SUB-ORBICULARIS OCULUS FAT(SOOF) RESECTION IN AESTHETIC BLEPHAROPLASTY

ABSTRACT

The traditional aesthetic blepharoplasty has limitations in correcting the heaviness and bulkiness of the lateral orbital region. These limitation is due to presence of sub-orbicularis oculus fat(SOOF) which is defined as that layer of fibrofatty soft tissue deep to the orbicularis oculus muscle, superficial to orbital septum and orbital rim, and extending medially from supraorbital nerve and laterally to varying distance over the lateral upper orbit. Therefore authors performed resections of the SOOF in conjunction with aesthetic blepharoplasty in 15 patients, who visited the clinic with complaints of thickness and heaviness over their lateral eyebrow, often accompanied by tired or sad-looking appearance. We believe that in these patients the heaviness. bulkiness and fullness in the lateral upper orbital region were corrected effectively and smoothly in aesthetical aspect. No patients developed postoperative hematoma, dry eye syndrome, lacrimal gland injury and significant paralysis of the orbicularis oculus of corrugator muscle. Our department performed the SOOF resection to those who had bulkiness and heaviness in lateral upper orbital region. From this experience, the SOOF resection would appear to be a useful adjunct to standard blepharoplasty technique in selected patients. Since we achieved a satisfactory result aesthetically through this method on patients who showed proper indications, we are recording the indications, operative techniques and complications in addition to review of reference.