Ptosis Correction - SM Plastic Surgery

Double-eyelid surgery creates the crease; ptosis correction strengthens the muscle that opens the eye so it opens wider. Where ptosis is present, a crease alone rarely brings a clear eye area, so ptosis correction is performed alongside.

At SM Plastic Surgery, the degree of ptosis is measured precisely and corrected within a natural range, without overcorrection.

Where ptosis is mild and the lid thin, the non-incisional method suits; where it is moderate or greater, or fat is plentiful, incision may be needed. The decision follows an accurate assessment.

Because the levator is directly shortened, strengthened and fixed, it tends to hold longer than non-surgical correction. Age-related change in the lid can still occur, however, so how long the result holds varies from person to person.

Yes. The degree of ptosis is measured for each side, and an eye area close to symmetry can be created.

Ptosis refers to a condition in which the levator muscle that opens the eye is weak, so the eyelid covers more of the pupil than usual. In some cases the muscle is underdeveloped from birth, and in others it develops with age as the muscle and tendon stretch. Because the approach differs depending on the cause, we decide after a detailed examination.

Looking in a mirror while holding your eyebrows down with your fingers lets you roughly see how far your eyes open without using your forehead. If the upper part of the pupil is covered more than usual, or if lifting your chin feels more comfortable, we recommend having it examined. A self-check is only a rough guide, and the actual degree has to be measured during a consultation.

When the eye-opening strength is insufficient, the forehead muscle takes over to lift the eyelid, which can raise the eyebrows and deepen forehead lines. This is commonly seen with ptosis, but it can also come from lid laxity or from habit. We measure how far the eyes open with the forehead relaxed, separate the cause, and then decide on the method.

With the forehead held still, we check how far the eyelid travels as the eye opens from a closed position, together with how much of the pupil the lid covers. We also assess lid thickness, fat volume, double-eyelid line height and left-right differences to plan the amount of correction needed. These measurements determine whether an incisional or non-incisional method is more suitable.

Sagging skin covering the eye and weak eye-opening muscle can look similar from the outside, yet they call for different surgery. If lifting the skin slightly makes the eye feel more open, the skin may be the issue; if the pupil is still covered, the eye-opening strength needs to be assessed as well. The two often occur together, so we separate them during the examination.

Correction can also be considered when the eye-opening muscle has been weak from birth. How much muscle function remains, however, changes both the approach and the amount of correction that can be expected. We measure muscle function first and then explain a suitable method, and results vary from person to person.

Repeated stress on the eyelid — from lens wear or from frequently rubbing the eyes — can stretch the tendon that opens the eye, making the lid look lower. Causes and severity differ from person to person, so lenses alone cannot be assumed to be the reason. During the consultation we check eye-opening strength and lid condition to look at the cause together.

The eyelid can cover the upper field of vision and feel restrictive, and tensing the forehead to open the eyes can add to forehead lines and eye fatigue. The look may also be read as sleepy or heavy. How much discomfort occurs differs from person to person, so we check the condition first and then decide what is needed.

Once the muscle or tendon that opens the eye has stretched, exercise, massage or makeup cannot reverse that state. Reducing habits that irritate the eyelid can help ease the strain, but that is different from restoring a lid that has already dropped. If it bothers you, we recommend having the cause and degree checked first and then discussing what is needed.

Generally one to two visits are made for follow-up, and this can change with the surgical method and how recovery progresses. At those visits we recheck how the swelling is settling, the left-right balance and how far the eyes open. The visit schedule is explained based on your condition after surgery.