Reconstruction after total amputation of the upper and lower eyelids with preserved globe is rare. The primary goal is immediate corneal protection. The second goal is to restore mobility, occlusion, and facial symmetry. Two women had full-thickness excision of both upper and lower eyelids to treat a melanoma. The reconstruction method required four steps over a period of 5 months. A buccal mucosal graft was used to recreate the conjunctival lining, and an oblique forehead flap was used to recreate the skin. Resection of the flap and replacement by a full-thickness skin graft made it possible to recreate a thin and mobile upper eyelid. Visual acuity remained unchanged, and the eyelids remained functional despite a degree of ptosis and lower eyelid retraction.
Clinical question/level of evidence: Therapeutic, V.