Clinical Efficacy of Bionic Blepharoplasty Using the Flexible Suspension and Semiflexible Suspension Double-Insurance Methods.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of the double insurance method of flexible suspension and semiflexible suspension in bionic blepharoplasty.

METHODS: Between January 2020 and January 2022, a total of 115 patients (230 eyes) underwent double eyelid plastic surgery with flexible suspension and semiflexible suspension. Herein, we present a new type of double eyelid surgery that preserves the orbicular muscle of the anterior tarsus without removing the tissue. First, the loose fatty fascia layer between the anterior tarsus and the orbicularis oculi muscle was completely removed to a distance of 2 mm from the base of the eyelashes, leaving the compact pretarsal levator aponeurosis. Then, the anterior tarsus orbicularis oculi muscle and the upper levator aponeurosis were sutured and fixed (flexible suspension). Finally, the skin and the upper levator aponeurosis were sutured in the flexible suspension space (semiflexible suspension).

RESULTS: Six months after surgery, the patient's double eyelid shape had recovered well, and the satisfaction rate reached 97.3%. Among the unsatisfied patients, 1 patient had a single-focused shallow eyelid line which was associated with postoperative hematoma, and 2 patients felt that the double eyelid line was narrow. All 3 patients achieved satisfactory results after reoperation.

CONCLUSIONS: The bionic double eyelid method with flexible suspension and semiflexible suspension can restore the natural double eyelid anatomy very well by reconstructing the connection between the orbicularis oculi muscle or skin and the upper palpebral levator aponeurosis. After the operation, the incisions healed quickly and smoothly. The eyelid depression and fleshy feeling were not obvious when the eyes were closed. Consequently, the patient's satisfaction was very high.