DermatochalasisNCT04585217
A Comparison of the Effect of Suture Material on Blepharoplasty Incision
A study testing Randomized laterality of suture materials for closure (6-0 polypropylene monofilament suture vs fast absorbing gut suture on right eyelid) in people with Dermatochalasis and Ptosis, Eyelid, run by Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The objective is to compare the effect of suture material on blepharoplasty incision. Outcomes of blepharoplasty scar and/or cosmesis will be compared between plain gut and polypropylene suture. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 89 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Dermatochalasis, Ptosis, Eyelid
- What is being tested?
- Randomized laterality of suture materials for closure (6-0 polypropylene monofilament suture vs fast absorbing gut suture on right eyelid)
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 23 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 30 May 2020to 30 Jun 2022
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 89 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Patients 18-89 years old
- Patients who qualify for functional blepharoplasty
Who cannot join
- Patients <18 or >89 years old
- Previous eyelid surgery
- History of connective tissue disease
- Children
- Mental handicap
- Pregnant women
- Incarcerated persons
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Massachusetts Eye and Ear
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114
About this study
The objective is to compare the effect of suture material on blepharoplasty incision. Outcomes of blepharoplasty scar and/or cosmesis will be compared between plain gut and polypropylene suture. Additionally, the study will assess whether certain Fitzpatrick skin types are associated with increased rates of poor outcomes after blepharoplasty.
Read the detailed description
Upper eyelid blepharoplasty is commonly performed surgical procedure. The procedure involves excising excess eyelid skin (sometimes with associated orbicularis oculi muscle and orbital fat). It generally has low risk with high success rate. Although blepharoplasty is usually performed for functional reasons, it can also be performed for purely cosmetic indications. Regardless the indication, patients still expect optimal cosmetic results. Various marking and surgical techniques have been described to maximize functional and aesthetic outcomes. However, there are lacking studies on the optimal suture material for upper blepharoplasty. A comprehensive review of the literature reveals three studies which discuss blepharoplasty outcomes related to suture material. The outcomes of all these studies were heavily influenced by subjective interpretation.
Skin incisions can be closed with adhesives, sutures, staples, or allowed to secondarily granulate. There are many published reports on suture reaction and post-operative results on the face, body, and extremities. However, the eyelid skin is unique - it is the thinnest in the body. Post-operative edema, erythema, cyst and scar formation can have an effect on the cosmetic outcome.
Sutures are the most common method used for closure in this setting. Types of sutures used in clinical practice include absorbable gut and polyglactin and non-absorbable polypropylene, nylon, and polyester. Sutures are most commonly placed as either a continuous running or subcuticular passes with and without reinforcing interrupted sutures. Anecdotally, suture-related complications have been observed in specific racial skin types as well as with various suture materials. Results of this study could lead to a more patient specific blepharoplasty with better and more predictable outcomes therefore improving patient care.
Patients in the outpatient oculoplastics clinic will be evaluated for dermatochalasis and approved for upper blepharoplasty. Enrollment and consent into the study will be performed by the study coordinator. The purpose of the study, risks, benefits, and alternatives will be explained to the patient.
If the patient is interested, he or she will be asked to sign a consent form for both the blepharoplasty procedure and the study. On the day of the procedure, the patient's eyelids and sutures will be randomized. The procedure on each eyelid will performed by the same surgeon.
Patients will have the standard post-operative appointments at 1 week and 3 months. A survey will be given to patients to assess their blepharoplasty scar at each appointment. Deidentified photographs will also be taken of the patients and blindly assessed by the study investigators using an observer scar assessment scale.
