Ptosis is a condition that affects the skin surrounding the eye area. Also known as “drooping eyelid,” the condition is at once both aesthetically displeasing as well as medically invasive (at least in more severe cases). So does ptosis occur with age or other factors?
Does Ptosis Occur with Age?
Although it’s not exclusively a problem that is confined to aging, it is, generally speaking, a condition that increases in prevalence as the years go by.
If you’re curious about learning more about this condition, then what follows is some relevant information about it and its effects from one of the most trusted droopy eyelid surgeons in Southern California.
What Causes Ptosis?
There’s no one cause of ptosis, and someone can be afflicted by this condition for a number of different reasons.
In fact, even infants and toddlers can be affected by this condition, which can affect certain children at birth.
Individuals whose eyes are impacted by disease or accidental injury can also develop ptosis at a younger age than is normally expected. Oftentimes this is due to damage to the nerves that control the eyelid muscles.
However, the primary cause of ptosis is just the natural progression of the aging process, which causes the skin in the face to lose elasticity and droop with time. This is the most common reason that people come to medical professionals seeking surgery.
What Are the Primary Methods of Treatment?
Ptosis is a condition with a diverse set of expressions and causes. Accordingly, there exist several methods utilized to address it. The method oftentimes depends on how far the condition has progressed, as well as how severe it has progressed.
It’s quite possible that if the condition is mild and the patient finds that it’s not particularly invasive. Then your medical professional may not recommend any treatment at all.
However, perhaps the ptosis has progressed to a point where it is obstructive to one’s vision or interferes with day-to-day activities. Then it’s possible that a physician will declare the condition medically invasive to the point that action must be taken. This typically involves some kind of invasive surgery.
The Pre-Surgery Process
Before your surgery, you’ll undergo a pre-surgical consultation with your physician to discuss your goal with the operation.
During your consultation, you shouldn’t feel shy about asking as many questions as you feel fit in order to establish a sense of safety and comfort surrounding the procedure.
In addition, you should feel free to share any concerns that you might have about your procedure with your physician so that the two of you are entering the operating room as informed and secure as possible.
By going through this process, you and your doctor will build intimacy and trust, which can only serve to enhance your overall surgery process.
What Occurs During Ptosis Surgery?
During ptosis surgery, the patient is placed under local anesthesia with sedation applied. This means that the patient is awake but numb to the process of the surgery.
During the surgery, the surgeon makes an opening in the skin of the upper eyelid, and this allows the surgeon to place stitches in a small muscle that raises the eyelid.
In another method, the surgeon performs the entire surgery from underneath the eyelid. But, in this case, the muscle is tightened from underneath. In this method, there is no skin incision that’s required for the approach.
The Post-Surgical Period
Once the surgery is completed, the doctor will give you a set of post-surgical instructions. Be sure to follow these to help you to take care of the eye. Following these instructions proves of paramount importance. Doing so helps ensure the health of your surgical site following the completion of your operation.
It remains possible your physician will schedule a single or series of follow-up appointments. These allow them to check in on the healing process of your surgery. This typically occurs between a few days or a week after the initial operation.
It’s also possible that the results of the initial surgery aren’t as complete or satisfactory as you initially hoped. Then your doctor will schedule a follow-up appointment or procedure to improve upon the initial results.
Serving Newport Beach High-Quality Surgeries
Jeffery Joseph and his award-winning team routinely serve the greater area with the best surgeries available that are delivered at reasonable rates. If you’re interested in scheduling a consultation to discuss whether or not a would work for you, then take a visit to our website for more information and find out why Dr. Joseph is considered the leading eyelid surgeon in California.