Study highlights modified blepharoplasty for canine, feline eyelids

A new retrospective study in the Journal of Small Animal Practice reports strong short-term outcomes for a modified house-inverted-triangle blepharoplasty used to reconstruct eyelids in 18 patients, including 12 dogs and six cats, treated between 2018 and 2025. The cases involved reconstruction after tumor resection or other eyelid defects, and the authors reported good-to-excellent cosmetic and functional outcomes in all patients, with 67% rated excellent and 33% good. The paper positions the technique as a versatile option for larger or more complex defects, including those involving the medial canthus, extending the use of a blepharoplasty approach more often described for smaller eyelid lesions. (mendeley.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, eyelid reconstruction is never just cosmetic. After periocular tumor excision, preserving a stable lid margin and blink function is essential to protect the cornea and maintain long-term ocular surface health. That matters especially because eyelid tumors are common in older dogs, while feline eyelid masses are less common but more often malignant, making complete excision and reliable reconstruction especially important in cats. This study adds another clinical option to a field that already includes H-figure sliding flaps, glabellar flaps, lip-to-lid flaps, and other reconstructive techniques, and its reported outcomes suggest the modified house-inverted-triangle approach may help surgeons manage defects that fall beyond the classic “small lesion” indication. (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

What to watch: The next question is whether larger, prospective studies with longer follow-up confirm these 100% good-to-excellent outcomes, especially for oncologic cases and medial canthal defects. (mendeley.com)