Vessel Clip Testing Predicts Facial Changes After Blepharoplasty

Preoperative vessel clip testing can accurately predict changes in eyebrow shape and wrinkle length following blepharoplasty correction surgery, an article published in the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive, & Aesthetic Surgery suggests.

The retrospective study followed 93 participants who were undergoing blepharoplasty for blepharoptosis and blepharochalasis with eyebrow elevation between April 2017 and December 2019. Investigators aimed to document the predictive abilities of vessel clip testing for postoperative eyebrow height, forehead wrinkle length, and procerus area wrinkle length by photographing participants preoperatively with and without vessel clips, and then again 6 months after surgery.

The study shows no significant difference in participants’ preoperative measurements with vessel clips, and postoperative measurements of either eyebrow height and forehead wrinkle length (r=0.402, P <.001), eyebrow height and procerus area wrinkle length (r=-0.327, P <.01), or forehead wrinkle length and procerus area wrinkle length (r=-0.488, P <.001). The study shows that women have a higher perceived change in wrinkle measurements compared with men.

Researchers suggest that using the vessel clip test prior to blepharoplasty can be predictive of the postoperative results. This can help inform patients expectations for facial changes following the surgery and can aid in surgical decision-making regarding eyelid shaping. 

Vessel clips cannot be placed on abundant thick tissue and the level of palpation cannot be measured, presenting two initial limitations to this study. Additionally, wrinkle depth was not measured, and patient feedback postoperatively is suspected to be less due to the participants increasing age. 

“A better understanding of surgical results can relieve patient anxiety and contribute to increased satisfaction,” the researchers speculate.

Reference

Nishioka H, Yuzuriha S, Yanagisawa D. Predicting facial changes after blepharoplasty. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. Published online May 2, 2022. doi:10.1016/j.bjps.2022.04.06