Three Simple Steps for Refining Transcutaneous Lower Blepharoplasty for Aging Eyelids: The Indispensability of Micro-Autologous Fat Transplantation. (21st January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Shu-Hung; Lin, Yun-Nan; Lee, Su-Shin; Huang, Yu-Hao; Takahashi, Hidenobu; Chou, Chih-Kang; Lin, Tsung-Ying; Chen, Rong-Fu; Kuo, Yur-Ren; Lai, Chung-Sheng; Lin, Sin-Daw; Lin, Tsai-Ming
• Is Part Of: Aesthetic surgery journal. Volume 39:Number 11(2019)
• Page Start: 1163
• Page End: 1177
• Publication Date: 2019-01-21
• Subjects: Surgery, Plastic -- Periodicals; 617.95
• DOI: 10.1093/asj/sjz005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1090-820X

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Lower blepharoplasty has been used for rejuvenating lower eyelids, and diverse modifications have been used to treat conjunct deformities at the tear trough/lid-cheek junction. Strategies for recontouring prominent tear trough/lid-cheek junctions, including orbital fat manipulation, have been reported with good results in the literature. Micro-autologous fat transplantation (MAFT) is a previously unevaluated, potentially advantageous approach to blending the prominent tear trough/lid-cheek junction. Objectives: We determined the long-term results after 3-step transcutaneous lower blepharoplasty with MAFT for patients with aging eyelids and prominent tear trough/lid-cheek junctions. Methods: We evaluated 205 patients with aging lower eyelids who underwent transcutaneous lower blepharoplasty with MAFT between October 2010 and September 2016. The 3-step procedure involved a subciliary elliptical skin excision, resection of 3 orbital fat compartments, and MAFT for the tear trough/lid-cheek junction employing a MAFT-GUN under intravenous anesthesia. Results: The mean patient age was 52 years (range, 34-78 years). The mean operating time was 61 minutes. The mean fat volumes delivered to the tear trough/lid-cheek junctions were 2.80 mL and 2.76 mL for the left and right sides, respectively. The average weights of the 3 resected orbital fat compartments were 0.58 g for the left side and 0.56 g for the right side. Patients showed significant improvement and maintenance at an average follow-up of 60.2 months (range, 18-90 months). Conclusions: Three-step transcutaneous lower blepharoplasty with MAFT is an effective, reliable, and promising method with high patient satisfaction and minimal risk of complications. Long-term results demonstrated its utility for aging lower eyelid treatment. Level of Evidence: 4: