The Brow Fat Pad Suspension Suture: Safety Profile and Clinical Observations

Purpose: To evaluate the safety, subjectively assess outcome, and emphasize surgical pearls and critical clinical observations of upper blepharoplasty performed in conjunction with the brow fat pad suspension suture procedure, previously referred to as a "browpexy variant" or "brassiere suture procedure." Methods: A retrospective 4-year analysis of patients who underwent the brow fat pad suspension suture with upper blepharoplasty was performed. Adjunctive procedures (brow lift and ptosis repair) were categorized. The surgical technique is detailed with emphasis placed on nuances to aid in optimal outcome. Results: Two hundred and sixteen patients (149 women and 47 men) underwent upper blepharoplasty with the brow fat pad suspension suture. The average patient age is 54 years and follow up is 11 months. One hundred patients had adjudicative brow lift or ptosis repair, and in 20 patients the blepharoplasty was a revision procedure. Subjective assessment of outcome showed excellent aesthetic results with improved brow projection, and enhanced lateral tarsal platform show and eyebrow/eyelid contour. Surgical complications were infrequent and patient satisfaction was high. Conclusions: This initial large series description of the brow fat pad suspension suture demonstrates that it is a safe adjunct to upper blepharoplasty, which the authors believe subjectively improves overall outcome. Evidence-based quantitative assessments of objective measures of surgical results are currently underway.