Treating Excess Lower Eyelid Skin Without Incisions

Abstract

Introduction: Periocular rhytids and dermatochalasis are common and striking signs of facial aging. The CO₂ laser technique described herein addresses Hester classification type I, aging at the level of the lower eyelid, focus on the treatment of the dermatochalasis.

Materials and methods: In this retrospective study of patients undergoing treatment at our clinic between 2000 and 2018, 263 were classified as Hester I and CO₂ laser therapy was the treatment to improve the local rhytids.

Results: Improvement in dermatochalasis was found in all patients, resulting in better rejuvenation of the target area while eliminating visible scarring from a suture through the skin.

Discussion: In our experience, CO₂ laser functions as a substitute for transcutaneous lower blepharoplasty, due to the fact that the contracture of the skin renders resection of that skin unnecessarily, thus avoiding the tell-tale scalpel incisions under the lashes.

Conclusion: The quality of the results of this retrospective study allows us to offer this laser therapy to treat lower eyelids classified as Hester I.

Level of evidence iv: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Keywords: Blepharoplasty; CO2 laser; Eyelid; Laser; Resurfacing.