Suborbicularis oculi fat (soof) lift in patients with facial paralysis: Surgical results

Abstract

Purpose: TTo evaluate the results of suborbicularis oculi fat (SOOF) lift procedure in patients with facial paralysis.Materials and Methods: The medical records of 12 patients (7 men, 5 women; age range: 49-67 years), who underwent one-sided SOOF lift surgery for chronic facial paralysis between January 2000 and April 2007, were reviewed. Preoperative examination findings, amount of lagophthalmos, surgical technique, complications, surgery results, secondary surgical requirements and follow-up period were recorded.Results: The patients had a lagophthalmos ranged between 6 and 13 mm (mean value, 9 mm) before surgery. SOOF lift procedure was performed via transconjunctival approach in 8 eyes and subciliary approach in 4 eyes. This procedure was routinely performed with lateral canthal suspension procedure. In the early postoperative period, the lower eyelid position and the cheek ptosis improved in all patients. The amount of lagophthalmos was reduced between 3 and 9 mm (mean value, 5 mm). The improvement in the cheek position was sustained until the last examination in all patients, except one. The major surgical complications were periorbital hematoma (1 patient) and subcutaneous suture granuloma (1 patient). Infraorbital nerve hypoesthesia or recurrence of the lower eyelid ptosis did not develop in any patients. The mean follow-up time was 13 months (range, 1-46 months).Discussion: The SOOF lift procedure provides a significant contribution to the correction of cheek ptosis, lower eyelid retraction and lagophthalmos in patients with chronic facial paralysis.