What Is Ptosis Correction? (Graphic Images Warning ⚠️)

Hello, this is Dr. Park Hyung-seok from Gangnam Nunnoppi Plastic Surgery.

In a previous column, I explained the differences between double eyelid surgery, upper blepharoplasty, and ptosis correction.

This time, I’ll explain ptosis correction surgery more intuitively through a short video and real cases.

What is ptosis correction?

If double eyelid surgery is an operation that creates a crease, ptosis correction is a surgery that makes the eyes look bigger and more alert.

Eyes that are commonly described as sleepy-looking, or ptotic eyes, can give a dull impression because the black part of the eye (the pupil + iris) is covered to a greater extent.

Before and after ptosis correction for ptotic eyes

By correcting such eyes with eye muscle surgery, it is possible to increase the amount of black visible and create larger, more lively eyes.

Degree of black-eye exposure

Why plastic surgeons often recommend ptosis correction

"Do I really need ptosis correction too? Can’t I just get double eyelids?"

Many people ask this, and there is a clear reason why plastic surgeons recommend ptosis correction.

1. In many cases, double eyelid surgery alone makes the eyes look heavier

Especially after your 40s, the muscle that opens the eyes (the levator muscle) becomes weaker, so if you only create a double eyelid crease, the eyes may look heavier. It can be compared to carrying an empty bag before double eyelid surgery and then carrying a bag full of books after surgery.

Ptosis correction surgery strengthens this muscle and creates a more comfortable, clearer eye shape.

Three months after incision double eyelid surgery + ptosis correction

2. To deliver results beyond expectations

Simply put, if a 20-year-old man who is 165 cm tall came for height-lengthening surgery...

Should we raise him only to 175 cm? Or would he be satisfied if we make him 180 cm tall?

Similarly, people undergoing plastic surgery are looking not for a simple "improvement," but for a "noticeable change."

That is why plastic surgeons suggest ptosis correction surgery, which can make the eyes bigger, prettier, and more defined.

Three months after semi-out ptosis correction with lower lateral canthoplasty

Ten days after double eyelid surgery + ptosis correction + lower lateral canthoplasty + forehead lift

Before and after incision double eyelid surgery with ptosis correction for an in-line crease

How is ptosis surgery performed?

The muscle that opens the eyes is shortened or fixed to treat sleepy-looking eyes.

Just as folding a rubber band in half makes it more elastic,

shortening the muscle makes it easier to open the eyes wider.

The muscle that opens the eyes fixed to the tarsal plate

That is why, during surgery, the patient has to open and close their eyes directly so that left-right symmetry and eye size can be matched.

Evaluating eye size during surgery (intraoperative evaluation) like this is

so, so, so

important

However, accurate evaluation during surgery can be difficult in cases such as the following:

▪︎ When the operating room environment is unfamiliar and the patient cannot open their eyes well ▪︎ When the area around the eyes is significantly swollen due to anesthesia medication ▪︎ When the view is obscured by bleeding

Even after overcoming these difficulties and completing the surgery,

in some cases, ptosis correction revision surgery may be needed immediately after surgery or within one week.

Real case: revision surgery at one week

Before surgery,

1 week after ptosis correction,

1 week after right-side revision surgery (2 weeks after the first surgery)

One patient came to Nunnoppi Plastic Surgery because the right eye was slightly more sleepy-looking than the left.

They said the inner part of the right eye (white arrow) looked a little sleepy, so ptosis correction was performed.

However, when the sutures were removed at one week, the right ptosis correction appeared insufficient.

Since the patient came from Boston...

I was concerned that if we sent them back thinking it was just swelling, we might miss the golden window for correction.

I explained this respectfully and suggested early revision surgery.

Fortunately, the patient trusted us, so we performed re-correction on the same day, and they are now very satisfied. 😄

👇Watch the review video

Nunnoppi Plastic Surgery ptosis correction review

Real case: revision surgery on the same day as surgery

Before surgery,

Immediately after surgery on the same day (the inner part of the left eye appeared overcorrected), so same-day revision surgery was decided,

8 days later,

5 weeks later

In another case, the inner ptosis correction of the left eye looked too elevated immediately after surgery.

This was so-called overcorrection.

In fact, the eye is most beautiful when the highest point is slightly to the outer side of the pupil.

The eye with the highest point slightly outside the pupil (green arrow) is the most beautiful eye

Without sending the patient home right away, we adjusted the balance with same-day revision surgery by lowering the left side and raising the right side.

Conclusion: ptosis correction is a surgery that requires delicacy

Ptosis correction is not simply double eyelid surgery.

To create beautiful eyes, an understanding of anatomy, the ability to assess the result during surgery, and skilled technique are essential.

The outcome can vary depending on swelling or tension during surgery, and in some cases, revision surgery may be necessary.

That is why careful surgical planning and choosing a trustworthy plastic surgery clinic are very important.

I recommend ptosis correction for these people:

▪︎ People who are often told that their eyes are small and look sleepy ▪︎ People who had double eyelid surgery but still do not have a clear eye shape ▪︎ People whose eye-opening has become heavier with age ▪︎ People who want clear, big, refreshing-looking eyes ▪︎ People who open their eyes using their forehead

Misi readers, I hope this article was helpful for those considering ptosis correction surgery.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Nunnoppi Plastic Surgery anytime.