OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and its indication of orbital fat flap for treating sunken upper eyelid in middle-aged and elder patients.

METHODSThe upper middle orbital fat was transferred to the sunken area as a flat flap to correct Sunken upper eyelid at grade I, II, III. The depression depth was graded as I (<0.5 cm), as II (0.5-1.0 cm), as III ( >1.0 cm). From April 2011 to April 2012, 66 cases were treated and 49 cases were followed up for 12-15 months.

RESULTSAll patients with sunken upper eyelid were successfully treated using this procedure and no complications were encountered. Fat absorption was not observed. The effective rate was 90.9% (20/22) for grade I , 31.0% (18/58) for grade II and 0 for grade III (0/18), showing significant difference between any of two groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe orbital fat flap is effective for grade I Sunken upper eyelid with long- term effect.

Adipose Tissue ; transplantation ; Aged ; Blepharoplasty ; methods ; Eyelids ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orbit ; Surgical Flaps ; transplantation