Aesthetic lateral canthoplasty.

INTRODUCTION: To report our technique and experience in using a minimally invasive approach for aesthetic lateral canthoplasty. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing lateral canthoplasty through a minimally invasive, upper eyelid crease incision approach at Jules Stein Eye Institute by one surgeon (R.A.G.) between 2005 and 2008. Concomitant surgical procedures were recorded. Preoperative and postoperative photographs at the longest follow-up visit were analyzed and graded for functional and cosmetic outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 600 patients (1,050 eyelids) underwent successful lateral canthoplasty through a small incision in the upper eyelid crease to correct lower eyelid malposition (laxity, ectropion, entropion, retraction) and/or lateral canthal dystopia, encompassing 806 reconstructive and 244 cosmetic lateral canthoplasties. There were 260 males and 340 females, with mean age of 55 years old (range, 4-92 years old). Minimum follow-up time was 3 months (mean, 6 months; maximum, 6 years). Complications were rare and minor, including transient postoperative chemosis. Eighteen patients underwent reoperation in the following 2 years for recurrent lower eyelid malposition and/or lateral canthal deformity. CONCLUSIONS: Lateral canthoplasty through a minimally invasive upper eyelid crease incision and resuspension technique can effectively address lower eyelid laxity and/or dystopia, resulting in an aesthetic lateral canthus.

Use of hyaluronic Acid gel in the management of paralytic lagophthalmos: the hyaluronic Acid gel "gold weight".

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of injecting hyaluronic acid gel in the upper eyelid as a nonsurgical alternative in the treatment of paralytic lagophthalmos. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 9 patients (10 eyelids) with paralytic lagophthalmos treated with hyaluronic acid gel in the prelevator aponeurosis region and/or pretarsal region of the paralytic upper eyelid. Pretreatment, posttreatment, and follow-up photographs were digitized, and overall outcomes assessed. Measurements of lagophthalmos were standardized and compared. Slit-lamp examination was used to evaluate the degree of exposure keratopathy. ImageJ was used for photographic analysis. RESULTS: Ten eyelids (9 patients, 7 men; mean age 69.2 years; range, 31-90 years) with paralytic lagophthalmos were treated with hyaluronic acid gel. The average amount of injected hyaluronic acid gel was 0.9 ml (range, 0.2-1.2 ml). All patients demonstrated significant improvement in lagophthalmos and exposure keratopathy. The mean improvement in lagophthalmos was 4.8 mm (range, 0.9-11.9 mm; p = 0.001). Of the 5 patients with follow-up, the mean follow-up period was 3.6 months (range, 2-5 months). Of these, 2 had no change in lagophthalmos (both maintained 0 mm at 5 months), one had a slight decrease in lagophthalmos (4.8-4.6 mm at 2 months), one had a slight increase in lagophthalmos (0.3-0.5 mm at 2 months), and one had a more significant increase in lagophthalmos (1.9-4.3 mm at 4 months). The latter patient underwent a second treatment with further reduction of lagophthalmos to 0.4 mm. Overall, there was a decrease in margin reflex distance from the upper eyelid margin to the corneal light reflex (MRD1) but it was not statistically significant. Complications were minor and included transient ecchymosis, edema, and tenderness at the injection sites. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these preliminary results, hyaluronic acid gel shows promise as a safe and effective nonsurgical treatment for the management of paralytic lagophthalmos. This treatment may be particularly useful in patients who are poor surgical candidates and/or as a temporizing measure in patients in whom return of facial nerve function is anticipated, given the hyaluronic acid gel's properties of slow resorption and reversibility with hyaluronidase.

Eyelid mucous membrane grafts: a histologic study of hard palate, nasal turbinate, and buccal mucosal grafts.

