Ptosis Repair for Droopy Eyelid
Ptosis repair is usually completed in the office or in an outpatient surgery center under local anesthesia. The surgeon must make an incision in the drooping eyelid, and carefully advance and tighten the levator muscle, which elevates the upper eyelid. The eyelid is often carefully compared to the opposite eye in terms of lid height. Once the lid height is secured in the desired location, the eyelid incision is closed with tiny sutures. One or both eyes may need to be treated. The procedure takes approximately 20-25 minutes and the patient experiences little to no discomfort. Most patients will tolerate the procedure very well and have a rapid recovery. Cold packs may need to be applied to the operated eyelid for the first 48 hours following surgery. Antibiotic ointments applied to the incision are sometimes recommended. The elevation of the eyelid will often be immediately noticeable, though in some cases bruising and swelling will obscure this finding. Most patients will have sutures that need removing about a week following surgery. The bruising and swelling associated with the surgery will usually resolve in two to three weeks. Some patients may need adjustment of the sutures to better align the lid height. This may or may not require additional anesthesia or a trip to the operating room. The choice of a surgeon for ptosis repair is an important one. Eyelid anatomy and function is much more complex than most would imagine, including non-ophthalmologist physicians. Furthermore, raising lid height and the ability to match the lid height of both eyes requires considerable experience. It is our belief that ophthalmologists are the most highly trained surgeons to manage ptosis repair.
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