Ptosis Repair - Over Corrected?

Rose

The upper eyelid should be under-corrected not over-correct at just a week out from surgery.  Swelling weighs the corrected eyelid down at this point (like gluing a dime to the eyelid).  As the swelling resolves the lid gradually comes to its final position.  If the eyelid is all ready over-corrected, it will be even worse as the swelling goes down.

There are typically two options here and it very much depends on what was done at surgery.  One option is to physically finger wink the eyelid.  This has the effect of stretching out the eyelid tissues.  This can be effective for small over-corrections.  However, if the eyelid is more than a little over-correct, I generally surgically adjust the eyelid in the office in my procedure room.  At this early date it is possible to inject a little local anesthesia and gently pull the healing tissues apart.  The sutures that are holding the eyelid up are cut and a new suture is placed to position the eyelid in a lower resting position and the eyelid is sutured closed.  This type of adjustment can be done up to 2 weeks after the surgery but the sooner the better. 

If your surgeon was not a fellowship trained oculoplastic surgeon but a general ophthalmologist, general plastic surgeon, or facial plastic surgeon, please be aware that they may or may not have enough training and experience to properly address this situation.  This type of over correct occurs and is not always avoidable.  My consents detail this possibility.   Please be open if your surgeon wants you to see a colleague for a second opinion.  Please call your doctor today.  Do not wait three months.  This is not going away on its own.  

the overcorrection may be functional while the frontalis (forehead) muscle spasm that often accompanies ptosis resolves. but waiting three months is the mistake. if your surgeon feels it is overcorrected, simple massage into position is genrally effective. make an appt ASAP. good luck