3 years. Ninety-five percent of the patients rated excellent and good and that they were satisfied with their surgery, and no significant complications occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

The following are the advantages of the authors' technique: (1) minimal or even no surgical scarring is discernible on the eyelids even when they are closed; (2) solves the problem of excessive tissue and correct blepharochalasis; and (3) the double eyelid fold is stable and natural for a long time.