Blepharoplasty may be a popular procedure for facial rejuvenation, but it is not without drawbacks, including the risk of eyelid displacement that comes with lower transcutaneous blepharoplasty. A team of researchers in Italy examined how effective the tarsal sling technique is for reducing the risk of lower eyelid margin malposition in a study published in the January issue of Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
The study consisted of a retrospective analysis of 40 blepharoplasty patients, half of whom also received tarsal sling support. Eyelid margins were evaluated on the basis of quantitative measurements from clinical photographs. At two years post-op, the patients with the tarsal sling exhibited reduced scleral appearance compared to those without, and lower eyelids did not return to their prior position. For patients without tarsal sling, scleral show continued to resolve over the two years, but recovery was still not considered complete.
The authors believe that the observed results of the quick and simple tarsal sling procedure warrant consideration for routine use in lower blepharoplasty patients.
"Our data demonstrate that the tarsal sling procedure is effective in preventing lower eyelid malposition. Moreover, it requires only a few minutes of operating time. It may be applied routinely to lower blepharoplasty as a preventive measure, even if eyelid tone appears normal preoperatively," write the study authors.
