Combining Blepharoplasty and Skin Resurfacing with a Portable 300μsec Er:YAG Laser

James Gordon, MD, Ophthalmology, White Plains, NY | Khalil Khatri, MD, Dermatology, Cambridge, MAPublished at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryThe use of a portable 300-microsecond Erbium:YAG 2940nm laser for skin resurfacing, immediately following both bilateral upper and four eyelid blepharoplasty, was evaluated. Sixteen patients between the ages of 28 and 74 were treated for varying degrees of dermatochalasis and photo-damaged skin in the periorbital region. Eleven females and five males with Fitzpatrick Skin Types I-III were treated. Local anesthesia was administered on all patients Without sedation. All patients demonstrated dramatic improvement in the Appearance of ‘hoods’,‘bags’ and photo-damaged skin. Patients recovered from Ecchymosis and erythema within 14 days. The combination of blepharoplasty and skin resurfacing with a portable 300 microsecond Erbium:YAG laser appears to be a highly effective, patient-satisfying and safe modality to treat dermatochalasis and photo-damage. The additional 10-20 minutes of surgical time required for the skin resurfacing substantially enhances the outcome of the blepharoplasty.