Ptosis Repair for Drooping Lids

A lid that sits low and a lid with extra skin can look alike in the mirror. The questions below are for the consultation, where the surgeon can say which one you have.

Droop and extra skin are different concerns

Ptosis describes a lid that sits lower than expected. Extra skin on the lid is a separate concern, and the two can look similar in a mirror. Ask the surgeon which one they think you have, and how they decided.

What to ask a surgeon

Ask what examination the surgeon does to decide between the two. Ask what the repair would change, what it would leave as it is, and what the alternatives are.

Because the lid sits close to the eye, ask who would be involved in your care and what training they have in this area. An encyclopedia entry on eyelid drooping is a plain reference to read before a visit. Write down the questions you want to ask.

Choosing where to go

If you are researching where care is available in the area, the history of a hospital and its clinics describes one area hospital. It does not describe any surgeon's practice.

When a clinic is booked out, you may see non-surgical options offered. A society blog discusses med spa treatments to consider if your plastic surgeon is booked. Ask whether any of them applies to a drooping lid at all before you spend on one.

Research on missed ptosis

A published study on undiagnosed ptosis among candidates for upper eyelid blepharoplasty is one source on ptosis.

Separating droop from extra skin

Describe what you see, ask the surgeon to separate droop from extra skin, and ask what each option would and would not change. Get a second opinion if the first answer is unclear.