Ptosis surgery - undercorrection? (Photo)

Question

I'm a 23 year old male. Last year I had a surgery for my ptosis (Levator plication). I was very happy with the surgery (both in terms of aesthetic appearance and functionality). Some days I would notice my ptosis again, but the doctor reassured me it was just related to stress/fatigue, and it fact it would go back to normal. Recently though I am noticing more and more. Was it undercorrected and is it normal it is showing only now? Can I fix it with a second surgery or will it go back again?

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

My practice includes revision of unsatisfactory ptosis surgery.  Ptosis surgery has a very high failure rate.  It is not like taking an appendix out.  The eyelids need to heal even while you are using them.  The fix is to surgically revise the upper eyelid.  I would approach this with a revisional anterior levator resection ptosis surgery.  If you had a levator plication, it is possible that the plication separated.  However, often when I explore these eyelids, it is clear that a variety of issues develop after the original surgery.  These revisions are hard and many surgeons do not want to do them.  There is no urgency to have surgery.  Unfortunately people will think you are lazy or stoned with a heavy eyelid like this.  My out of town patients spend about 8 days in Los Angeles after surgeries like this before they are ready to travel home.

Curtis Wong, MD · Answer

Its really hard to tell since you should be judging that by seeing if your lid margins are at the same height nor not?  If at the same height (or relationship to the iris), you have something else happening and a different procedure would be needed.  So you should see your surgeon and be evaluated for recurrence of ptosis or some other cause of your asymmetry.

Ptosis surgery - undercorrection? (Photo)

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Everything you need to know about Ptosis Surgery

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Ptosis surgery - undercorrection? (Photo)

Answers (2)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Ptosis Surgery

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.