The Effect of Upper Aging Blepharoplasty on Upper and Lower Eyelid Position

PURPOSE: Change in eyelid position after upper blepharoplasty is an important factor that can affect postoperative patient satisfaction. However, no one has investigated eyelid changes during follow-up for upper eyelid surgery. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate position changes in the upper and lower eyelids during the follow-up period after upper blepharoplasty in Korean. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of patients who underwent upper blepharoplasty for uncomplicated upper eyelid dermatochalasis. Digital photographs were taken preoperatively, immediately after surgery, and at 1 week postoperative, 1 month postoperative, and 3 months postoperative. Our main-effect variables were marginal reflex distance (MRD) 1 and 2 and palpebral fissure height (PFH), which were measured from digital photographs using ImageJ software. RESULTS: We enrolled 180 eyes from 90 patients (M: 35 and F: 55) with a mean age of 63.8 ± 10.3 years. The eyelid measurements (MRD1, MRD2, PFH) taken preoperatively, immediately after surgery, and 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperative were, respectively: MRD1 (mm): 2.56 ± 1.08, 1.91 ± 0.86, 2.21 ± 1.02, 2.66 ± 1.01, 2.75 ± 0.99; MRD2 (mm): 4.91 ± 0.93, 4.62 ± 0.87, 4.68 ± 0.90, 4.87 ± 0.86, 4.91 ± 0.83; and PFH (mm): 7.48 ± 1.64, 6.53 ± 1.46, 6.89 ± 1.53, 7.52 ± 1.51, 7.65 ± 1.49. All postoperative measurements for MRD1 and PFH were significantly different from the preoperative measurement, except for measurements taken 1 month postoperative. MRD2 measurements differed significantly from the preoperative measurements immediately after surgery and 1 week postoperative. Among age, preoperative PFH, and amount of skin-muscle resection, only preoperative PFH significantly affected PFH changes immediately after surgery and at 3 months postoperative (OR 0.636, 95% CI 0.478-0.847, OR 0.506, 95% CI 0.386-0.663). CONCLUSION: All eyelid measurements (MRD1, MRD2, and PFH) decreased 1 week postoperatively from values immediately after surgery, but MRD1 and PFH increased slightly 3 months postoperative. We note that postoperative changes in PFH may be large in patients with large PFH before blepharoplasty. It should also be noted that reverse ptosis of the lower eyelid occurs immediately after upper eyelid surgery.