Ptosis Repair
If the margin of the eyelid droops close to your pupil, blepharoplasty can be done in conjunction with another procedure called ptosis (TOE-sis) repair. Ptosis is the medical term for drooping of the upper eyelid, a condition that may affect one or both eyes.
Droopy eyelids (ptosis) occur when the edge of the upper eyelid that contains the lashes covers part of the pupil, subsequently blocking the upper visual area. In severe cases, it is necessary for these patients to tilt their head backward or lift the eyelid with a finger in order to see from under the drooping lid.
In most cases, a drooping upper eyelid results from the aging of previously normal structures. The tendon that attaches the muscle to the eyelid loses elasticity and the eyelid falls too low. Since the muscle that lifts the eyelid has normal strength, surgical correction of a drooping upper eyelid that was once normal involves repairing the stretched tendon.
Relatively safe and proven procedures, blepharoplasty and ptosis repair are most often performed in an outpatient surgical setting using oral sedation and local anesthesia. Recovery is quick and the scars, which are placed in the crease of the lid(s), begin to fade approximately in approximately 6 months.
It is important that you discuss all risks, benefits, and alternatives with your surgeon to determine if surgery is an option for you.
Ptosis Repair - Before and After:
