Blepharoplasty, Upper Lid Ptosis Surgery Treatment & Management

Surgical therapy is the only effective management for ptosis of the upper lid. As indicated, many different surgical techniques are available for ptosis correction.

Minimal incision approaches have been described to correct aponeurotic laxity by Freuh et al.^[9] This anterior approach uses minimal dissection, is faster than traditional approaches, and can be just as efficacious in the properly selected patient.

Extended upper blepharoplasty incisions are more appropriate in patients with significant lateral hooding in addition to ptosis. Har-Shai and Hirshowitz described an incision along the supratarsal fold extending past the lateral canthus and cephalad toward the eyebrow.^[10] This technique also facilitates cosmetic improvement and fat resection if needed.

This is the authors' preferred method of correction. Preoperative makings should be performed with the patient in the upright position. The meridian of the eyelid should be marked on both the affected and unaffected side. The supratarsal fold also should be marked. Both planned incisions should be infiltrated using 1% lidocaine with epinephrine.

The authors' preferred method of ptosis correction can be performed in conjunction with facial rejuvenation. A standard upper blepharoplasty incision with conservative skin excision is used to obtain exposure; however, a limited incision approach (ie, less than a centimeter) can also be used and has been presented with good results.

Plication of the levator aponeurosis is performed using 6-0 clear nylon sutures. The suture is placed as a horizontal mattress stitch plicating only the aponeurosis and avoiding the tarsus to prevent lifting the eyelid from the globe or notching the lid margin. The superior portion of the suture is placed in the aponeurosis 4-8 mm above the superior tarsus. The inferior portion of suture is placed in the aponeurosis just above the tarsal plate. The amount of plication used was determined by the elevation of the lid gained with the plication. Usually 1 mm of lid margin elevation is obtained with 3 mm of plication. Most patients were corrected to a level at the superior limbus or 1 mm below. Many patients are corrected using a single suture placed at the vertical axis of or just medial to the pupil. Additional sutures can be placed medial or lateral to this central stitch.

No dressing is required; however, application of cool packs decreases swelling and bruising as well as postoperative discomfort. Instructions on corneal protection and the use of artificial tears are essential, as with any periorbital surgery. Skin sutures can be removed on postoperative day 4 or 5.

Follow-up care is performed over a period of several weeks to allow swelling to resolve. Postoperative photographs allow objective evaluation of surgical results.

Complications include difficulty closing the eyes, eye irritation, and contour irregularity and asymmetry. Although undercorrection of ptosis is one of the most common complications, it is not associated with corneal problems such as exposure or drying. Rather, the cosmetic appearance is not optimized because some ptosis is still present in the operated eye. This problem cannot be corrected without an additional plication of the levator.

In addition to asymmetry, significant overcorrection can lead to serious problems, such as corneal exposure, drying, and ulceration. In these severe cases, it is critical to protect the cornea using artificial tears, ophthalmic ointment, and taping of the eyelid. If eyelid excursion is limited by scar adhesions or lagophthalmos persists, surgical lysis of adhesions may be required. However, asymmetry and contour irregularity will improve significantly with massage therapy alone.

Meticulous hemostasis is essential to prevent hemorrhagic complications. Acute bleeding into the globe is a sight-threatening emergency, which requires immediate re-exploration and decompression. Residual hematoma within the eyelid can cause excessive fibrosis, chronic edema, and persistent lid irregularities.

Other complications following ptosis correction or upper eyelid surgery include reduced vision, corneal abrasion, entropion, loss of eyelashes, or diplopia. Subconjunctival edema or "chemosis" occurs more frequently but resolves spontaneously within a few weeks and can be treated with ophthalmic steroids.

Levator aponeurosis plication is an effective, safe, and simple procedure to correct upper eyelid ptosis. It easily can be combined with many facial cosmetic surgery procedures.