- Conditions
- Dermatochalasis, Ptosis, Eyelid
- Being tested
- Randomized laterality of suture materials for closure (6-0 polypropylene monofilament suture vs fast absorbing gut suture on right eyelid)
- Keywords
- Blepharoplasty, Dermatochalasis, Wound healing, Suture, Scar
- Medical subject headings
- Cutis Laxa, Blepharoptosis, Cicatrix
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Randomized laterality of suture materials for closure (6-0 polypropylene monofilament suture vs fast absorbing gut suture on right eyelid)Procedure or surgery
Plain gut suture (6-0 fast absorbing plain gut [Sharpoint "Express gut" TM]) and polypropylene suture (6-0 polypropylene [Ethicon Prolene TM]) will be used to close blepharoplasty incisions. Each patient will have one eyelid using plain gut suture and the other eyelid with polypropylene suture. Each subject will be randomized as to laterality.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Plain gut suture on right eyelid | Active comparator | Plain gut suture closure of blepharoplasty incision Receives: Procedure: Randomized laterality of suture materials for closure (6-0 polypropylene monofilament suture vs fast absorbing gut suture on right eyelid) |
| Polypropylene suture on right eyelid | Active comparator | Polypropylene suture closure of blepharoplasty incision Receives: Procedure: Randomized laterality of suture materials for closure (6-0 polypropylene monofilament suture vs fast absorbing gut suture on right eyelid) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Patient Observer Scar Assessment Scale
This validated scale has the patient and observer grade their scar on different components. The observer rates on vascularity, pigmentation, thickness, relief, pliability, surface area, and overall opinion. This is done on a 1 - 10 scale with 1 being completely normal skin and 10 being the worst scar imaginable. The patient rates the scar based on pain, itching, color, stiffness, thickness, irregularity, and overall opinion. This is graded on a 1 - 10 scale with 1 being No (absolutely not) and 10 being Yes (absolutely yes).
The outcome is a difference of > or = 3-points.
Measured: 3 months
Secondary outcomes (1)
Adverse outcomes per Fitzpatrick skin type
Number and type of adverse outcomes stratified by Fitzpatrick skin type
Measured: 3 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Oct 2020
- Study start30 May 2020
- Primary completion30 Jun 2022
- Study completion30 Jun 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for DermatochalasisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 23 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Michael Yoon, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
- Investigators
- Michael K Yoon, MD, Principal investigator, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04585217
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2020P000543
- Status last verified
- Oct 2023
- First submitted
- 5 Oct 2020
- Last updated
- 23 Oct 2023
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Jaggi R, Hart R, Taylor SM. Absorbable suture compared with nonabsorbable suture in upper eyelid blepharoplasty closure. Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2009 Sep-Oct;11(5):349-52. doi: 10.1001/archfacial.2009.53. No abstract available.
PubMed 19797100Scaccia FJ, Hoffman JA, Stepnick DW. Upper eyelid blepharoplasty. A technical comparative analysis. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1994 Aug;120(8):827-30. doi: 10.1001/archotol.1994.01880320029007.
PubMed 8049043
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Oct 2023. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Comparison of the Effect of Suture Material on Blepharoplasty Incision
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04585217
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2020P000543
- Conditions
- Dermatochalasis, Ptosis, Eyelid
- Keywords
- Blepharoplasty, Dermatochalasis, Wound healing, Suture, Scar
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 23 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear InfirmaryUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 30 May 2020 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jun 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 14 Oct 2020 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The objective is to compare the effect of suture material on blepharoplasty incision. Outcomes of blepharoplasty scar and/or cosmesis will be compared between plain gut and polypropylene suture. Additionally, the study will assess whether certain Fitzpatrick skin types are associated with increased rates of poor outcomes after blepharoplasty.
Detailed description
Upper eyelid blepharoplasty is commonly performed surgical procedure. The procedure involves excising excess eyelid skin (sometimes with associated orbicularis oculi muscle and orbital fat). It generally has low risk with high success rate. Although blepharoplasty is usually performed for functional reasons, it can also be performed for purely cosmetic indications. Regardless the indication, patients still expect optimal cosmetic results. Various marking and surgical techniques have been described to maximize functional and aesthetic outcomes. However, there are lacking studies on the optimal suture material for upper blepharoplasty. A comprehensive review of the literature reveals three studies which discuss blepharoplasty outcomes related to suture material. The outcomes of all these studies were heavily influenced by subjective interpretation.
Skin incisions can be closed with adhesives, sutures, staples, or allowed to secondarily granulate. There are many published reports on suture reaction and post-operative results on the face, body, and extremities. However, the eyelid skin is unique - it is the thinnest in the body. Post-operative edema, erythema, cyst and scar formation can have an effect on the cosmetic outcome.
