BACKGROUND: This article discusses the effectiveness, patient selection criteria, complications, and the appropriate procedures for lower blepharoplasty in an Asian population. METHODS: During the past 10 years (1998-2008), a total of 2400 patients underwent lower blepharoplasty in our department. Four different types of lower-blepharoplasty procedures were performed, including the traditional transcutaneous skin flap procedure (n = 862), the transcutaneous skin-muscle flap procedure (n = 738), the transconjunctival procedure (n = 433), and Hamra's procedure (septal reset and fat-replacing technique) (n = 367). Among these 2400 patients, 925 were available for follow-up. The length of follow-up ranged between 1 month and 10 years. RESULTS: Most of the patients were satisfied with the result, but 32 patients had some postoperative complications, including five patients with ectropion, five with hollow eyes, two with dry eyes, and 20 with retraction. CONCLUSIONS: Transconjunctival blepharoplasty is the first choice for primary eyelid bags. Transcutaneous lower blepharoplasty (skin flap or skin-muscle flap procedures) is indicated for the senile eyelid with excess skin and muscles. If supporting structures (skin, muscle, and septum) show laxity and other aging stigma are present, including tear trough deformity and obvious skeleton rim, Hamra's procedure (septal reset and fat-replacing technique) is performed.
BACKGROUND: This article discusses the effectiveness, patient selection criteria, complications, and the appropriate procedures for lower blepharoplasty in an Asian population. METHODS: During the past 10 years (1998-2008), a total of 2400 patients underwent lower blepharoplasty in our department. Four different types of lower-blepharoplasty procedures were performed, including the traditional transcutaneous skin flap procedure (n = 862), the transcutaneous skin-muscle flap procedure (n = 738), the transconjunctival procedure (n = 433), and Hamra's procedure (septal reset and fat-replacing technique) (n = 367). Among these 2400 patients, 925 were available for follow-up. The length of follow-up ranged between 1 month and 10 years. RESULTS: Most of the patients were satisfied with the result, but 32 patients had some postoperative complications, including five patients with ectropion, five with hollow eyes, two with dry eyes, and 20 with retraction. CONCLUSIONS: Transconjunctival blepharoplasty is the first choice for primary eyelid bags. Transcutaneous lower blepharoplasty (skin flap or skin-muscle flap procedures) is indicated for the senile eyelid with excess skin and muscles. If supporting structures (skin, muscle, and septum) show laxity and other aging stigma are present, including tear trough deformity and obvious skeleton rim, Hamra's procedure (septal reset and fat-replacing technique) is performed.