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Small-Incisional Techniques for Double-Eyelid Blepharoplasty: A Systematic Review

  • Review
  • Oculoplastic
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Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Small-incisional double-eyelid surgery has increasingly gained popularity. In the published studies, the number of incisions, the debulking method, and the pretarsal fixation differ significantly among studies. Hence, this article was conducted to summarize the different techniques and compare their surgical results and complications.

Methods

The literature review was conducted using the PubMed and Cochrane databases from their inception to June 1, 2022. Clinical studies of small-incisional blepharoplasty with available full-text and extractable data were included and were grouped depending on the number of incisions. The number, length and location of the incisions, debulking method, fixation technique, and skin closure were concluded. The complications were statistically analyzed and compared.

Results

Finally, 13 articles and 4177 patients were eligible for reviewing, among which 5 studies (2460 patients) described single-incisional technique, 2 studies (645 patients) described two-incisional technique, 5 studies (700 patients) described three-incisional technique, and 1 study (372 patients) described four-incisional technique. Through the small incisions, the pretarsal soft tissue can be removed as appropriate, and the pretarsal fixation can be firm and exact. Both the single- and three-incisional studies had a pooled total complication rate of 5% and a pooled foldloss rate of 2%. No significant difference was found between groups.

Conclusions

The small-incisional techniques offer a simple, safe, and reproducible approach to double-eyelids. It reduces post-op recovery time and allows a tenacious fixation. The fold-loss rate and other complication rate are acceptable when compared with the non-incisional and full-incisional techniques.

Level of Evidence III

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

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Second Department of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 33 Badachu Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing, 100144, People’s Republic of China

    Panxi Yu, Tianyi Gu, Minghao Zhao, Li Teng & Jianjian Lu

  2. The Department of Hypospadias Reconstruction, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Sen Chen

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  1. Panxi Yu
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  2. Sen Chen
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  3. Tianyi Gu
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  4. Minghao Zhao
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  5. Li Teng
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  6. Jianjian Lu
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Correspondence to Jianjian Lu.

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Yu, P., Chen, S., Gu, T. et al. Small-Incisional Techniques for Double-Eyelid Blepharoplasty: A Systematic Review. Aesth Plast Surg 47, 1067–1075 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-022-03154-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-022-03154-5

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