Treatment of large xanthelasma palpebrarums with full-thickness skin grafts obtained by blepharoplasty

Abstract

Purpose: The treatment of large xanthelasma palpebrarum cases in patients whose lesions could not be closed primarily is reported. All lesions were repaired with full-thickness skin grafts obtained by blepharoplasty of the same upper eyelid. Patient satisfaction, complications, and recurrence rates were investigated. Methods: Sixteen patients were treated between 2007 and 2012. Bilateral upper eyelids were involved in all patients. Twenty-six large xanthelasma palpebrarum lesions were treated using this method. All lesions were located in the medial canthus of the upper eyelid. Results: The patients were followed up for 6 months to 5 years (mean 3 years). No patients developed complications or required revision surgery. All patients had normally positioned upper eyelids and were satisfied with the aesthetic outcome. Two patients had mild hyperpigmentation at the graft site. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that large xanthelasma palpebrarum defects that are not primarily closed after excision should be repaired with full-thickness skin grafts harvested from the lateral aspect of the same upper eyelid. Moreover, good patient satisfaction can be achieved when blepharoplasty of the upper eyelid is performed concurrently in patients who are middleaged or older. © 2013 Canadian Dermatology Association.