Upper Eyelid Static Surgical Approaches for the Treatment of Facial Palsy-Induced Lagophthalmos: A Systematic Review.

Abstract

<b>Background</b>: Incomplete eyelid closure and lagophthalmos due to facial nerve palsy are significant functional and aesthetic concerns often requiring surgical correction. The aim of this systematic review is to quantitatively assess the efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction associated with gold or platinum weight implantation, autologous fat grafting (lipofilling), and müllerectomy. <b>Methods</b>: A systematic review was performed following PRISMA guidelines, searching PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus up to March 2025. Studies included clinical data on surgical correction for incomplete eyelid closure in facial palsy, reporting functional, anatomical, and satisfaction outcomes. Quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. <b>Results</b>: Twenty-six studies including a total of 1205 patients were included. Gold/platinum weight implantation achieved complete or near-complete eyelid closure in 83-92% of cases, with a reduction in lagophthalmos to <1 mm. Complication rates ranged from 5-15% (mainly extrusion/migration), and patient satisfaction averaged 7.9/10. Lipofilling showed persistent benefit in 77% of cases, with 9-20% requiring repeat procedures and 10-12% experiencing minor complications. Müllerectomy yielded symptomatic improvement or resolution in 92% of cases, with a mean lagophthalmos reduction of 1.18 mm. <b>Conclusions</b>: Gold or platinum weight implantation provides the most reliable improvement for severe upper eyelid dysfunction in facial palsy. Lipofilling is a viable autologous alternative, while müllerectomy is effective in selected cases. Further prospective comparative trials are needed to refine surgical selection and optimize outcomes.