Ptosis Repair: Awaken your eyes
Have you noticed one or both of your eyelids sitting lower over the pupils of your eyes, making you appear sleepy? Dr. Shirley Hu combines advanced surgical techniques with her keen aesthetic eye to restore upper eyelid position, known as ptosis repair, creating a wakeful and youthful look.
How It Works
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Dr. Hu will begin your consultation by listening to your concerns about your eyes and discussing the results you would like to achieve.
She always takes care to thoroughly explain the different layers of the eyelids and how to implement the desired changes using specific surgical techniques.
Ptosis repair may be covered by some insurance plans, which we can check for you. If you decide to go through insurance, you will have to obtain a visual field test from an eye doctor and submit that documentation to us.
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Next, Dr. Hu will take a full health history and perform a complete examination of your face with a specific focus on the eyes and the area surrounding them. With this information, Dr. Hu will create a tailored plan to help you achieve your aesthetic goals. In addition to a upper and/or lower eyelid lift, Dr. Hu may recommend adjunct procedures such as fat grafting to restore balance and volume to the under-eye region, brow rejuvenation to elevate an aging brow, or laser resurfacing to treat the stubborn, deeper wrinkles of the crow’s feet.
Additionally, we can show you the potential results of these surgical techniques with our specialized imaging software! This allows us to promote an open dialogue as we progress to the next steps.
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Finally, Dr. Hu and her clinical team will discuss the details of the surgery, pricing, how to plan for it, and what to expect after.
Ptosis repair is performed on-site in a state-of-the-art private operating suite at AIREM. Ptosis repair is commonly performed under local anesthetic or light sedation only. We require you to be awake so we can make sure there is perfect symmetry between the eyes. The procedure takes around 45 minutes. Following this, you will recover in a private room. A family member or friend should escort you from the facility back home if you have received any sedation.
Recovery Process
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For the first few days, we recommend relaxing as much as possible. Take this time to apply ice to your eyes.
You will fill the post-operative prescription for pain medication before surgery, but a majority of our patients tell us that extra-strength Tylenol works just fine to control the discomfort.
If working from home is a possibility, patients usually feel well enough to do so after day 3. However, it is recommended that you do not strain your eyes for long periods of time, such as staring at a computer or reading small print, during the first week.
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Continue to work from home during this time. Swelling and bruising persist but will begin to go down significantly towards day 7.
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Dr. Hu will see you back on day 7 after your surgery to remove any sutures that were placed.
By this time, most of the swelling will be gone, and bruising will have faded to a yellowish color and is easily covered with cosmetics.
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By the end of the first month after surgery, your final results will be visible. Your eyes will appear infinitely more refreshed and vibrant.