Should You Get Ptosis Surgery? Dr. Shin Jong-in <Answer>

Should you get ptosis surgery?

Dr. