basic edition Upgrade to Premium

Upper Eyelids Lower Eyelids Asian Hollowness Healing Photos blepharoplasty videos Blepharoplasty FAQs
premium eye = PREMIUM EDITION CONTENT available for preview
Hollowness FAQs | All Topics






Dermal Fat Grafts
for Localized Periorbital Depressions

While neither as physiologic nor powerful as orbital pearl fat grafting, placement of a dermal fat graft into the lower eyelid can be of value in milder cases of orbital hollowness.

 

The graft can be inserted into the eyelid itself or used as a "spacer" along the back surface of the lid in cases of eyelid retraction accompanied by hollowness.

Employed as a one-piece implant rather than multiple pearl-sized particles, the graft consists of the skin's dermis with a thin layer of attached subcutaneous fat.

When inserted fully into the eyelid, the dermis is thought to facilitate growth of blood vessels into the fat.

The graft can be obtained from any hairless area of skin. The most common donor sites include the flank, waist, and buttocks, as well as skin discarded from a simultaneous face lift.

Dermal fat grafting has been used to add volume to the face and body for many years. The main complication is cyst formation beneath the skin.

The composite of dermis and fat is sutured either into or along the back surface of the lower eyelid rather than being placed deeper into the orbit. Generally, the attached fat is no thicker than 4 mm.

Because the graft is placed more superficially in the thin and pliable lower eyelid, the risk of irregular contouring is increased as compared to use on other areas on the face.

 

 
Donor site
on skin
Incision through
epidermis
Epidermis
removed
Dermis and
fat excised

 

Patient with lower eyelid hollowness and retraction
after blepharoplasty performed elsewhere

Before

One year after bilateral dermal fat grafts and tarsal strip resuspensions

(Surgery by Dr. Frank Meronk)

Because of the relative inflexibility introduced by the dermis, dermal fat grafts are not well-suited for adding volume to the highly mobile upper eyelid. However, nearby periorbital depressions that can be approached through an upper eyelid crease incision can be treated.







Orbital Fat Grafting
Restoring Fullness to Sunken and Hollow Eyelids

orbital fat grafting
eyelid plastic surgery preview Orbital Fat Grafting Basics

eyelid plastic surgery preview Before and After Photos
photos upper eyelid hollowness
photos lower eyelid hollowness

Overview | Pertinent Anatomy | eyelid plastic surgery preview Preventable Causes

The Orbital Flat Tire | Doll's Eye Deformity
Hollowness in the Asian Upper Eyelid

Not the Same as Fat Injections

Video: That Tiny Roll of Upper Eyelid Skin:
It's Not What You Think
(Premium Edition only; no preview)



Treatment Options: Introduction
Upper Eyelid Hollowness | Lower Eyelid Hollowness
eyelid plastic surgery preview Upper Cheek Hollowness

Pearl Fat Grafting | Strip Fat Grafting
Combination Strip-Pearl Fat Grafting Technique
Small Incision Approach

Orbit-to-Orbit Fat Transfer | Internal Orbital Fat Relocation
Dermal Fat Grafts | eyelid plastic surgery preview Fat Injections | eyelid plastic surgery preview Dermal Fillers



New: Latest 2012 Orbital Fat Grafting Updates
For Potential Patients
Course for Physicians



What is Meant By Under-Eye Hollows?
eyelid plastic surgery preview
Dark Circles
eyelid plastic surgery preview Orbital Hollowness and Brow Lift



Healing and Recovery
Sequential Photos from Before to 18 Months After
eyelid plastic surgery preview Removal of Excess Grafted Fat

About Dr. Meronk and Eyelid Hollowness


More

Ptosis | Ectropion | Entropion | Eyelid Retraction | Eyelid Lumps and Bumps
Eyelid Malignancy | Chalazion | Site

The Doctor | A True Eyelid Specialist | Contact

Meronk Eyelid Plastic Surgery
The Blepharoplasty Resource

© Copyright 2000-2012 Frank Meronk, Jr., M.D.
All Rights Reserved

Protected by Copyscape Web Plagiarism Finder

Reproduction of any content from this website is strictly prohibited.
Learn more about our copyright infringement policy.

Disclaimer: Information, observations, and opinions are presented for general reference use only and do not constitute specific medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Base all decisions solely upon the recommendations of your own doctors. With each use of this website, you signify your review and full acceptance of our current Terms of Use.