Secondary Upper Blepharoplasty: Converting Static Folds Into Dynamic Folds

For the patients seeking secondary upper blepharoplasty, a static double-eyelid fold featuring an immobile lower flap and depression of the fold is common.

In this study, the authors propose a novel technique of reconstructing pretarsal tissue defects (PTDs) to converting static folds to dynamic folds.

A total of 203 patients with static folds underwent revision surgery. After complete adhesion release of the lower flap, a PTD was identified, which was defined as an area deficient of orbicularis oculi muscle in front of the tarsal plate. If the width of the PTD was over 2 mm, tissue transfer was performed to reconstruct the PTD, usually with a free retro-orbicularis oculus fat graft or a pretarsal orbicularis oculi flap.

Among the 105 patients with severe static folds, 67 received retro-orbicularis oculus fat grafts and 38 received orbicularis oculi muscle flaps. This technique converted a static fold into a dynamic fold. The surgery satisfaction rate was 86.7%. Complications included partial fold loss (n = 7, 3.4%), complete fold loss (n = 3, 1.5%), sunken upper eyelids (n = 5, 2.5%), multiple folds (n = 3, 1.5%), an unnatural curve of the double fold (n = 5, 2.5%), and asymmetric folds (n = 4, 2.0%).

To convert a static fold to a dynamic fold, we devised a technique that releases adhesion of the lower flap and reconstructs the PTD with retro-orbicularis oculus fat graft or an orbicularis oculi muscle flap. Our study achieved a high patient satisfaction rate, and the resulting fold mimicked the dynamics of the congenital double-eyelid fold.