Frontalis muscle flap advancement for correction of blepharoptosis

Purpose: To describe a technique of frontalis muscle flap advancement to re pair myogenic ptosis in lieu of a graft or suture material. Methods: Ten ptotic eyelids in eight patients were repaired using the front alis flap technique. Patients were selected at random by two separate surge ons; all patients had eyelid excursion measured as poor (or less than 6 mm) . Results: Nine of 10 ptotic eyelids were adequately corrected by the frontal is flap technique, with follow-up intervals ranging from 18 to 42 months. A dequate correction was defined as ptosis corrected within 1 mm of the fello w eyelid. Complications of frontalis advancement were few and primarily tra nsient. Conclusions: Frontalis flap advancement is a technically simple, safe, and effective technique for the repair of myogenic ptosis. The primary advantag e of frontalis muscle flap advancement over a graft or suture material that it elevates the eyelid directly by moving the insertion of the frontalis m uscle into the eyelid, rather than by graft or suture material.