Will Orbital Rim Implants Raise The Lower Eyelids?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am thinking of getting orbital rim implants to improve my lower eye hollows socket area and mainly to raise my lower eyelids so less scleral show is showing…

Can cheek implants placed very high have the same effect of pushing up lower eyelids? Give a less round eye look?

Also will there be lower eyelid retraction after orbital rim implants?

A: It is important to understand that neither orbital rim or cheek implants is going to drive up the lower eyelids to improve scleral show and give the eye less of a rounded eye look. In fact, one of the potential side effects of these implant procedures when done through a lower eyelid approach is lower eyelid retraction. If technically done well and orbicularis muscle resuspension and lateral canthopexies are performed with closure, lower eyelid retraction can be prevented and may even help with less scleral show. But bone-based implants can not push up on the lower eyelid and improve the level of the lash line across the eyeball. The bone levels lie well below the lash line of the eyelid. This is a common misconception which can be verified by pushing up on he cheek tissues and you will see that it does not change the position of the lower eyelid. (unless you really push up far which is not a realistic surgical effect)

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana