Early postoperative adjustment of the Fasanella-Servat procedure: review of 102 consecutive cases.

Overview

PURPOSE: To describe and evaluate an office-based technique to adjust the Fasanella-Servat procedure in the first postoperative week. METHODS: This retrospective case series reviewed all consecutive eyelids undergoing the Fasanella-Servat procedure between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, by a single surgeon (R.D.L.). Charts were reviewed to determine the frequency, timing, safety, and efficacy of postoperative adjustment. Postadjustment photographs were reviewed by a blinded ophthalmic plastic surgeon for eyelid contour, height, symmetry, overall cosmesis, and picture quality as excellent, satisfactory, or poor. RESULTS: The Fasanella-Servat procedure was performed on a total of 102 eyelids in 54 patients over the 12-month interval. Postoperative adjustments at the time of suture removal were performed to improve mild eyelid asymmetries for 22 eyelids (22%) in 19 patients. Postadjustment photographs, available for 17 patients, showed excellent eyelid contour (53%), height (88%), symmetry (82%), and cosmesis (65%). Satisfactory results were obtained in all remaining photographed eyelids. CONCLUSIONS: The Fasanella-Servat procedure should be viewed as an adjustable ptosis correction with the adjustment as a standard component of postoperative suture removal. This manipulation takes only a few moments with minimal to no patient discomfort. It allows for improvements in eyelid height and contour. This series demonstrates a procedure that is simple, highly successful, and safe.