This article is only available in the PDF format. Download the PDF to view the article, as well as its associated figures and tables.
Speaking at the annual meeting of the Triological Society in Palm Beach, Fla, Dr Gaylon McCollough, Birmingham, Ala, discussed advances in blepharoplasty, placing his emphasis on the preoperative consideration of potential complications and detrimental effects, particularly ectropion, that might result. He identified tarsofascial sling laxity as the main preoperative determination to predict the potential for ectropion, postulating that the key to preventing ectropion is preservation of the lower lid hammock or tarsofascial sling and its musculofascial attachments. Dr McCollough advocated placing the lower lid incision 4 to 6 mm below the lid margin, since placing it at the subciliary region would place it along the tarsal plate, and that placement, especially in the presence of a lax or flaccid tarsal sling, would be more likely to result in ectropion formation; placing it lower would more likely maintain the dynamic musculofascial activity. This lower incision could result in a more visible