What is Eyelid Reconstruction?
In the event of eyelid trauma or eyelid cancer, eyelid reconstruction may be necessary to maintain eyelid function and preserve vision while achieving an aesthetically natural appearance. Although not as involved as for cancer or trauma, eyelid reconstruction can also come into play with conditions such as droopy eyelids or entropion/ectropion. The team at Consultants in Ophthalmic & Facial Plastic Surgery utilizes a variety of surgical techniques to obtain the best results.
Eyelid Reconstruction Methods
The most frequent need for eyelid reconstruction is after the removal of skin cancer. On the eyelids, surgical excision is the preferred method for management of most eyelid and facial skin cancers. The majority of skin cancers on the eyelids are either basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas.
One of the most effective methods for removal of these skin cancers is Mohs Surgery. This technique removes the cancer and immediately checks the outer margins of the removed tissue for cancer cells. If the outer ring is clear, the surgery ends. If more cancer cells are found, another ring is taken and checked. This process continues until the sample is free of cancer cells. Mohs’ Surgery offers the advantages of minimal tissue removal and high confidence of complete removal (with lower chances of recurrence).