Eyebrow Position Following Upper Blepharoplasty

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of upper blepharoplasty on eyebrow height, accounting for ocular dominance, fat excision, change in MRD1, and degree of dermatochalasis.

Methods: Retrospective review of patients undergoing upper blepharoplasty between January 2013 and July 2014. Patients with a prior history of ocular trauma, disease, and surgery were excluded. Digital photographs were analyzed using NIH ImageJ software to measure pre and postoperative eyebrow height at the medial, central, and lateral positions, MRD1, and dermatochalasis. Univariable comparisons of brow height and MRD1 were performed. A multivariate analysis was used to assess for the effect of percentage change in MRD1 and dermatochalasis and of ocular dominance and fat excision in mean percentage change of eyebrow height.

Results: Charts of 19 patients were reviewed. Mean age was 73.2 years (SD = 8.86). There were 9 male (47.4%) and 10 female (52.6%) patients. There were 11 right eye dominant (57.9%) and 8 left eye dominant (42.1%) patients. Then 13 patients (68.4%) underwent fat removal. A univariable comparison found insufficient evidence to suggest a significant change from 0 postoperatively in brow height at all positions. A multivariable comparison found insufficient evidence to suggest MRD1, ocular dominance, or dermatochalasis were significantly associated with mean percentage change in brow height at all positions with or without fat excision.

Conclusion: Upper blepharoplasty does not change eyebrow height at the medial, central, or lateral positions, after accounting for any impact of ocular dominance, fat excision, change in MRD1, or degree of dermatochalasis.

Keywords: Blepharoplasty; MRD1; dermatochalasis; eyebrow height; ocular dominance.