Reconstruction of full-thickness lower eyelid defects using a blepharoplasty technique with a hard palate mucosal graft

The authors report a method of reconstruction of a full-thickness lower eyelid defect using a blepharoplasty technique utilizing excess skin of the lower eyelid with a hard palate mucosal graft. In all patients the hard palate mucosa took well, and good functional and aesthetic results were obtained. The most suitable indication of this technique might be for the defect occurring horizontally (for which direct closure is difficult to apply) and located in the lateral side of the lower eyelid (when a large amount of excess skin can be utilized). The authors conclude that although the shape and size of the defect to which this method can be applied is restricted, this is a useful option in the reconstructive methods of a full-thickness lower eyelid defect.