Blepharoptosis correction: levator aponeurosis-Müller muscle complex advancement with three partial incisions

Ptosis of the upper eyelid, blepharoptosis, is defined as an abnormally low-positioned upper eyelid margin in the primary gaze, which results in narrowing of the palpebral fissure and opening. Blepharoplasty, including a double-eyelid fold operation, is the most common aesthetic operation in the East Asian population. Patients who want to undergo blepharoplasty often have mild to moderate blepharoptosis.

A retrospective review was conducted of the medical records and preoperative and postoperative photographs of 74 patients who underwent simultaneous blepharoptosis correction and double-eyelid surgery between January of 2007 and October of 2011. All patients had mild (1 to 2 mm) or moderate (3 to 4 mm) bilateral blepharoptosis and excellent or good levator function (>8 mm). All patients underwent levator aponeurosis-Müller muscle complex advancement through three partial incisions.

A primary blepharoptosis operation was performed in 46 patients, with a secondary operation performed in 28 patients. Double-eyelid fold operations were performed in all cases. The average preoperative margin reflex distance 1 measured 0.8 ± 0.19 mm. No intraoperative complications occurred. The average postoperative margin reflex distance 1 was 3.6 ± 0.25 mm. There was a statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative distance values (p < 0.05). Excellent results occurred in 62 patients (83.8 percent), good results occurred in 11 (14.9 percent), fair results occurred in one (1.35 percent), and poor results did not occur.

Blepharoptosis correction with levator aponeurosis-Müller muscle complex advancement through three partial incisions is an effective technique for young patients with mild to moderate blepharoptosis who do not want incision scars.

Therapeutic, IV.