PURPOSE: To histologically evaluate the outcome of mucous membrane grafts to the eyelid. METHODS: Case series of 31 eyes from 24 patients who underwent transplantation of hard palate (25 eyes), buccal (1 eye), or nasal turbinate (5 eyes) mucosa to the posterior eyelid surface. These grafts were biopsied at 0.5 months to 84 months (mean, 20 months) postoperatively. They were examined with light microscopy and compared with either the donor mucosa from the same patient (2 patients) or the typical donor site histology (22 patients). RESULTS: Graft biopsies revealed general epithelial morphology that was quite similar to the respective donor sites in virtually all cases. Six (25%) of 24 hard palate graft biopsies, which were obtained at 8 months to 49 months (mean, 22 months) postoperatively, displayed orthokeratosis alternating with parakeratosis, while 12 (50%) demonstrated parakeratosis alone, and another 6 (25%) showed adjacent regions of parakeratotic and nonkeratinized epithelium. No hard palate grafts showed complete absence of keratinization after transplantation. Other significant findings included loss of goblet cells in nasal turbinate grafts and few submucosal glands remaining in any specimen. CONCLUSIONS: Full-thickness mucosal grafts typically maintain their native epithelial morphology following transplantation to the ocular surface. Submucosal glands usually do not survive transplantation, which could be the result of intentional thinning of the graft at the time of transplantation. Contrary to the opinion that hard palate graft epithelium usually undergoes metaplasia from keratinized to nonkeratinized within 6 months following transplantation to the eye, all hard palate grafts in this study remained orthokeratotic and/or parakeratotic.

Suture midface suspension.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a simple and effective facelift technique useful as an adjunct to other oculoplastic procedures METHODS: Retrospective, non-comparative case series. Thirty five patients undergoing suture midface suspension from 1998 to 2000. Suspension sutures were passed from the nasolabial fold to the temporalis fascia to elevate the midface and the corner of the mouth. RESULTS: A satisfactory and stable outcome is obtained in 2 years of follow up. CONCLUSION: Suture midface suspension is a safe and effective technique for the management of midface descent.

Comparison of the efficacy of hard palate grafts with acellular human dermis grafts in lower eyelid surgery.

BACKGROUND: The Madame Butterfly procedure of lower eyelid reconstruction addresses lower eyelid retraction after blepharoplasty caused by middle lamellar tethering. After scar lysis and subperiosteal midface lift, the surgical procedure uses a lower eyelid spacer graft to prevent further postoperative contraction of the middle and posterior lamellae. Different graft materials have been used, including autogenous hard palate and AlloDerm. METHODS: The preoperative and postoperative photographs of consecutive patients who had undergone the Madame Butterfly procedure were analyzed retrospectively. Thirty-five patients undergoing AlloDerm grafting were compared with 25 patients undergoing hard palate grafting. Their lower eyelid heights were digitally measured and analyzed statistically for differences between the two groups. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found in the amount of eyelid elevation between the AlloDerm and hard palate groups, although a trend was seen that hard palate grafts resulted in both better elevation (p = 0.121) and a lower failure rate (p = 0.092). Female patients in both groups were found to experience significantly greater eyelid elevation than male patients (p = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Both AlloDerm and hard palate were found to be successful grafting materials for lower eyelid elevation in patients with postblepharoplasty lower eyelid retraction. Each has advantages and disadvantages, and surgeons should tailor their choices according to each patient.

Efficacy of "thick" acellular human dermis (AlloDerm) for lower eyelid reconstruction: comparison with hard palate and thin AlloDerm grafts.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of thick acellular human dermis (thick AlloDerm [LifeCell Corporation, The Woodlands, Tex]) grafts for posterior and middle lamellae reconstruction to correct lower eyelid retraction and to compare the long-term efficacy of thick AlloDerm with thin AlloDerm and hard palate grafts. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing lower eyelid reconstruction, which encompassed subperiosteal midface lifting, middle lamellae scar lysis, and placement of lower eyelid thick AlloDerm graft. Analysis included 21 surgical procedures in 11 patients. All patients had undergone at least 1 previous lower eyelid surgery with resultant lower eyelid retraction and scleral show. Preoperative and postoperative photographs were used for analysis. Measurements of the corneal diameter and distance from pupil center to lower eyelid margin were obtained, standardized, and compared. RESULTS: Of 21 procedures, 16 (8 of 11 patients) demonstrated improvement of lower eyelid position. The mean improvement of the median marginal reflex distance was 1.6 mm (range, 0.4-2.2 mm). The average follow-up after surgery was 215 days (range, 3-12 months). Of 21 procedures (3 patients), 5 failed to demonstrate improvement of lower eyelid position, with the mean final eyelid position lower postoperatively by 0.8 mm (range, 0.4-1.4 mm). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated long-lasting improvement of lower eyelid position with placement of thick AlloDerm grafts during lower eyelid reconstruction. The patients in our study had undergone previous lower eyelid blepharoplasty with resultant middle lamellae tethering. Surgical correction included subperiosteal midface-lift and middle lamellae scar lysis, in addition to thick AlloDerm graft placement to the lower eyelid. The results are comparable to hard palate grafts but perhaps superior to thin AlloDerm grafts.

