What is the Success Rate of Having a Skin Pinch?

I had lower transconjunctival blepharoplasty with CO2 laser beneath my eyes with a canthopexy (tightning of muscle).

Unfortunately, I am left with extra skin and my doctor suggests a skin pinch. However I am afraid of severe scaring or my eye pulling down. Do you think this is the best route as I don't want it worse than it is. Any advice?

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12 Doctor Answers | Asked by intears in Toronto

Doctor Answers (12)
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Conservative pinch

A conservative pinch of skin in the lower eyelid blepharoplasty is an excellent technique for excess lower eyelid skin. It, if performed conservatively without tension, heals with nearly an imperceptible scar. The incision can be closed with Histocryl tissue glue or meticulous dissolvable sutures. Pinching of the lower eyelid skin will help with wrinkles but will not get rid of all of the lower lid wrinkles. It is very important not to change the shape of the lower lid....

Skin pinch for lower eyelid skin excess

This is a difficult problem to assess via photographs. An important portion of the examination is pinching the skin and assessing your lower eyelid tone. Based on what I can see from this photo, it is only my opinion that the laxity is too far down on the eyelid to be improved by a skin pinch.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Skin Pinch with Volume Replacement

Often times the skin is not "excessive" but the volume of the lower eyelid has diminished. Skin Pinch or excision subcutaneously (same as the skin pinch) combined with orbital volume replacement will address the deflated lower lid.

Skin pinch is not enough

Based on your photographs, I do not believe that a skin pinch is enough. It looks like you have moderate redundant skin on your lower lids. I think you would benefit from a subcutaneous belpharoplasty to elevate all the skin off of the muscle and pull it up (similar to tightening the sheets on your bed). If you do not elevate all the skin and just do the pinch, I think there will not be a significant improvement and it may lead to excess tension pulling on the lower lid. Since you have... more

A skin pinch is a blepharoplasty

Removal of skin below the eye, if unsupported, exerts force on the lower eyelid: downward force. However subtly, it can affect eye shape by rounding or by pulling down on the corners of the eye. In lax lower eyelids or if the pinch is more extensive, the deformity will be greater. In our practice, we do not perform skin pinches without supporting the corner of the eye, usually with an ultrashort incision cheeklift (USIC). This also enables greater tightening than a skin pinch could... more

Pinch blepheroplasty

Your fears are well taken. It will depend on the laxity of the lower lid, Althoughyou had a canthoplasty. On exam what is the distraction tst and the snap test show, these are tests to assess the laxity of the lid. Pinch excision of the skin can improve you some (according to the picture). You can protect against Ectropion by suture lateral lids or FROST STITCH You have a HOLLOW EYE SYNDROME, and deflation of the upper and lower lid, volume replacement will improve you further... more

Too much fat removed with blepharoplasty.

Hi. I do see the lines of course. These often look thicker after CO2 laser. I wonder what you look like when you are not smiling. In any case, the main problem is hollowing of your lower lids after blepharoplasty. Removing a little skin will not help. Skillfully done fat injections would make you look better.

Skin pinch may be appropriate

A skin pinch may be quite appropriate but it is difficult to say given the available information. I would say that some CO2 laser resurfacing was performed at the time of your concerns about excess skin and wrinkling and lower eyelids. These lasers are quite effective but not all patients will see complete resolution and tightening of the skin excess. It can take up to six months to see the final effects of the laser resurfacing. I think it is likely, based on your photos, and that some... more

Removal of skin is okay....

I've seen your questions previously. My take on this is 1. you originally had too much skin truly for CO2 resurfacing and should have had skin removed. 2. If a canthopexy is performed often muscle plication and skin removal is necessary. Only if the patient is very young with abnormal lower lids do I do a canthopexy along. So yes have some skin removed. Now when I remove skin from the lower lids we're only talking about 2-4mm and muscle plication is added. This helps prevent ectropion.... more

Consider a second opinion

Dear Intears, A skin pinch might help your lower eyelids or it might not. Dr. Moelleken is absolutely right to be concerned about lower eyelid support, particularly given how much excess skin you appear to have in your lower eyelid. The amount of skin you need removed is actually much more than is classically addressed with a skin pinch. That is not to say it can't be done. However, this will directly couple the lower eyelid to your falling cheek, placing the weight of the cheek on... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

8 reviews

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Skin pinch is a very good procedure for you

Skin pinch is a relatively safe procedure for excess skin in the lower eyelids. It works well as long as there is no muscle removed. Obviously measurements must be very accurate. You can request your surgeon to be very conservative. You can always come back to have more if you aren't satisfied. in most cases, the scar will fade rapidly to the point that it is barely noticeable.

Lower eyelid skin pinch avoids much of the scarring that pulls your lid

Lower blepharoplasty involves removing fat from under your eyes, and also sometimes involves removal of skin. A skin pinch is a minimally invasive procedure that is used just to remove a small amount of skin. The benefit of doing so is that you avoid going through the other layers of tissue in your lower eyelid which can lead to the scarring that you are afraid of and the pulling of the lower eyelid downward. One thing to realize is that many of these procedures remove tissue. Oftentimes... more