CURRENT TRENDS IN LASER BLEPHAROPLASTY - RESULTS OF A SURVEY

BACKGROUND. The use of lasers in cosmetic surgery has been expanded fa irly recently to include blepharoplasties. Controversy exists as to th e efficacy of this procedure. This survey is designed to gain an under standing of the efficacy of blepharoplasty performed by laser versus c onventional scalpel techniques. METHODS. A group of surgeons who perfo rm the procedure were questioned. Over 4,000 cases of tipper 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 sca lpel. In general, the incidences of enema, ecchymosis, and postoperati ve pain were reported as less severe with laser. No serious complicati ons related to the laser were documented by the survey responders. CON CLUSIONS. This study confirms that laser blepharoplasty techniques can be safe and effective in skilled hands and may even have some potenti al advantages over conventional blepharoplasty.