Evaluation of the eyebrow position after levator resection

Summary Although we commonly observe eyebrow drooping during and after blepharoptosis surgery, it may not occur in some cases. After levator resection was performed in 47 patients (84 eyelids) with blepharoptosis, the eyebrow heights at the medial canthus, the center of the pupil, and the lateral canthus were measured using scanned photographs obtained preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. In the 84 eyelids, after levator resection, the eyebrow position was lowered at the medial canthus in 76 patients (90%), at the center of the pupil in 75 (89%), and at the lateral canthus in 76 (90%). The mean distance of eyebrow drooping in the 84 pupils was 2.74 mm at the medial canthus, 2.91 mm at the center of the pupil, and 2.58 mm at the lateral canthus. In addition, there was a significant difference between the extra skin excision group and the no skin excision group at the medial canthus (p = 0.027), the center of the pupil (p = 0.001), and the lateral canthus (p < 0.001) (Mann-Whitney test). Unfortunately, there was a significant difference in ages between the extra skin excision group and the no skin excision group. In conclusion, eyebrow drooping was caused after levator resection in most cases. However, it is difficult to anticipate eyebrow drooping distance before surgery.