Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2026 Jun 22. doi: 10.1007/s00266-026-06020-w. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Superior orbital sulcus hollowness is a common aesthetic concern that may result from structural changes, trauma, or excessive fat removal during upper blepharoplasty, and it can be further exacerbated by age-related orbital remodeling. Traditional corrective approaches such as fat redistribution and autologous fat grafting carry limitations, including graft atrophy and the risk of embolic complications. This study evaluated the safety and outcomes of superior orbital sulcus correction using a medial-pedicled preseptal orbicularis oculi muscle flap.
METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed 481 patients who underwent upper blepharoplasty between January 2017 and June 2024, of whom 45 received additional correction of superior orbital sulcus hollowness with a medial-pedicled preseptal orbicularis oculi muscle flap. Exclusion criteria included male sex, previous upper eyelid surgery, levator dehiscence, less than six months of follow-up, and refusal to complete the FACE-Q Adverse Effects questionnaire. The mean follow-up duration was 8 months, and the mean patient age was 51.4 years. Postoperative complications and patient-reported outcomes were evaluated and compared with those of patients undergoing conventional upper blepharoplasty.
RESULTS: Early postoperative complications, including transient lagophthalmos and edema, were self-limiting. In the conventional blepharoplasty group, 16 patients developed medial canthal scarring, with four requiring revision. In the flap group, transient supraorbital hypoesthesia occurred in 71% of patients and resolved within a few months, and no cases of flap necrosis were observed. Statistical analysis using the Mann-Whitney U test demonstrated no significant difference in FACE-Q scores between the two groups (U = 8828.0, p = 0.251).
CONCLUSION: The medial-pedicled preseptal orbicularis oculi muscle flap appears to be a safe, reproducible, and anatomically sound technique for selected patients with superior orbital sulcus hollowness. Although the relatively uniform flap volume may not fully correct the deformity in all cases and patient numbers were limited, this method provides a promising alternative to fat grafting without adding long-term complications, with the potential to enhance aesthetic outcomes and patient satisfaction. 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 .
PMID:42332315 | DOI:10.1007/s00266-026-06020-w
