Current trends in laser blepharoplasty. Results of a survey.

[BACKGROUND] The use of lasers in cosmetic surgery has been expanded fairly recently to include blepharoplasties. Controversy exists as to the efficacy of this procedure. This survey is designed to gain an understanding of the efficacy of blepharoplasty performed by laser versus conventional scalpel techniques.

[METHODS] A group of surgeons who perform the procedure were questioned. Over 4,000 cases of upper and lower lid laser blepharoplasty were reported by the responding physicians.

[RESULTS] The results of this survey indicate that carbon dioxide is by far the most common laser used in laser blepharoplasty (96%). A laser is used as a sole cutting tool by 70% of the responders and as a sole hemostasis tool by 88% of surgeons. Overall, both the intraoperative time and postoperative recovery period were reported as significantly reduced when blepharoplasty is performed by laser as compared with scalpel. In general, the incidences of edema, ecchymosis, and postoperative pain were reported as less severe with laser. No serious complications related to the laser were documented by the survey responders.

[CONCLUSIONS] This study confirms that laser blepharoplasty techniques can be safe and effective in skilled hands and may even have some potential advantages over conventional blepharoplasty.