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Bipolar or monopolar electrosurgery in blepharoplasty: A comparison of surgical outcomes and patient satisfaction
Author(s) -
Kim Jeenam,
Kwon Yongseok,
Jun Dongkeun,
Lee Myungchul,
Shin Donghyeok,
Kim Soonheum,
Jo Dongin,
Kim Cheolkeun,
Kim Heonjoon,
Choi Hyungon
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of cosmetic dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.626
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1473-2165
pISSN - 1473-2130
DOI - 10.1111/jocd.13478
Subject(s) - blepharoplasty , medicine , ecchymosis , surgery , patient satisfaction , eyelid
Background An electrosurgery unit (ESU) is the mainstay of bleeding control in blepharoplasty. There are two different types of ESUs: monopolar (m‐ESU) and bipolar (b‐ESU). Aims We used m‐ and b‐ESUs in upper, lower, and combined blepharoplasty and compared their outcomes. Patients/Methods In this retrospective file review of 292 blepharoplasty patients, we excluded 14 who were lost to follow‐up or had missing data; among the 278 enrolled patients, we recorded operative time, a surgeon panel's score for edema and ecchymosis on the third postoperative day, patients’ scores of their satisfaction and inconvenience, and postoperative complications. Results One hundred thirty‐nine patients were included in the m‐ESU and b‐ESU group. Overall, 105 patients underwent upper blepharoplasty, 77 underwent lower blepharoplasty, and 96 underwent combined blepharoplasty. The total mean operative time in the m‐ESU and b‐ESU was 67.94 and 62.82 minutes, respectively. This difference was not significant ( P > .05). The panel's edema and patient satisfaction and inconvenience scores were significantly better in the b‐ESU group ( P < .05). There were no significant differences in the panel's ecchymosis score and frequency as well as nature of complications between the m‐ESU and b‐ESU group ( P > .05). Conclusions In this cohort of blepharoplasty patients, minimally invasive b‐ESUs were efficient in obtaining reliable surgical results with higher satisfaction and lower inconvenience rates of patients than m‐ESUs. We would like to recommend the use of b‐ESUs in blepharoplasty, especially for plastic surgeons inexperienced in periorbital esthetic surgery.