Possible Long-term Effects from Arcus Marginalis Release?

It just seems like cutting that muscle may contribute to facial sagging in the future or something awful, since it's a muscle in your face. What are any possible long term effects from arcus marginalis release?

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8 Doctor Answers | Asked by SnugglyGirl007 in Austin, TX

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Arcus marginalis release

The arcus marginalis is not a muscle and there are no long-term effects known from its division. Since it is a part of the orbital septum, it is possible that during or after surgery scarring can occur in the layer and cause lid retraction. We have essentially abandoned the procedure however because the fat that is spilled over the edge in an attempt to blunt the eye-cheek junction often balls up long term and a bulge reappears. You may wish to read our book chapter on this subject for... more

Arcus Marginalis Release

The Arcus Marginalis(AM) is the bone attachment of the orbital septum. Think of the orbital septum as a "dam" holding back the lower eyelid fat and the AM is at the bottom of the dam. As we age, the orbital septum loses its elasticity and begins to bulge out forming a "bag". The rate at which we lose this elasticity is different from person to person and depends on many factors. This bulging is also enhanced by the deflation and dropping of the cheek and sub-obicularis oculi fat pads -... more

The arcus marginalis is not a muscle

The arcus release and fat repositioning or grafting has been used for 5-6 years with excellent results, and I have seen no long term negative effects. The arcus marginalis is not a muscle, but is a condensation of the septum orbitale and orbicularis muscle fascia. The eyelid is supported by the medial and lateral canthus, so the arcus marginalis does not support the lower eyelid. When the cheek fat pad falls during aging the arcus holds the bottom of the lower eyelid skin to the bone and... more

No long term effects

There should be no long-term effects of the arcus marginalis release as long as the brows have been put up to the new anatomical position. Once they have been suspended and sutured in place, the scar tissue will reattach the arcus marginalis to a new level, which will be permanent.

The release is just cutting the connection, not the muscle itself

The arcus marginalis release is only releasing the connection of the muscle and not the muscle itself. This helps soften the transition between the lid and cheek and allows for redraping of the orbital fat. If done properly, you should have no long-term negative effects. If you are having fat grafting concurrently, this should also have no negative long-term effects if done properly. Good luck with your procedure.

That's a highly intuitive question

The arcus marginalis is not actually a muscle but is the conjoined area of the obicularis muscle and the orbital septum. When I release this area I do so by a transconjunctival incision. The release of this is usually done to advance the orbital fat for redraping. This is done to help the teartrough depression. Release for any other purpose, such as occurs in facial fracture surgery, has no long lasting effect as long as the lower lid is supported with the appropriate lid suturing... more

Arcus marginalis release does not involve cutting muscle

Dear Snuggly, The arcus marginalis is a diaphanous fascial condensation formed where the lower eyelid septum inserts into the dense periosteal covering along the orbital rim. The orbital septum is a plane of connective tissue that separated the contents of the orbit from the eyelids. As such, the lower eyelid septum effectively holds back the lower eyelid fat. Classic lower eyelid cosmetic surgery involves making a cut through the lower eyelid skin, muscle and septum to gain access to... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

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Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Arcus marginalis release is safe if performed properly.

Hi! Actually , you are not cutting muscle. You are lifting the soft tissues away from the bone. Then you can reposition the under eye fat to smooth out bags and hollows. Arcus release is one of the two best ways to deal with the lower lids. (The other way involves fat injections.) It's been done for about 10 years, and the results hold up. But it is a tricky operation, and it matters a lot who does it. The most common approach to the lower eyelid is still to remove fat, which I am... more