Corrective Strategies for a Complex Deformity Caused by "European-Style Double Eyelid" Blepharoplasty in Asians

"European-style double eyelid" blepharoplasty often leads to a complex deformity, which includes one or more of the following features: a high fold, upper eyelid depression, multiple folds, an obvious scar, blepharoptosis, and lower flap tumidness. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive research on evaluation and treatment strategies for this complex deformity.

During a 6-year period, 65 patients (106 eyes) with a high fold and upper eyelid depression underwent corrective blepharoplasty. The authors classified this complex deformity as mild, moderate, or severe based on the extent of adhesion and tissue insufficiency, and we performed preaponeurotic fat flap transfer in 47 eyes (44.3%), free fat graft in 35 eyes (33%), and free dermis-fat graft in 24 eyes (22.6%), respectively.

The outcomes in 87 eyelids were judged as excellent; and the grading was excellent in 41 eyes (87.2%) that underwent preaponeurotic fat flap transfer, 30 eyes (85.7%) that received a free fat graft, and 16 eyes (66.7%) that received a free dermis-fat graft. The outcomes in only 3 eyes (2.8%) were evaluated as unsatisfactory.

The fundamental reasons behind this deformity were adhesion and tissue insufficiency above the supratarsal crease. The purpose of correction was to reconstruct the gliding system and restore the volume. The authors performed preaponeurotic fat flap transfer, free fat graft, and free dermis-fat graft and achieved satisfactory results. Great improvement in ptosis was achieved by releasing the adhesion and lowering the fold in patients with normal levator muscle function.

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 .