Feasibility of a de-epithelialized orbicularis oculi musculocutaneous flap for subbrow blepharoplasty

Article information

Arch Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2019;25(3):89-94

Publication date (electronic) : 2019 July 26

doi : https://doi.org/10.14730/aaps.2019.01760

Seong Yeon Kim, Ma Rhip Ahn, Young Chul Suh, Young Jin Kim, Jung Ho Lee

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence: Jung Ho Lee Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Bucheon St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, 327 Sosa-ro, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon 14647, Korea Tel: +82-32-340-7059, Fax: +82-32-340-2666, E-mail: tfm0822@catholic.ac.kr

Received 2019 May 16; Revised 2019 June 19; Accepted 2019 June 20.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Subbrow blepharoplasty (SBB) was designed to overcome the disadvantages of classic upper eyelid blepharoplasty by excising extra skin, subcutaneous adipose tissue, and the orbicularis oculi muscle along the lower border of the eyebrow. Compared with classic blepharoplasty, SBB is more effective for the correction of lateral eyelid skin drooping and results in a more natural-looking eyelid crease [1].

However, SBB has certain limitations. The upper eyelid skin is thickest just below the eyebrow [2], which is excised in SBB. Consequently, following the resection of redundant tissue, the thick skin below the eyebrow needs to be sutured to the thinner eyelid skin, which can cause stair-step deformities. In addition, the supraorbital area, which is covered by thick skin and subcutaneous tissue before surgery, is covered postoperatively by thinner tissue, which may make the sunken upper eyelid more visible if the patient has tissue atrophy between the orbital rim and upper border of the globe.

In this study, we tried to achieve successful periorbital rejuvenation and sunken upper eyelid correction in patients with sunken upper eyelids and dermatochalasis using a modified form of SBB. In this modified technique, instead of excision, the skin and subcutaneous tissue in the subbrow area are elevated as a flap, which is then used to correct the sunken deformity.

METHODS

Anatomical basis of the flap

Our newly developed method is relatively simple and safe, but requires knowledge of the blood supply to the orbicularis oculi muscle, which originates from three main sources [3]. The first blood source is the orbitozygomatic branch originating from the superficial temporal artery, which travels into the muscle at a point 2 cm from the lateral side of the muscle. The second source is the branch of the angular artery, which runs into the muscle at a point 1 cm from the medial side of the muscle. The third source is the ophthalmic artery (Fig. 1A). Therefore, a versatile orbicularis oculi musculocutaneous flap can be created and utilized if the branch at the medial or lateral portion can be preserved. There are many publications describing the application of anatomical knowledge to develop techniques that use an orbicularis oculi musculocutaneous-based island flap to cover upper eyelid defects following trauma or tumor removal [4-7]. Using a combination of anatomical knowledge and data from previously published clinical studies, we developed a technique to create a de-epithelialized orbicularis oculi musculocutaneous flap, with a branch of the ophthalmic artery, to correct sunken upper eyelid deformities (Fig. 1B).

Fig. 1.

(A) Schematic diagram of the blood supply of the orbicularis oculi muscle and periorbital area. (B) Elevation of a de-epithelialized orbicularis oculi flap using the branches of the ophthalmic artery.

In our clinic, we recommend SBB for patients who have dermatochalasis and want a natural look without a double fold. In such patients, we performed modified SBB for the simultaneous correction of dermatochalasis and sunken upper eyelid in patients who presented with sunken upper eyelid. Sunken upper eyelid was identified in the primary position of the gaze and after cephalic traction of the redundant upper eyelid. Additionally, patients with sunken upper eyelid and mild-to-moderate ptosis underwent modified SBB if they refused a double-fold operation or natural rejuvenation.

From August 2016 to January 2018, 13 patients were recruited for the study (11 female and 2 male). The mean age of the patients was 63 years (range, 47–81 years) and each patient was followed up for 6 months postoperatively (Table 1). The postoperative results were scored as follows: dissatisfied, 0; fair, 1; good, 2; or excellent, 3. Six months postoperatively, each patient was given a questionnaire to complete; overall satisfaction was scored in terms of the aesthetic outcome and scar evaluation. In addition, three plastic surgeons (JWS, HWS, and YJL) who were blinded to the specific details of each case also evaluated each patient’s clinical photographs and rated their overall satisfaction in terms of the aesthetic outcome and scar evaluation.

Table 1.

Patient characteristics and follow-up period

The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Bucheon St. Mary’s Hospital (IRB No. HC18REDI0094) and was performed in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Surgical technique

Surgical planning was performed with the patient in a sitting position. To prevent pedicle injury, the supraorbital foramen was first palpated and then marked. In addition, we also marked the sunken area in the upper eyelid. Next, the superior incision line was designed along the inferior border of the eyebrow, and the amount of skin to be excised was determined by the pinch test. The maximum possible amount of redundant skin at the lateral side of the eyelid was excised.

