AIMS: To describe a procedure for removing excess wrinkles from the upper lids of elderly patients. METHODS: Excess wrinkles were resected with a razor blade and scissors or CO(2) laser along the lower eyebrow margin. Ninety-five patients (average age 74 ± 8.1 years) (157 eyes) underwent this procedure and were followed for at least 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The average size of the excised skin was 40 ± 9.7 × 12 ± 3.9 mm. Complications included under-resection, which required another resection in six eyes (4%) and a subcutaneous haemorrhage in two eyes (1%). All patients expressed satisfaction with the final cosmetic results. The incision faded almost completely by 6 months postoperatively without camouflage. CONCLUSION: The design and technique were extremely uncomplicated. The main drawbacks were the long incision line under the eyebrow, a slightly slimmer eyebrow and postoperative brow drop. However, all incision lines faded almost completely by 6 months postoperatively, and brow drop was not problematic in bilateral surgeries. This procedure does not replace the current popular procedure for lid crease formation. However, general ophthalmologists can perform the current simple procedure to remove excess wrinkles from the upper lids of elderly patients.
AIMS: To describe a procedure for removing excess wrinkles from the upper lids of elderly patients. METHODS: Excess wrinkles were resected with a razor blade and scissors or CO(2) laser along the lower eyebrow margin. Ninety-five patients (average age 74 ± 8.1 years) (157 eyes) underwent this procedure and were followed for at least 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The average size of the excised skin was 40 ± 9.7 × 12 ± 3.9 mm. Complications included under-resection, which required another resection in six eyes (4%) and a subcutaneous haemorrhage in two eyes (1%). All patients expressed satisfaction with the final cosmetic results. The incision faded almost completely by 6 months postoperatively without camouflage. CONCLUSION: The design and technique were extremely uncomplicated. The main drawbacks were the long incision line under the eyebrow, a slightly slimmer eyebrow and postoperative brow drop. However, all incision lines faded almost completely by 6 months postoperatively, and brow drop was not problematic in bilateral surgeries. This procedure does not replace the current popular procedure for lid crease formation. However, general ophthalmologists can perform the current simple procedure to remove excess wrinkles from the upper lids of elderly patients.