Upper eyelid surgery or blepharoplasty is a key procedure to correct the condition of droopy eyelids. It usually involves removal of excess upper lid skin and fat, and tightening of the underlying muscles to produce a more alert, youthful eye appearance. However, sometimes the surgery may be required to also correct the underlying condition of ptosis.
Dr. Trang Vo-Nguyen (Dr. V) is a board certified facial plastic surgeon providing both cosmetic and functional surgery for drooping eyelid conditions to patients in Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and surrounding locations.
Functional Eyelid Surgery
Upper eyelid ptosis surgery is slightly different from cosmetic eye lift procedures. Ptosis surgery is designed to lift the position of the upper lid margin by tightening the muscle and tendon that are normally involved in elevating it. Cosmetic blepharoplasty may be used when the heaviness of the excessive skin is weighing down the upper lid, so it can be corrected with removal of excess skin.
However, when the ptosis or upper lid droopiness occurs due to aging or medical reasons, a functional eyelid surgery will be required. The procedure can be performed at a surgical center on an outpatient basis, and it is usually completed in about one to three hours. Complete recovery and final results will be established in about four to six weeks after the surgery.
Procedure to Correct Muscular Ptosis
Muscular ptosis may occur in children or may be acquired later in life as the muscle tends to sag due to aging or other factors. If the levator muscle has some strength remaining, the condition can be corrected by performed levator resection or tightening of the levator muscle. When the muscle is first tightened, the patient may not be able to blink normally. However, the condition will improve over time and normal closing of the eye can be performed.
If the levator muscle is extremely weak, the muscle tightening will not be enough to raise the lid sufficiently. In such case, a frontalis suspension is required. In this procedure, small strands will be placed between the eyelid and eyebrows. The strands are then tightened to raise the lid. This procedure will allow the patient to comfortably raise and close the eyelid as well as raise and lower the brows.
In case of adults, a frontalis suspension is performed using a strand of solid silicone, but in case of children, fibrous tissue is used so that they can easily close the eyelids after the procedure. Experienced facial plastic surgeon Dr. V receives patients from Chantilly, Northern Virginia, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Prince William, Fauquier, Arlington, Middleburg, Leesburg, Manassas, Warrenton, and nearby areas for drooping eyelid procedures.
Recovery
Following the surgery, the eyelid will have some swelling, and the vision will be blurry for some time. The patient should keep the head in elevated position and use cold compresses frequently in the first two or three days to mitigate the swelling. The treated eyelid will initially appear stiffer than normal, and the eye will feel dry. The surgeon will prescribe a lubricating ointment to provide relief from these temporary side effects.
For more infomation please contact Dr. V. Dr. Trang Thuy Vo-Nguyen, known to her patients as “Dr. V,” is a board certified facial plastic surgeon providing the latest surgical and non-surgical aesthetic procedures in Northern Virginia, Leesburg, Loudoun, Fairfax, Warrenton, Fauquier, Arlington, Manassas, Middleburg, Prince William, and other areas. https://thevirginiainstitute.com/contact-us/