Sutures are the most common method used for closure in this setting. Types of sutures used in clinical practice include absorbable gut and polyglactin and non-absorbable polypropylene, nylon, and polyester. Sutures are most commonly placed as either a continuous running or subcuticular passes with and without reinforcing interrupted sutures. Anecdotally, suture-related complications have been observed in specific racial skin types as well as with various suture materials. Results of this study could lead to a more patient specific blepharoplasty with better and more predictable outcomes therefore improving patient care.
Patients in the outpatient oculoplastics clinic will be evaluated for dermatochalasis and approved for upper blepharoplasty. Enrollment and consent into the study will be performed by the study coordinator. The purpose of the study, risks, benefits, and alternatives will be explained to the patient.
If the patient is interested, he or she will be asked to sign a consent form for both the blepharoplasty procedure and the study. On the day of the procedure, the patient's eyelids and sutures will be randomized. The procedure on each eyelid will performed by the same surgeon.
Patients will have the standard post-operative appointments at 1 week and 3 months. A survey will be given to patients to assess their blepharoplasty scar at each appointment. Deidentified photographs will also be taken of the patients and blindly assessed by the study investigators using an observer scar assessment scale.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Plain gut suture on right eyelid | Active comparator | Procedure: Randomized laterality of suture materials for closure (6-0 polypropylene monofilament suture vs fast absorbing gut suture on right eyelid)Plain gut suture closure of blepharoplasty incision |
| Polypropylene suture on right eyelid | Active comparator | Procedure: Randomized laterality of suture materials for closure (6-0 polypropylene monofilament suture vs fast absorbing gut suture on right eyelid)Polypropylene suture closure of blepharoplasty incision |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 89 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Patients 18-89 years old
- Patients who qualify for functional blepharoplasty
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Patients <18 or >89 years old
- Previous eyelid surgery
- History of connective tissue disease
- Children
- Mental handicap
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Randomized laterality of suture materials for closure (6-0 polypropylene monofilament suture vs fast absorbing gut suture on right eyelid)Plain gut suture (6-0 fast absorbing plain gut [Sharpoint "Express gut" TM]) and polypropylene suture (6-0 polypropylene [Ethicon Prolene TM]) will be used to close blepharoplasty incisions. Each patient will have one eyelid using plain gut suture and the other eyelid with polypropylene suture. Each subject will be randomized as to laterality. | Procedure or surgery | Plain gut suture on right eyelid, Polypropylene suture on right eyelid |
Primary outcome
Patient Observer Scar Assessment Scale
Time frame: 3 months
This validated scale has the patient and observer grade their scar on different components. The observer rates on vascularity, pigmentation, thickness, relief, pliability, surface area, and overall opinion. This is done on a 1 - 10 scale with 1 being completely normal skin and 10 being the worst scar imaginable. The patient rates the scar based on pain, itching, color, stiffness, thickness, irregularity, and overall opinion. This is graded on a 1 - 10 scale with 1 being No (absolutely not) and 10 being Yes (absolutely yes). The outcome is a difference of > or = 3-points.
1 secondary outcome
Adverse outcomes per Fitzpatrick skin type
Time frame: 3 months
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Oct 2023.
- Background: PubMed 19797100Jaggi R, Hart R, Taylor SM. Absorbable suture compared with nonabsorbable suture in upper eyelid blepharoplasty closure. Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2009 Sep-Oct;11(5):349-52. doi: 10.1001/archfacial.2009.53. No abstract available.
- Background: PubMed 8049043Scaccia FJ, Hoffman JA, Stepnick DW. Upper eyelid blepharoplasty. A technical comparative analysis. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1994 Aug;120(8):827-30. doi: 10.1001/archotol.1994.01880320029007.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Michael K Yoon, MD principal investigator
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Randomized laterality of suture materials for closure (6-0 polypropylene monofilament suture vs fast absorbing gut suture on right eyelid) in people with Dermatochalasis and Ptosis, Eyelid, run by Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Oct 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Patient Observer Scar Assessment Scale (time frame: 3 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04585217, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Oct 2023; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.