Under local anesthesia, the skin was excised, and de-epithelialization was performed. The musculocutaneous flap was then elevated from the lateral to medial direction. In a position close to the supraorbital foramen, we stopped the submuscular dissection and performed subcutaneous undermining in order to prevent pedicle injury. After elevation, and to inset the flap snugly, a submuscular pocket between the orbital septum and orbicularis oculi was created over the sunken area. According to the amount of sunken deformity, any flap redundancy was excised. If the flap thickness was sufficient, the flap was medially transposed over the sunken area. If the flap was thin, however, it needed to be folded (Fig. 2). Then, the elevated flap was fixed to the periosteum of the supraorbital rim using 5-0 Vicryl sutures, and the surgeon ensured that the sunken deformity and any other irregularities were corrected. After flap inset, the orbicularis oculi muscle along the inferior incision margin was fixed to the periosteum of the supraorbital rim using 5-0 Vicryl sutures to prevent drooping of the eyelid skin. The skin was temporarily closed to check for flap-induced bulkiness, and an inset flap was thinned if bulkiness was observed. Then, the subcutaneous tissue was sutured using 5-0 Vicryl sutures and the skin was closed using 6-0 silk sutures. The deep dermis of the lower flap was approximated with the superficial dermis of the upper flap to prevent a stair-step deformity secondary to the difference in skin thickness. On postoperative day 1, the surgeon checked for complications, such as hematoma, wound disruption, or asymmetry. All sutures were removed on postoperative day 5.

Fig. 2.

(A) Orbicularis oculi musculocutaneous flap transposed over a sunken area. (B) Folding of a thin orbicularis oculi musculocutaneous flap to fill the sunken area.

RESULTS

During the 6-month follow-up period, there were no complications, such as hematoma, wound dehiscence, or infection. The mean size of the flaps was 10.7 mm (width)×46 mm (length). Overall aesthetic satisfaction, on a scale of 0 to 3, was rated as 2.85 by the patients and 2.59 by the plastic surgeons, indicating good to excellent results. The evaluation of visible scars also yielded good to excellent results (2.23 and 2.44 by the patients and the plastic surgeons, respectively) (Table 2).

Table 2.

Postoperative mean satisfaction as judged by patients and plastic surgeons

Case 1

A 65-year-old man visited our clinic with a drooping eyelid, visual interference, and skin eruption in the lateral canthal area due to maceration caused by contact of the upper and lower eyelids (Fig. 3A). Upon physical examination, we noted severe upper eyelid hooding. In addition, a sunken deformity was observed with cephalic traction of the eyebrow (Fig. 3B). To correct the upper eyelid drooping and sunken upper eyelid, we planned to apply the modified SBB technique. The skin incision was designed as described above. Following skin incision and de-epithelialization, a musculocutaneous flap was elevated and an inferior submuscular pocket was created to inset the flap. Then, the flap was transposed over the sunken area and the superior margin of the flap was fixed to the periosteum of the supraorbital rim. At the 6-month follow-up, the patient’s eyelid hooding had visibly improved, and the sunken deformity had been corrected (Fig. 3C and D).

Fig. 3.

Case 1. (A) A 65-year-old man with dermatochalasis. (B) With cephalic traction of the upper eyelid skin, sunken upper eyelid was noted (circle). (C) Six months postoperatively. (D) Six months postoperatively, with cephalic traction of the upper eyelid skin. The sunken upper eyelid was successfully corrected after surgery (circle).

Case 2

A 56-year-old woman visited our clinic with upper eyelid skin drooping and a reduced visual field. Upon physical examination, we observed upper eyelid laxity and a sunken deformity (Fig. 4A). To correct the eyelid laxity and sunken deformity simultaneously, we performed our modified SBB technique. At the 6-month follow-up, periorbital rejuvenation was observed, and the patient’s sunken deformity had improved (Fig. 4B).

Fig. 4.

Case 2. (A) A 56-year-old woman with lateral upper eyelid hooding and sunken upper eyelids (green arrow heads). (B) Six months postoperatively. The sunken upper eyelid was successfully corrected after surgery (green blank arrows).

DISCUSSION

Brow ptosis, blepharoptosis, dermatochalasis, and loss of periorbital volume can all occur with increasing age. In some older patients, the fold of the upper eyelid skin droops and creates a hood, thereby interfering with vision [8]. If the accumulation of excess skin in the area below the lateral third of the eyebrow is particularly prominent, then contraction of the frontalis muscle against gravity gradually weakens with age, resulting in lowering of the lateral third of the eyebrow [9].

