Acquired Ptosis

Overview

Acquired ptosis is another phrase to describe droopy lids resulting from weakening or detachment of the levator muscle. Acquired ptosis typically occurs later in life and is caused by aging, injury/trauma, or other medical conditions. This differs from congenital ptosis which presents droopy lids at birth. This is caused by abnormal development of the muscle that lifts the eyelid during fetal development.

When evaluating a patient with ptosis, our oculoplastic surgeons at Idaho Eyelid and Facial Plastic Surgery understand that your medical history is crucial to determine if the condition is acquired or congenital based on the age of onset. While congenital ptosis often requires earlier surgical intervention in children to prevent issues like amblyopia (vision problems), acquired ptosis may be managed with eye drops depending on the severity and cause. Typically, both forms of ptosis involve surgical correction, but the specific surgical techniques can vary depending on the type of ptosis.

At Idaho Eyelid and Facial Plastic Surgery, we treat ptosis in a several different ways. Namely, levator resection, Muller muscle resection, and frontalis sling surgery. Levator resection involves a skin incision and precise adjustments based on a patient’s eyelid position. Muller muscle resection is used for patients with minimal excess skin. Frontalis sling is reserved for cases where a patient’s ptosis is severe, and involves creating a sling from the frontalis muscle to the eyelid.

If you are concerned you have ptosis and require correction, please contact us at Idaho Eyelid and Facial Plastic Surgery. We welcome you in for a consultation.