Ptosis Explained: What it Is and What You Can Do About It

Drooping sagging eyelids (ptosis) can have a marked effect on your appearance, making you look tired and worn out regardless of your age or how rested you feel. Worse, severe ptosis in your upper lids can interfere with vision, causing a significant problem that can only be corrected by surgery.

At Rejuvenate Plastic Surgery, Rishi Jindal, MD, offers eyelid surgery focused on correcting both the cosmetic and medical aspects of ptosis, providing patients with a solution for droopy lids that are tailored to their specific goals. Here’s why ptosis happens and what we can do to help.

What to know about ptosis

There are two basic types of ptosis: acquired ptosis which develops during adulthood (or sometimes childhood) and congenital ptosis which is present at birth. 

Congenital ptosis can happen when the eyelid muscles are damaged during the birth process or when the lid muscles or structure don’t form properly before birth. In most cases, the underlying cause of congenital ptosis is largely unknown (called idiopathic congenital ptosis).

Acquired ptosis that develops later in life can be divided further based on the underlying cause:

• Mechanical ptosis involves a structural issue that affects eyelid function
• Myogenic ptosis is caused by a disease that affects the eyelid
• Traumatic ptosis is caused by injury
• Neurogenic ptosis involves nerves that control the lid
• Aponeurotic ptosis is due to aging, injury, or surgical complications

Most types of ptosis involve the weakening of the muscles or ligaments that support the upper eyelids and control their movement. Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, is beneficial in correcting all types of ptosis.

Before recommending eyelid surgery, Dr. Jindal evaluates your lids and reviews your medical history to determine the best approach to treatment.

Blepharoplasty: What to expect

Blepharoplasty is an outpatient procedure performed under sedation or general anesthesia. Once you’re relaxed, Dr. Jindal makes a tiny incision in the fold or your upper lid. Placing the incision here helps hide any scars that might form afterward.

After making the incision, Dr. Jindal removes fatty tissue and trims excess skin. Depending on the cause of your sagging lids, he may shorten underlying muscles or reposition them so they elevate the lids more effectively.

Once the lids are elevated, Dr. Jindal closes the incisions with sutures. Special ointments can be used to prevent infection and keep the area protected, but bandages usually aren’t required.

Following your surgery, Dr. Jindal provides complete instructions to help you care for the area. Cool compresses and over-the-counter medicine help relieve swelling and discomfort, while a follow-up visit ensures healing is progressing smoothly.

Lower lid surgery

Eyelid surgery can also be performed on the lower eyelids to eliminate bags and sagging skin. In these procedures, the incision usually is made inside the lower lid so resulting scars are completely hidden. 

Lower eyelid surgery removes fatty tissue that causes bags and sagging. Some patients have both upper lid surgery and lower lid surgery performed at the same time for a complete rejuvenation of the eye area.

Give your sagging lids a lift

Droopy, sagging lids aren’t just unattractive. Without treatment, they can affect your vision or lead to dry eye and its complications. To learn how we can help elevate your lids to improve their appearance and function, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Jindal and the team at Rejuvenate Plastic Surgery in San Diego, California, today.