An Analysis of Surgical Factors Associated With Clinically Significant Eyelid Edema (CSEE) in Patients Undergoing Blepharoplasty: Lid Crease Techniques Associated with CSEE

Severe postoperative edema after eyelid surgery can have negative clinical and psychological effects. In this study, the authors investigated whether surgical factors, including surgical techniques and suture type, were associated with clinically significant eyelid edema (CSEE).

A chart review was performed on 269 patients who underwent upper eyelid blepharoplasty with or without external levator advancement by 2 surgeons at a single institution between January 2021 and December 2022. Postoperative photos were graded by 2 physicians for eyelid edema using a standardized grading scale ranging from 0 (no edema) to 3 (severe edema). CSEE was defined either as having a grade of 3 at any point postoperatively or any grade that was 1 or greater after 90 days postoperatively. Logistic regression controlling for race was used for analysis; the statistical significance level was defined as p < 0.05.

Of 269 patients, 56 developed CSEE. Of those who underwent blepharoplasty with mini crease enhancement (closure with every other bite incorporating levator aponeurosis), 40.5% developed CSEE versus 12.5% of those without ( p < 0.001). Patients with lid crease formation using buried interrupted sutures had greater CSEE than those with externalized interrupted sutures removed at 1 week (43.8% versus 11.5%, p < 0.01). There was no increased risk of CSEE with additional procedures performed versus blepharoplasty alone.

Patients who underwent blepharoplasty with mini crease enhancement, where more than 4 sutures are placed from skin to levator, and/or had buried suture lid crease formation had greater rates of CSEE.