Facial Plast Surg 2018; 34(02): 183-193
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1636918
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Upper Blepharoplasty: Management of the Upper Eyelid and Brow Complex via Transblepharoplasty Approach

Tuan Van Pham
1   Perth Facial Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
09 April 2018 (online)

Abstract

Upper blepharoplasty is one of the more common facial plastic procedures. The upper lid and brow complex are managed together. Whether upper blepharoplasty is performed for medical or cosmetic reasons, the aim is to improve appearance while retaining natural shape and maintaining (or improving) function. For optimal results, it is important to understand relevant eyelid anatomy and the concept of maintaining youthful volume and position of the eyelid brow orbit complex. Management of patient expectations, meticulous planning, and a degree of surgical finesse all contribute to the desired outcome. The article will focus on the assessment, techniques, and complications of upper blepharoplasty, which involve management of the skin, orbicularis oculi, preaponeurotic fat, levator aponeurosis and muscle as related to concomitant ptosis, and lateral brow complex via transblepharoplasty (internal) brow lift and fixation.

 
  • References

  • 1 Hahn S, Holds JB, Couch SM. Upper lid blepharoplasty. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am 2016; 24 (02) 119-127
  • 2 Shadfar S, Perkins SW. Surgical treatment of the brow and upper eyelid. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am 2015; 23 (02) 167-183
  • 3 Branham G, Holds JB. Brow/upper lid anatomy, aging and aesthetic analysis. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am 2015; 23 (02) 117-127
  • 4 Friedman O. Changes associated with the aging face. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am 2005; 13 (03) 371-380
  • 5 Pepper JP, Moyer JS. Upper blepharoplasty: the aesthetic ideal. Clin Plast Surg 2013; 40 (01) 133-138
  • 6 Buchanan AG, Holds JB. The beautiful eye: perception of beauty in the periocular area. In: Massry GG, Murphy MR, Azizzadeh B. , eds. Master Techniques in Blepharoplasty and Periorbital Rejuvenation. New York, NY: Springer; 2011: 25-29
  • 7 Fitzgerald R. Contemporary concepts in brow and eyelid aging. Clin Plast Surg 2013; 40 (01) 21-42
  • 8 Czyz CN, Hill RH, Foster JA. Preoperative evaluation of the brow-lid continuum. Clin Plast Surg 2013; 40 (01) 43-53
  • 9 Knize DM. Anatomic concepts for brow lift procedures. Plast Reconstr Surg 2009; 124 (06) 2118-2126
  • 10 Pessa JE, Chen Y. Curve analysis of the aging orbital aperture. Plast Reconstr Surg 2002; 109 (02) 751-755 , discussion 756–760
  • 11 Lee H, Park M, Lee J, Lee ES, Baek S. Histopathologic findings of the orbicularis oculi in upper eyelid aging: total or minimal excision of orbicularis oculi in upper blepharoplasty. Arch Facial Plast Surg 2012; 14 (04) 253-257
  • 12 Pottier F, El-Shazly NZ, El-Shazly AE. Aging of orbicularis oculi: anatomophysiologic consideration in upper blepharoplasty. Arch Facial Plast Surg 2008; 10 (05) 346-349
  • 13 Rohrich RJ, Pessa JE. The fat compartments of the face: anatomy and clinical implications for cosmetic surgery. Plast Reconstr Surg 2007; 119 (07) 2219-2227 , discussion 2228–2231
  • 14 Massry GG. Prevalence of lacrimal gland prolapse in the functional blepharoplasty population. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg 2011; 27 (06) 410-413
  • 15 Saadat D, Dresner SC. Safety of blepharoplasty in patients with preoperative dry eyes. Arch Facial Plast Surg 2004; 6 (02) 101-104
  • 16 Mancini R. Nonsurgical considerations for addressing periocular aesthetics: a conceptual dimensional approach. JAMA Facial Plast Surg 2014; 16 (06) 451-456
  • 17 Friedland JA, Lalonde DH, Rohrich RJ. An evidence-based approach to blepharoplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg 2010; 126 (06) 2222-2229
  • 18 Guyuron B, Michelow BJ, Thomas T. Corrugator supercilii muscle resection through blepharoplasty incision. Plast Reconstr Surg 1995; 95 (04) 691-696
  • 19 Burroughs JR, Anderson RL. Keys to success when marking the skin in upper blepharoplasty. In: Hartstein J, Massry GG, , G., Holds J. , eds. Pearls and Pitfalls in Cosmetic Oculoplastic Surgery. New York, NY: Springer; 2015: 79-80