Because of the typical anatomical characteristics of Asian patients, such as thicker eyelid skin and a higher position of the eyebrows, lateral hooding can be more significant in older Asian patients. Therefore, in such patients, traditional blepharoplasty is often inadequate for the removal of redundant upper eyelid skin and can result in scarring beyond the lateral canthal area, giving rise to unnatural postoperative results [10].

SBB was developed to overcome the limitations of traditional blepharoplasty [11]. By removing redundant skin and subcutaneous tissue in the subbrow area, this technique leaves no visible scar and creates a natural supratarsal crease. Another advantage is that compared with traditional blepharoplasty, more upper eyelid skin in the lateral area can be excised, with minimal dog-ear scarring [12]. However, because the skin and subcutaneous tissue in the subbrow area are much thicker than the tissue in the supraciliary area, there is the potential to leave an unnatural infra-brow scar, such as a stair-step deformity [2]. In addition, if the patient has a supraorbital sunken eyelid deformity, then it may become more visible postoperatively because redundant tissue over the sunken area is replaced by thinner tissue.

A sunken deformity is defined as a depression between the eyebrow and the upper border of the globe [13]. With aging, sunken upper eyelids can develop due to skin laxity and atrophy of orbital fat and subcutaneous tissue. In addition, with the increasing number of blepharoplasty procedures in the Asian population, sunken upper eyelids are becoming increasingly common because the current technique for blepharoplasty in Asian patients involves removing excess orbital fat to create a double fold and reduce bulging in the supra-tarsal area [14].

The existing literature shows that several attempts have been made to correct sunken upper eyelids [15-20]. Several surgical methods, including septal fat repositioning, microfat grafting, dermofat grafting, and fascia-fat grafting, as well as nonsurgical methods using materials such as hyaluronic acid gel, silicone bag-gel, and dermal matrix, have been proposed. However, it is difficult to accurately predict the degree of atrophy when using transplanted fat; therefore, the outcomes of surgery may not be consistent, and unsatisfactory results are possible, such as contour irregularity. In addition, the risk of fat embolism, which can lead to stroke or blindness, cannot be completely ruled out [13,21]. To overcome these limitations, several studies utilized dermofat grafting and reported good results [19,20]. However, this procedure is associated with donor site morbidity, including scarring [21].

In our modified SBB technique, we preserve the subbrow tissue, which is routinely discarded in conventional SBB, as a flap, and utilize the flap to correct sunken deformity (Fig. 5). This technique is simple and can correct sunken deformities without the requirement for an additional donor site. In addition, the recovery time, along with the amount and duration of swelling, associated with our modified technique are not significantly different than those associated with the traditional SBB procedure.

Fig. 5.

(A) Preoperative sagittal section of a sunken upper eyelid in an elderly individual showing atrophy of the orbital fat. The asterisk represents the musculocutaneous flap that would be used to correct the sunken upper eyelid. (B) Postoperative sagittal section after modified subbrow blepharoplasty showing how a de-epithelialized musculocutaneous flap can be used to reinforce orbital fat atrophy and how the orbicularis oculi muscle in the lower flap can be fixed to the periosteum. This technique allows us to correct sunken upper eyelid deformities, yielding a highly satisfactory contour.

Our flap is not a new concept, and its reliability for the reconstruction of periorbital defects has been reported in many previous studies [4,5,22,23]. Considering the successful clinical results reported thus far, as opposed to excision, we have tried to use the skin and orbicularis muscle in the subbrow area as a soft tissue filler to correct sunken deformities.

The main limitation of this study is its retrospective nature and small sample size. Because of this, our data must be interpreted with appropriate care. Notably, a prospective study of patients’ and surgeons’ satisfaction comparing our technique with conventional techniques (fat graft, dermofat graft, and filler injections) is warranted to ensure that this study is more meaningful in the clinical context. However, compared with the existing techniques used to correct sunken upper eyelid described above, our modified technique is reliable and safe and the risk of infection is low. Elevation of the flap is quite simple, and vascularity can be preserved if dissection is terminated before the supraorbital foramen. In addition, an additional donor site is unnecessary and the volume of augmentation can be adjusted by folding or resecting the flap.

In conclusion, the best outcomes can only be obtained when a surgical method is selected on the basis of individual patient characteristics. In older patients with a superior sulcus depression, traditional SBB may result in a more visible deformity. In such cases, a de-epithelized orbicularis oculi musculocutaneous flap can produce more reliable and satisfactory results. For surgeons, this modified SBB technique has the advantages of being safe, simple, and easy to learn. We believe that this modified technique can provide the best results for patients requiring simultaneous correction of dermatochalasis and sunken upper eyelid.

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