Medial pretarsal fat compartment as related to upper eyelid surgery.
The aim of this study was to elucidate the precise topographical anatomy and histology of the pretarsal fat as related to upper eyelid surgery. Twelve eyelids of 6 Korean adult cadavers were used (mean age, 78 [SD, 15] years; age range, 55-93 years; 3 men and 3 women). Ten eyelids were dissected, and 2 were prepared for histologic study. One hundred eyelids from 100 Korean adults were operated (mean age, 30.2 [SD, 10.6] years; age range, 16-70 years; 11 men and 89 women). The location and the shape of the fat compartment on the tarsal plate were measured in reference to the medial canthus and the vertical line of the medial papillary border. The medial pretarsal fat compartment (MPFC) was found in all the cadavers that were dissected and in all the patients who were operated on. The MPFC was located at the medial two fifths of the tarsal plate. The lateral border of the MPFC was 0.94 ± 0.22 mm lateral to the medial pupillary border. Type R (round shape) was most frequent (70.0%), followed by type I (inverted triangular shape: 18.3%) and type T (triangular shape: 11.7%). The MPFC was elevated in 60.0%, and it was flat in 40.0%. When performing suture fixation during upper eyelid surgery, the MPFC might be a prominent landmark because it exists in all the patients, and it is in a constant location.
BS Aesthetic Plastic Surgical Clinic, Daegu, Korea.
Jin Suk
JS
Byun
Kun
K
Hwang
Fan
F
Huan
Dae Joong
DJ
Kim
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002102:Cadaver; D005143:Eyelids / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea