Evaluation of the eyebrow position after external Müller's muscle tucking: A new technique for ptosis repair

Abstract

Eyebrow descent commonly occurs after ptosis repair or blepharoplasty surgery. The procedures used to correct acquired blepharoptosis are primarily classified into four groups. These procedures target the levator aponeurosis, Müller's muscle, both the aponeurosis and Müller's muscle, or the frontalis muscle. In this study, we used a new technique called external Müller's muscle tucking (EMMT) on 51 patients (94 eyelids), which targets the Müller's muscle for involutional blepharoptosis. The patients were assessed by comparative analysis using pre- and post-operative digital photographs. The distances between the medial canthi, in addition to the eyebrow heights at the medial canthus, pupil and lateral canthus, were measured on a computer screen. Eyebrows descended after surgery at the medial canthus in 53 eyelids (56.4%), at the center of the pupil in 55 eyelids (58.5%) and at the lateral canthus in 48 eyelids (51.1%). The mean distances of eyebrow descent in the 94 eyelids were 0.24, 0.51 and 0.32 mm at the medial, center and lateral positions, respectively. The mean preoperative margin reflex distance (MRD) was -0.05 mm, the mean postoperative MRD was 3.79 mm and the mean change in MRD was 3.83 mm. Preoperative MRD and change in MRD were weakly associated with changes in eyebrow position in 94 eyelids. In conclusion, these findings suggest that eyebrow drooping distance is related to the preoperative severity of ptosis.