Blefaroláser: technique CO2 laser assisted blepharoplasty

Blepharolaser is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that allows the removal of fat bags and excess skin from the periocular area, achieving a complete periocular rejuvenation. It is done with our latest generation of incisional CO2 and rejuvenation lasers.

The technique can be done on the upper and lower eyelids, it is done under sedation and it is very uncomfortable for the patient. It lasts between 30 and 70 minutes, depending on the complexity of the case, and whether it is done in the top, bottom or both.

After more than 1200 interventions mediated by laser, our experience has allowed us to introduce technical improvements, which result in less aggressiveness and better recovery; In this way, we differentiate ourselves from the rest of the surgeons who perform these procedures.

Laser blepharoplasty for upper eyelid

• The area of ​​skin to be resected and the location of the bags are marked.
• Eye protection lenses are placed to isolate the eyeball from the rest of the region to be treated.
• As we work through sedation and the procedure is extremely bloodless and clean, we do not apply local anesthesia on the skin of the upper eyelid that we are going to eliminate, since with the laser the detachment of the tissues is perfect and the patient does not feel any pain. After the incision of the skin it tightens and separates from the muscle bed below. This is a great technical improvement, since inflation and post-surgical bleeding is minimal, inducing a very rapid recovery.
• The excess skin is removed by incisional laser, so that the skin detaches from the lower muscle without bleeding, using the Eremia incision, which prevents aging and the subsequent skin fall and excess muscle is contracted. with the laser. Subsequently, the fat is extracted through a minimal laser incision that does not require suturing.
• The wound on the upper skin is closed with a very thin, non-visible suture that is removed in 5-6 days.

With the blepharolaser, since we do not touch the muscle, we get 3 advantages:

• The surgery becomes a much more superficial intervention and, therefore, safer. We will not see or touch deep structures, such as the lacrimal gland, septa or deep muscles, since the orbicular is not sectioned. In addition, by not eliminating muscle disappears the risk of excessive removal of it that could prevent the closing of the eyelid.
• By not opening the muscle structure, there is less edema, bleeding and bruising. In addition, when the skin is removed by laser without bleeding, there is less inflammation and edema , and the formation of a hematoma is avoided; With this procedure, the postoperative hematoma goes from 87% to 3%.
• With no muscle section, the eyelid folds more naturally and recovery is much faster.

Laser blepharoplasty for lower eyelid

• The location of the bags is marked.
• Eye protection lenses are placed to isolate the eyeball from the rest of the region to be treated.
• An incision of a few millimeters is made through the conjunctiva and the bags are accessed by resecting them. Thanks to the cleanliness and precision of the laser, it is not necessary to give points in any case.
• The resurfacing laser is passed over the skin of the lower eyelid to obtain an effective and safe retraction of the same, thus eliminating wrinkles due to excess skin.
• In our technique we add regenerating agents and procoagulants to reduce inflammation and bleeding in the surgical bed, which favors a very rapid recovery.

Differences between blepharolaser and traditional techniques

The differences between blepharolaser and traditional techniques in the treatment of the lower eyelid are very remarkable, in favor of the former.

We have to differentiate between the traditional transcutaneous approach and the traditional transconjunctival approach.

In the traditional transcutaneous approach, resection of the skin and the orbicularis muscle of the lower eyelid is required (with the consequent posterior scar), the fat pockets are resected and the muscle and skin are sutured again.

The opening of the orbicular musculature worsens recovery and is associated with more postoperative complications.

With this technique there is more inflammation, bleeding and bruising since the skin and the orbicular muscle must be opened. By means of the laser, these muscular structures are conserved, since the approach is transconjunctival and while the cut is made the blood coagulates, having therefore a minimum traumatism.

On the other hand, with the traditional transcutaneous approach, there is a risk of abnormal scarring of the skin, with the appearance of visible scars or ectropion, the first and much less likely being the second with the laser.

The appearance of complications in the lower eyelid is very exceptional with blepharolaser.

In the traditional transconjunctival approach, the bags are treated through the conjunctiva, but since no laser is used (electrical scalpels are usually used with a colored tip), bleeding and inflammation is greater .

For resection of the bags clamping and coagulation clamps should be used prior to cutting them, which means that there is much more trauma than with the laser, which dries directly the bags while coagulating the small blood vessels responsible for the bruises.

In addition, with the CO2 laser it is not necessary to suture the conjunctiva, while with the traditional technique it does sometimes.