Eyelash hair transplantation with strip composite eyebrow graft: an enhancing technique in tarsoconjunctival flap eyelid reconstruction procedure

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To describe and evaluate the eyelash transplantation with strip composite eyebrow graft to improve eyelid anatomy in tarsoconjunctival flap eyelid reconstruction procedure.

Methods: Twenty two patients with eyelid tumors managed by local excision and reconstruction using tarsoconjunctival flap reconstruction procedure were included. Eyelash graft was performed during flap division by harvesting a graft from the eyebrow and creating a recipient pocket in the receptor eyelid. Patients had a 1-year follow up. Eyelash orientation and follicle survival rate were recorded. Demographic variables were analyzed with descriptive statistics. For eyelash follicles survival rate assessment, we evaluated the number of follicles found in the first postoperative day with the follicles found at the end of the study using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: All eyelash grafts showed a good follicle orientation and no cases of eyelashes misdirection toward the eyeball were reported. No statistical differences (p > 0.05) were found in Wilcoxon signed rank test when comparing the number of follicles present at the first postoperative day and the number of follicles present at the 12th postoperative month, meaning that the vast majority of follicles survived at the end of the study. Graft ischemia, necrosis or infection were not observed.

Conclusions: Tarsoconjunctival flap is an outstanding option for eyelid reconstruction and eyelash transplantation with an eyebrow composite graft is an excellent procedure to enhance and recreate a normal eyelid.

KEYWORDS:

• Eyelash transplantation
• tarsoconjunctival flap
• eyelid tumor
• eyelid reconstruction
• eyebrow graft

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.