Often, adults with drooping eyelids consider blepharoplasty, or eyelid lift surgery, as a way to rejuvenate the face. This could be the right approach in some cases. However, a comprehensive consultation is in order. Ptosis is not always the result of a loss of laxity in the skin. To simply remove excess tissue from the upper lid could be a mistake if the cause of drooping lies elsewhere.
What could be Behind Ptosis?
The eyelid is raised by a levator muscle, which is located within the upper eyelid itself, not at the brow, as some think. This muscle may be affected by stretching and the natural loss of collagen and elastin that occurs over time. Some studies also suggest that individuals who wear rigid contact lenses for an extended period of time may be at a higher risk of weakness to the levator muscle in the eye. If the levator muscle has become lax and stretched, it can be tightened through a tiny incision made at the crease of the upper lid.
How does Ptosis occur?
Ptosis due to a weak levator muscle may also be congenital, present at birth. Children who are born with ptosis may require surgical repair sometime during childhood, if the condition progresses to a point at which vision is impaired. Muscular ptosis may also occur after infancy, in a child or adult who suffers from a neurologic or muscular problem.
Depending on the severity of muscle weakness, ptosis repair may involve redirecting the eyelid attachment to a more functional muscle in the forehead, rather than tightening the weakened muscle itself.
Contact Us Today
Not all physicians are extensively trained to recognize and treat ptosis due to the fairly complex nature of this condition. For more information on ptosis treatment in the Amarillo area, call 806-351-1177.