  • 20 Har-Shai Y, Hirshowitz B. Extended upper blepharoplasty for lateral hooding of the upper eyelid using a scalpel-shaped excision: a 13-year experience. Plast Reconstr Surg 2004; 113 (03) 1028-1035 , discussion 1036
  • 21 Massry GG. Nasal fat preservation in upper eyelid blepharoplasty. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg 2011; 27 (05) 352-355
  • 22 Mercandetti M, Putterman AM, Cohen ME, Mirante JP, Cohen AJ. Internal levator advancement by Müller's muscle-conjunctival resection: technique and review. Arch Facial Plast Surg 2001; 3 (02) 104-110
  • 23 McCord CD, Seify H, Codner MA. Transblepharoplasty ptosis repair: three-step technique. Plast Reconstr Surg 2007; 120 (04) 1037-1044
  • 24 Martin Jr JJ. Upper eyelid blepharoplasty with ptosis repair by levator aponeurectomy. JAMA Facial Plast Surg 2015; 17 (03) 224-225
  • 25 Wu S, Shi H, Yan S, Sun Y, Pan L, Wu H. Combined anchor suture with external upper eyelid blepharoplasty in Asian patients. Arch Facial Plast Surg 2010; 12 (04) 230-234
  • 26 Sullivan PK, Salomon JA, Woo AS, Freeman MB. The importance of the retaining ligamentous attachments of the forehead for selective eyebrow reshaping and forehead rejuvenation. Plast Reconstr Surg 2006; 117 (01) 95-104
  • 27 Cohen BD, Reiffel AJ, Spinelli HM. Browpexy through the upper lid (BUL): a new technique of lifting the brow with a standard blepharoplasty incision. Aesthet Surg J 2011; 31 (02) 163-169
  • 28 Burroughs JR, Bearden WH, Anderson RL, McCann JD. Internal brow elevation at blepharoplasty. Arch Facial Plast Surg 2006; 8 (01) 36-41
  • 29 Niechajev I. Transpalpebral browpexy. Plast Reconstr Surg 2004; 113 (07) 2172-2180 , discussion 2181
  • 30 Sclafani AP. Comprehensive periorbital rejuvenation with resorbable endotine implants for trans-lid brow and midface elevation. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am 2007; 15 (02) 255-264 , viii
  • 31 Boehmler IV JH, Judson BL, Davison SP. Reconstructive application of the endotine suspension devices. Arch Facial Plast Surg 2007; 9 (05) 328-332
  • 32 Zarem HA, Resnick JI, Carr RM, Wootton DG. Browpexy: lateral orbicularis muscle fixation as an adjunct to upper blepharoplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg 1997; 100 (05) 1258-1261
  • 33 Burroughs JR, Anderson RL. Transblepharoplasty internal brow elevation with Corrugator removal. In: Hartstein ME, Holds JB, Massry GG. , eds. Pearls and Pitfalls in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery. New York, NY: Springer; 2015: 141-143
  • 34 Hass AN, Penne RB, Stefanyszyn MA, Flanagan JC. Incidence of postblepharoplasty orbital hemorrhage and associated visual loss. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg 2004; 20 (06) 426-432
  • 35 Parikh M, Kwon YH. Vision loss after inadvertent corneal perforation during lid anesthesia. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg 2011; 27 (05) e141-e142
  • 36 Hartstein ME, Kikkawa D. How to avoid blepharoplasty complications. Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am 2009; 21 (01) 31-41 , v–vi
  • 37 Czyz CN, Lam VB, Foster JA. Management of complications of upper eyelid blepharoplasty. In: Massry GG, Murphy MR, Azizzadeh B. , eds. Master Techniques in Blepharoplasty and Periorbital Rejuvenation. New York, NY: Springer; 2011: 109-123
  • 38 Zinkernagel MS, Ebneter A, Ammann-Rauch D. Effect of upper eyelid surgery on corneal topography. Arch Ophthalmol 2007; 125 (12) 1610-1612
  • 39 Prischmann J, Sufyan A, Ting JY, Ruffin C, Perkins SW. Dry eye symptoms and chemosis following blepharoplasty: a 10-year retrospective review of 892 cases in a single-surgeon series. JAMA Facial Plast Surg 2013; 15 (01) 39-46
  • 40 Hamawy AH, Farkas JP, Fagien S, Rohrich RJ. Preventing and managing dry eyes after periorbital surgery: a retrospective review. Plast Reconstr Surg 2009; 123 (01) 353-359
  • 41 Baylis HI, Sutcliffe T, Fett DR. Levator injury during blepharoplasty. Arch Ophthalmol 1984; 102 (04) 570-571
  • 42 Kamer FM, Mingrone MD. Experiences with transconjunctival upper blepharoplasty. Arch Facial Plast Surg 2000; 2 (03) 213-216
  • 43 Zimbler MS, Prendiville S, Thomas JR. The “pinch and slide” blepharoplasty: safe and predictable aesthetic results. Arch Facial Plast Surg 2004; 6 (05) 348-350
  • 44 Mendelson BC, Luo D. Secondary upper lid blepharoplasty: a clinical series using the tarsal fixation technique. Plast Reconstr Surg 2015; 135 (03) 508e-516e