Dealing with Drooping: Eyelid Surgery for Ptosis
When it comes to enhancing the eyes, Dr. Constance Barone knows how to achieve excellent results. Serving the people of San Antonio, she offers cosmetic upper and lower eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) that can dramatically enhance your overall appearance.
Sometimes people have an issue with ptosis, which affects the upper eyelids. The word may not be familiar, but the effects of the condition are quite noticeable. Let's look into this issue right now.
About Ptosis
Ptosis is a medical term used to describe the drooping of a person's upper eyelids. This drooping of the upper eyelid can result in people having a sleepy or drowsy appearance. In some cases, ptosis can also affect a person's vision, with the drooping eyelid blocking out part of one's field of vision.
What Causes of Ptosis?
There are different causes of ptosis that need to be considered. Some people may have ptosis that is congenital, or present from birth. In other cases, ptosis develops as part of the aging process.
In some cases, ptosis is caused by issues with levators. Levators are the muscles of the upper eyelids, and problems with the tendons of these muscles can lead the upper eyelids to droop and sag, sometimes in a significant manner.
Signs and Symptoms of Ptosis
The most common signs and symptoms of ptosis are the visible sagging of the upper eyelids. This drooping of the upper eyelids can become more pronounced over time. As noted above, reduced field of vision is also another common issue associated with ptosis.
Surgery for Ptosis
To hep reduce the drooping and sagging of the upper eyelid and to restore proper vision, upper eyelid surgery may need to be performed. This procedure is done under general anesthetic to reduce pain, discomfort, and distress in the patient.
During this upper eyelid surgery, an incision is made along the natural crease of the eyelid. It is through this small incision that the excess skin of the eyelid can be removed, which significantly reduces drooping. If there is no natural fold in the eyelid (a common issue among people of Asian descent), one can be created during the surgical procedure.
Will There Be Noticeable Scarring?
While scarring occurs after every surgery, the scarring that occurs from eyelid surgery is very subtle, with the incisions themselves being quite small. Since the scar is concealed along the crease of the eyelid, most people will not notice anything. Even when blinking or shutting your eyes, it will be difficult to detect the scar and incision site.
What Patients Can Expect After Eyelid Surgery
After eyelid surgery has been performed, patients will experience some discomfort and soreness around the eye area. This is to be expected given the nature of the surgery, and the pain should abate over the course of the next few days. Itchiness and irritation of the eyelids is also common as well, as the same is true for dry eye. Ointment can be used to address irritation of the eyelids, while lubricating eye drops are typically best for dry eye attacks. It's crucial that patients avoid touching or rubbing their eyes as they recover in order to prevent infection and other complications.
Follow-up visits will be periodically scheduled so your surgeon can see how you are recovering and address any issues as they arise. If you should notice serious issues with pain or discomfort as you recover, it's important that you contact the practice so these matters can be treated in a timely manner.
Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Constance Barone
For more information about eyelid surgery as a treatment option for ptosis and other kinds of issues, be sure to contact our cosmetic skin care and plastic surgery center today. Dr. Constance Barone will work with you to enhance your overall appearance.