Ptosis Repair
Functional and Reconstructive
Ptosis Repair — Restoring the Eye's Natural Opening
Ptosis — the drooping of the upper eyelid — is among the most functionally and aesthetically consequential conditions treated within oculoplastic surgery. The upper eyelid's position is determined by the integrity and function of the levator aponeurosis, a fibrous structure that transmits the contractile force of the levator muscle to the eyelid margin. When this structure stretches, disinserts, or fails — whether through the natural process of aging, prior ocular surgery, contact lens wear, or congenital causes — the eyelid descends, partially or fully obscuring the pupil. The result is both a visual impairment and a characteristic appearance of heaviness, fatigue, and asymmetry that patients frequently find deeply distressing. Ptosis repair restores the eyelid to its natural position through precise surgical reattachment or advancement of the levator aponeurosis — a procedure that demands intimate knowledge of eyelid anatomy and the surgical finesse to achieve symmetry within fractions of a millimeter.
Before
What Ptosis Repair Can Address
Asymmetric eyelid position producing a visible difference in the apparent size of the two eyes
Visual field obstruction from a drooping eyelid — frequently covered by medical insurance
What to Expect
Ptosis repair is most commonly performed under local anesthesia as an in-office or outpatient procedure, allowing the surgeon to assess eyelid height and contour with the patient awake and cooperative — a critical element of achieving precise, symmetric results. The levator aponeurosis is accessed through an incision placed in the natural eyelid crease, advanced or reattached to the tarsal plate, and adjusted intraoperatively until the desired position is achieved. Sutures are removed at approximately one week. Mild swelling and bruising resolve over two to three weeks, with final eyelid position and symmetry assessed at three months.