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

Three basic surgical techniques exist for lower-lid 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.