PURPOSE: To evaluate the functional results and complications of the use of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene in frontalis suspension surgery for the treatment of blepharoptosis. METHODS: Frontalis suspension procedure with polytetrafluoroethylene was performed between 2003 and 2007 on 23 patients (36 eyes) with blepharoptosis. An average follow-up time was 15.8 months (range, 3 to 36). Surgical technique used was described by Fox. RESULTS: The causes of blepharoptosis found were: congenital in 20 patients (86.95%), blepharophimosis in 2 (8.69%) and traumatic in 1 (4.35%). At the first week of postoperatory 6 (26.08%) patients related palpebral asymmetry, 4 (17.39%) noticed local edema, 3 (13.04%) presented granulomas and 1 (4.35%) presented facial cellulitis on the ipsilateral frontal region. After 3 months of follow-up 3 (13.04%) patients related palpebral asymmetry and 1 (4.35%) persisted the granuloma. CONCLUSION: Polytetrafluoroethylene - Model CV3, 6.0 (Gore-tex®, W.L. Gore & Associates Inc, Flagstaff, AZ, EUA) is an adequate material with good functional results (86.9%), relatively few complications (4.35%) and insatisfaction (13.4%) that could be an alternative for fascia lata in the surgery of frontalis suspension for the treatment of blepharoptosis.
Blepharoplasty; Blepharoptosis; Polytetrafluoroethylene; Polytetrafluoroethylene
