Comparison of Clinical Outcomes of Upper Eyelid Blepharoplasty Using Two Different Suture Techniques

OBJECTIVES: To compare upper eyelid blepharoplasty patients’ suture techniques with interrupted cutaneous in one eye and running cutaneous in the other in terms of edema, ecchymosis, and scar index. METHODS: Among patients whose suture techniques with interrupted cutaneous in one eye and running cutaneous in the other, 34 patients in the vicryl group and 46 patients in the polypropylene group were included in the study. The patients’ edema and ecchymosis levels on postoperative days 1, 7, and 30 days and 3 months were selected. The Manchester Scar Scale was used to evaluate the scar index at 30 days and 3 months after surgery. Suture material (either 6-0 polypropylene sutures or 6-0 vicryl sutures) were evaluated independently. RESULTS: In vicryl group, there was significantly less ecchymosis and edema first week postoperatively in interrupted sutured eyelid than running sutured eyelid (p=0.001, p=0.011, respectively). In polypropylene group, there was significantly less ecchymosis at the first day and first week postoperatively in interrupted sutured eyelid than running sutured eyelid (p=0.025, p=0.001, respectively). The total scar index scores in both groups at first month and third month were significantly better at the interrupted sutured eyelid than running sutured eyelid (p<0.05, for all). CONCLUSION: In upper eyelid blepharoplasty, an interrupted suture technique yielded the lowest rates of edema, ecchymosis, and scar formation compared with a running suture technique.