Abstract
Thick skin presents a unique set of challenges within the realm of facial plastic
surgery, and addressing the lower lid complex is no exception. There are several procedures
for addressing the lower lids, the first and foremost being lower lid blepharoplasty.
However, the remaining procedures combined with surgical techniques have exclusive
implications in thick skin. Understanding the anatomy and various techniques that
can be applied to thick skin can help achieve aesthetically more pleasing results
in comparison to those of thin skin. As will be discussed in this article, patients
with skin color of Fitzpatrick's grade III or higher have several characteristics
associated with their skin, including thicker dermis as well as different patterns
of aging, which have implications for addressing the lower lid complex. The senior
author has extensive experience performing lower lid procedures and seeks to impart
how best to understand and adapt for these differences to allow for the best aesthetic
result.
Keywords
lower lid blepharoplasty - thick skin - periorbital rejuvenation - canthoplasty -
canthopexy
