Abstract

For patients seeking aesthetic rejuvenation of the eyes, transconjunctival blepharoplasty is an effective means of dealing with proptotic lower eyelid fat. For dermatochalasis of infraorbital skin, Ultrapulse carbon dioxide (CO2) laser resurfacing can be used simultaneously with blepharoplasty to “tighten” periorbital skin. This article describes the technique, results, and complications in a series of 101 patients. Histological and electron microscopic study of laser wounding provides an understanding of tissue biophysics unique to human eyelid skin. The entire procedure can be performed with the laser, by starting with a 0.2 mm CO2 laser handpiece to incise the conjunctiva and resect fat, then switching to a computer pattern generator (CPG) for skin resurfacing. Meticulous hemostasis, avoidance of the inferior oblique muscle, and complete fat excision are the mainstays of this procedure. The technique has been extremely safe and free from complications of ocular morbidity, bleeding, ectropion, scleral show, hypopigmentation, skin slough, or scarring. There was one case of herpes simplex. Duration of healing averaged 7 weeks when the CPG was used. In contrast, the single-spot, manual sweep handpiece significantly prolonged erythema to 11 weeks or more. The incidence of hyperpigmentation was 16%, and equal in patients undergoing transconjunctival blepharoplasty with resurfacing and those receiving periorbital laser resurfacing alone. Treatment with hydroquinone cleared all patients. Histological study showed variance in total eyelid skin thickness, from 483 to 1,371 μms with epidermis comprising 63.5 μm on average. The first pass of the laser characteristically exfoliates the epidermis in a clean plane, 60 to 80 μm, with nominal dermal effect. A second pass produces dermal coagulation of approximately 40 μms, sparing adnexal structures. With a second pass of the laser, electron microscopy confirms collagen fibril contraction in the reticular dermis, with a 30% increase in diameter and a 9% contraction in periodicity. At the same level, microvasculature is preserved. Transconjunctival lower lid blepharoplasty, performed with Ultrapulse CO2 laser incision and skin resurfacing, avoids morbidity typically associated with standard subciliary blepharoplasty, and with no increase in ocular or laser-related sequelae. For resurfacing, two passes with the CPG enhances dermal collagen contraction, and dermal viability and collagen contraction are confirmed by microscopic examination.

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