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Educational content only
This page is general patient education, not medical advice. It does not diagnose conditions, recommend specific treatments for you, or replace a conversation with your eye care provider. Always consult a qualified clinician before making decisions about your eye health.
Ptosis (droopy eyelid) can block vision, cause forehead strain, and age your face. Surgical repair tightens the muscle that lifts your lid — restoring a normal, symmetric eye opening.
What's happening
Tightening what time has stretched.
Your upper eyelid is lifted by a thin muscle called the levator. With age, injury, or certain conditions, the tendon of this muscle stretches or detaches — and the lid droops.
Ptosis repair shortens or reattaches this tendon. Small incisions hidden in the natural lid crease leave almost invisible scars. Both eyes usually look balanced within a few weeks.
What helps
Here's the plan — and why it works.
Day of
The procedure
Local anesthesia. 30–60 minutes. You go home the same day with an ointment and ice pack.
Week 1
Swelling + bruising
Ice first 48 hours, then warm compresses. Sleep slightly elevated. Avoid heavy lifting.
Weeks 2–6
Rapid improvement
Swelling resolves, position settles. Most social activities comfortable by week 2.
Months 3+
Final result
Tissue fully healed, scar fades. Final lid position locked in.
Call us if
You develop severe pain, sudden vision changes, thick discharge, or swelling that rapidly worsens. Some swelling is normal; signs of infection are not.
Common questions
Honest answers to common questions.
Is this cosmetic or functional?+
Often both. Ptosis that blocks vision (measured with a visual field test) is considered functional and usually covered by insurance. Purely cosmetic ptosis repair is out-of-pocket.
Will I have visible scars?+
The incision hides in your natural upper lid crease — typically nearly invisible once healed. A few months of pink hue fades to white.
How's recovery?+
Swelling and bruising for about a week — worst at 48 hours, then rapidly improving. Ice first 48 hours, then warm. Most patients return to desk work in 5–7 days.
Can both eyelids be done together?+
Yes, and often preferred for symmetry. Both eyes heal on the same timeline and match better.
What if it's too high or too low?+
Small asymmetries are common early on and usually settle. If significant asymmetry persists past 3 months, a minor adjustment procedure can fine-tune. Happens in <10%.