Is Ptosis Surgery Supposed to Be Painful Even After Being Given Local Anesthesia? It Was for Me.

Although the majority of patients undergoing ptosis repair do not have pain, some patients are less susceptible to local anesthetics than others. For example if you drink wine regularly and/or on pain medication for chronic pain, you may be more tolerant to local anesthetics.

Furthermore, ptosis surgery [external levator approach] is a type of surgery that you do not want to overdo the amount of anesthetic injected, because it may hamper the surgeons ability to accurately assess the level of elevation of the lid as he/she adjusts his sutures. For that reason, its possible that your surgeon was conservative with his injection, and it may have additionally worn off due to the long surgical time.

Finally, if your case was a revision, and therefore there was scarring present from prior surgery, the anesthetic may not have infiltrated adequately.

I hope this helps.

  No. Absolutely not.  Honestly, my patients NEVER complain of pain.  Perhaps the anesthesia did wear off, as you surmise.  This is an issue you should address with your surgeon.