BACKGROUND: The author found that nonexcisional techniques commonly used to create a double eyelid in Asian patients did not create a natural-looking fold, while most transcutaneous double-lid procedures involved unnecessary excision of eyelid skin and orbicularis muscle, which could increase tension on the scar and make it more noticeable. OBJECTIVE: The author describes a technique for creation of a double eyelid, based in part on new anatomic findings, that uses a short incision to minimize the scar. METHODS: The thick orbital septum was opened, the supratarsal tendon was divided, the central fat compartment was removed, and the dermis was fixed to the tarsal plate. RESULTS: Between January 2000 and December 2004, 652 patients were operated using this technique. The mean age of the patients was 24 years. There were no serious complications. Four hundred twenty patients (64.4%) were followed up to 2 months, and 162 patients (24.8%) had 1-year follow-up. All had satisfactory results, except for 8 patients who underwent a second procedure to correct unequal folds 2 months postoperatively. Ten patients lost their supratarsal folds within 1 year postoperatively; all had satisfactory results after reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: The short incisional technique for creation of a double eyelid described here provides excellent results with no visible scar and no serious complications.
BACKGROUND: The author found that nonexcisional techniques commonly used to create a double eyelid in Asian patients did not create a natural-looking fold, while most transcutaneous double-lid procedures involved unnecessary excision of eyelid skin and orbicularis muscle, which could increase tension on the scar and make it more noticeable. OBJECTIVE: The author describes a technique for creation of a double eyelid, based in part on new anatomic findings, that uses a short incision to minimize the scar. METHODS: The thick orbital septum was opened, the supratarsal tendon was divided, the central fat compartment was removed, and the dermis was fixed to the tarsal plate. RESULTS: Between January 2000 and December 2004, 652 patients were operated using this technique. The mean age of the patients was 24 years. There were no serious complications. Four hundred twenty patients (64.4%) were followed up to 2 months, and 162 patients (24.8%) had 1-year follow-up. All had satisfactory results, except for 8 patients who underwent a second procedure to correct unequal folds 2 months postoperatively. Ten patients lost their supratarsal folds within 1 year postoperatively; all had satisfactory results after reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: The short incisional technique for creation of a double eyelid described here provides excellent results with no visible scar and no serious complications.