The effect of upper eyelid blepharoplasty on eyelid and brow position

Abstract

This article evaluates the effect of upper eyelid blepharoplasty on eyelid margin position and brow height. This study is a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent upper eyelid blepharoplasty without concurrent blepharoptosis repair or brow surgery. The medical records of the participants were retrospectively reviewed and an established image analysis software was used to quantify the upper margin reflex distance (MRD1) as well as brow height using high quality standardized clinical photographs. A total of 19 patients (38 eyelids and brows) met the inclusion criteria. The mean preoperative MRD1 was 2.8 mm, and the mean post-operative MRD1 was 3.5 mm, revealing an increase of MRD1 from upper blepharoplasty alone of 0.7 mm (p = 0.0001). The mean preoperative brow position was 17.5 mm above the pupil, and the mean post-operative position was 17.4 mm, for an average change of position of -0.2 mm (p = 0.39) following upper eyelid blepharoplasty. Upper eyelid blepharoplasty without ptosis surgery results in a statistically significant increase in MRD1. Brow position does not demonstrate a statistically significant change in patients who undergo upper eyelid blepharoplasty for simple dermatochalasis.

Keywords: MRD1; blepharoplasty; brow; eyebrow; eyelid.