Collagen fillers in facial aesthetic surgery.

The search for an ideal facial augmentation agent continues. Patient evaluation, choice of augmentation agent, and injection technique are discussed.

Facial recontouring with autogenous fat.

Facial fat deflation represents a significant component of facial aging. We discuss and detail preoperative patient selection, fat transfer technique, and potential pitfalls. Fat transfer can reliably improve facial fat deflation and improve facial appearance in the long-term.

Lumps and bumps: late postsurgical inflammatory and infectious lesions.

Late postsurgical infectious or inflammatory complications after facial surgery present a difficult challenge. These complications occur at least 2 weeks after surgical procedures and are often attributable to unique causes, in contrast to complications within the first postoperative week. The most worrisome complications in this period are caused by mycobacterial infections, because these infections can be severe and require a protracted treatment course. A high degree of suspicion is required early in presentation because these lesions can be subtle and similar to other infectious or inflammatory lesions. The authors discuss the clinical manifestations and diagnostic and treatment rationale for late postoperative infectious and inflammatory lesions. The authors also demonstrate and compare the clinical manifestations of mycobacterial infections, bacterial infections, and sterile inflammatory reactions. In addition, the treatment rationale for mycobacterial infections is reviewed. Late postoperative infections caused by mycobacteria are reported with increasing frequency in the cosmetic literature. These cases illustrate diverse challenges in the identification and treatment of late postoperative lesions.

Upper eyelid skin grafting: an effective treatment for lagophthalmos following blepharoplasty.

Patients who have undergone upper blepharoplasty occasionally develop anterior lamellar insufficiency, which can result in lagophthalmos, corneal decompensation, and even blindness. Historically, skin grafts in the upper eyelid have been considered a last-resort procedure because of poor cosmetic outcomes. Poor cosmetic outcomes result from the traditional practice of placing the skin graft above the eyelid crease. This article describes a surgical technique for upper eyelid skin grafting in which the graft is placed in a supraciliary position. Presented are results of a retrospective study of 20 patients (31 eyelids) who underwent supraciliary upper eyelid skin grafting. The postoperative results were evaluated by examining the improvement in lagophthalmos, the improvement of keratopathy and comfort of the patient, and the cosmetic appearance of the graft. Upper eyelid skin grafting using this surgical technique is an effective and cosmetically acceptable method to improve corneal integrity and comfort in patients who have corneal exposure from insufficient anterior lamella after upper eyelid or eyebrow surgery.

Orbital exenteration: results of an individualized approach.

PURPOSE: The authors report and evaluate their experience with an individualized approach to orbital exenteration. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was performed on a consecutive series of 25 orbital exenteration patients at a tertiary care center. The cases were classified into two groups for the retrospective analysis: Total exenteration procedures involved the removal of the entire orbital contents including the periorbita (13 cases), and subtotal procedures preserved at least a quadrant of the orbit or the orbital tissues posterior to the globe (12 cases). RESULTS: The total exenteration group had a lower rate of clear surgical margins and a higher rate of systemic metastasis, whereas patients in the subtotal exenteration group had fewer surgical complications and better functional and aesthetic results. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical planning for orbital exenteration should take into account the location, extent, and biological behavior of the orbital disease process and the reconstructive and prosthetic options for the exenterated socket. When an individualized approach to orbital exenteration is used, subtotal procedures can offer improved functional and aesthetic results while still maximizing the chances for a surgical cure.

