Eyelid Surgery for Ptosis: Taking Care of a Drooping Eyes
There are many different issues that can be addressed through cosmetic surgery, particularly surgeries that address the face. Many patients in the Chevy Chase area have been pleased by our approach to facial cosmetic surgery, which emphasizes wrinkle reduction and the way procedures complement your features. Anti-aging and total rejuvenation are possible.
We here at Millennium Medical would like to focus on ptosis in this blog post. It's a term that many people are not familiar with, so it's a perfect opportunity to set the record straight and give you a better understanding about conditions that affect your facial features.
What is ptosis?
Ptosis is the medical term for the drooping of the upper eyelids. The drooping upper eyelid can lead to a drowsy or exhausted appearance. Worse, ptosis can lead to impaired vision because of the drooping of the eyelids.
The Causes of Ptosis
There are many different causes of ptosis. In some cases, the condition may be present since birth, while in others ptosis may develop as part of the aging process.
Another common cause of ptosis involves the muscles of the eyelids, which are known as levators. Issues with the levators or the tendons connected to the levators can cause the upper eyelids to droop or sag.
Signs and Symptoms of Ptosis
The most common signs and symptoms of ptosis are the noticeable drooping and sagging of the upper eyelids. This may occur gradually with time or relatively suddenly. You may also experience issues with reduced or affected vision as a sign of ptosis.
Surgery for Ptosis
In order to address ptosis, eyelid surgery is performed. The procedure is performed under general anesthetic in order to prevent major pain and distress for the patient.
During the eyelid surgery, an incision is made along the natural fold of the patient's upper eyelid. Through this fold, excess skin can be removed and the other structures of the eye modified as needed.
Will there be a noticeable scar?
Scarring is a given with any surgery, but the eyelid surgery scar will be well concealed.
Since the incision is hidden along the fold of the upper eyelid, surgical scarring is very difficult to notice. Even when you have your eyes shut, the scar from the surgery will be very small.
What Patients Can Expect After Eyelid Surgery
After undergoing eyelid surgery, patients can expect some discomfort and soreness around the eyes. This is common simply given the nature of the surgery. Itchiness and irritation of the eyes and eyelids is common as well, as is dry eye and issues with hazy or blurry vision. All of these side effects will be most pronounced in the first days of surgery and should abate with time.
Patients will be given ointment to apply to the eyelids in order to address any problems with irritation and dryness. The use of liquid tears will be recommended in cases of dry eye. It's imperative that patients avoid touching or rubbing their eyes as they heal in order to prevent infection and other complications.
Periodic follow-up visits will be scheduled to monitor healing progress and the results of surgery. Patients are encouraged to keep in touch with their surgeon in order to have pressing matters addressed as soon as possible.
Learn More About Eyelid Surgery
For more information about cosmetic eyelid surgery and how it can address a number of different issues with regard to your appearance and sense of wellness, be sure to contact our cosmetic surgery center today. Dr. Hadi Michael Rassael and his entire team will help you achieve a better appearance using the latest surgical techniques.
