Upper Eyelid Ptosis Surgery (for Drooping Eyelids)
Goal: Lifting of a drooping (not baggy) upper eyelid affecting one’s vision. This may be performed along with a blepharoplasty procedure to improve the baggy appearance. Often, this is covered by medical insurance plans or Medicare.
Anesthesia: Local anesthesia along with a mild sedative is used for patient comfort and cooperation during surgery.
Operation: Through a mostly hidden upper eyelid crease skin incision, the blepharoplasty procedure is performed by removing skin and fat from the eyelid area. The surgeon will carefully create a smooth lift for the droopy lid and make sure that both upper eyelids match each other in appearance.
Combination Surgery: If a patient has a combination of both baggy eyelids and drooping eyelids (ptosis) yet only the bagginess is addressed, the final result will be disappointing. Our surgeon can do a combination surgery to take care of both areas of the eyes.
Care and recovery: The upper eyelid may not fully show the final results of the surgery until most of the swelling has disappeared which can take up to six weeks. After this time, patients will enjoy the full effects of the surgical repair.
Risks and complications: Ptosis repair may sometimes be complicated by over-correction, under-correction, irregularities of lid shape, or matching in appearance between the two eyes.