The horizontal dynamic of the medial and lateral canthus.

PURPOSE: To identify and quantify the horizontal dynamic movement of the medial and lateral canthus in subjects without previous eyelid surgery. METHODS: Prospective, experimental study. RESULTS: Seventy-two eyes in 36 normal subjects were studied. Frontal view lateral canthal movement with abduction of the globe averaged -0.4 mm (negative numbers mean the canthus moves in the opposite direction of the globe), with a range of -3.8 to 2.1. Profile view lateral canthal movement with abduction of the globe averaged 1.6 mm, with a range of -2.2 to 4.7 mm. Frontal view lateral canthal movement with adduction of the globe averaged -0.3 mm, with a range of -3.7 to 3.9 mm. Profile view lateral canthal movement with adduction of the globe averaged 0.5 mm, with a range of -2.4 to 3.9 mm. Frontal view medial canthal movement with abduction of the globe averaged -0.4 mm, with a range of -3.9 to 1.5 mm. Frontal view medial canthal movement with adduction of the globe averaged 0.1 mm, with a range of -5.2 to 4.6 mm. Intrasubject variation was observed for all measurements. CONCLUSIONS: The medial canthus and the lateral canthus are dynamic structures that move with horizontal eye movements in patients who have not undergone canthoplasty. The measured movement of the lateral canthus differed, based on the position from which the measurements were made, and was not always in the direction of the globe. The movement of the lateral canthus and the medial canthus differed on the right and left sides of the same subject.

The inferomedial orbital strut: an anatomic and radiographic study.

PURPOSE: To study the anatomic and radiographic features of the inferomedial orbital strut (IOS), with particular emphasis on the region of the posterior IOS. METHODS: Cadaver dissection study of the IOS was performed on 20 orbits of 10 fresh-frozen cadaver specimens. Radiographic volumetric analysis was performed on CT scans of 20 orbits to measure the volume available for decompression in the region of the posterior IOS. RESULTS: The anterior IOS provided bony support to the orbit and served as a site of attachment for globe-supporting suspensory ligaments. The midportion of the IOS demonstrated a contiguous anatomic relation to the maxillary sinus ostium. The posterior IOS consisted of two components: the intraorbital process of the palatine bone and ethmoidal air cells that extended inferior and posterior to the IOS. Radiographic volumetric analysis demonstrated that there was an average of 2.1 mL of volume available for decompression in the region of the posterior IOS (range, 1.2 to 3.3 mL). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this anatomic and radiographic study of the inferomedial orbital strut support the concept of a posterior inferomedial orbital decompression. The region of the posterior IOS appears to offer significant volume for axial globe mobilization while minimizing the risk of globe dystopia and/or impairment of the maxillary sinus drainage.

Bovine hydroxyapatite orbital implant: a preliminary report.

PURPOSE: To determine the safety and efficacy of bovine hydroxyapatite as an orbital implant material. METHODS: Prospective, consecutive case series of patients undergoing enucleation, evisceration, or secondary orbital implantation. A motility peg was placed in all consenting candidates. Patients were followed 1 week, 1 month, and several months after surgery for signs of inflammation, infection, extrusion, or other complication. RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients received a bovine hydroxyapatite orbital implant. Magnetic resonance imaging was obtained in 3 patients (3 orbits) approximately 4 weeks after surgery and showed signs of peripheral fibrovascular ingrowth in all three cases. Magnetic resonance imaging was obtained in 9 patients (9 orbits) 4 to 12 months after surgery and showed signs of incomplete fibrovascular ingrowth in 1 of 9 (11%) cases, subtotal fibrovascular ingrowth in 2 of 9 (22%) cases, and complete fibrovascular ingrowth in 6 of 9 (67%) of cases. Complications included postoperative chemosis in 3 cases (11%) and exposure requiring reoperation in 2 cases (7%). Motility peg placement was performed successfully in 5 patients (5 orbits). CONCLUSIONS: Bovine hydroxyapatite appears to be a safe and effective orbital implant material. The material appears to be biocompatible and nonallergenic. Bovine hydroxyapatite allows for fibrovascular integration and motility peg placement.