Skin Pinch Blepharoplasty

The skin pinch blepharoplasty is a blepharoplasty doe to the lower eyelid that is modified from the traditional approach. In the traditional approach the eyelid skin is operated on as well as the fat under the skin and muscle to give a smoother lower eyelid. The skin pinch is where the extra skin is operated on with a pinch procedure and the underlying fat and muscle is left alone and not interfered with. 

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In younger patients the most common lower eyelid concern is the appearance of bags in the lower eyelid with little or no extra skin. Mr Ahmad Aziz advises that the skin pinch tends not to be suitable in these cases and can advise you in his Central London clinic.

 

WHO IS THE SKIN PINCH BLEPHAROPLASTY SUITABLE FOR?

 

This procedure tends to be more suitable to people who have developed laxity of the lower eyelid skin with time and possibly some lower lid wrinkles. They tend to not have prominent eye bags or at least are not concerned with them if they are present and prefer to treat the eyelid skin alone.

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WHY DO A SKIN PINCH BLEPHAROPLASTY?

 

The skin pinch tries to minimise complications of lower eyelid surgery as it is less invasive. In some patients having traditional lower lid blepharoplasty the lower eyelid can end up being pulled down giving an eyelid malposition. As there is less surgery involved in the skin pinch blepharoplasty the risk of this is less as there is less surgery being performed to the deeper layers of the eyelid. Surgery on the deeper layers results in more swelling to the eyelid, more scar formation inside the eyelid and a higher risk of malposition. The skin pinch blepharoplasty does however require a surgeon who knows how to assess and take just the right amount of skin so that there is enough not to cause malposition. There should also not be too much skin left otherwise the problem of excess skin will remain.

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WHAT ARE THE PROCEDURE LIMITATIONS?

 

This procedure corrects the excess skin alone. For some patients they do not just have skin laxity but also have laxity to the lower eyelid itself and need the eyelid tightened with a canthopexy. Patients with significant eyelid laxity that is not treated at the time of blepharoplasty have a higher risk of developing eyelid malposition. 

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ARE THERE ANY COMPLICATIONS?

 

Although the skin pinch blepharoplasty has lower complications, there is still a risk of malposition. Whilst there is a lower risk of scarring to the deeper layers of the eyelid everyone is different and some patients can develop more significant scarring and malposition. There is also the risk of taking too much skin but this is assessed  with the pinch first to make sure there is no eyelid malposition prior to removing any skin. Although the effects tend to last a lifetime there are some patients who need further procedures in the future particularly if there is generalised laxity to the lower eyelid.

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WHO FAST IS THE RECOVERY AND WILL I SEE THE RESULTS?

 

As the deeper layers of the eyelid are not involved in this procedure, it is associated with a shorter recovery time. People with the skin pinch tend to recover after about 2 weeks although there still maybe some residual swelling. Of course every person is different and some people heal quicker than others.

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AM I A SUITABLE PERSON FOR THIS?

 

The skin pinch is a useful technique used to manage excess skin in the lower eyelid. It is not useful in dealing with excess fat or prominent eyebags. For these cases a traditional or conjunctival approach might need to be considered.

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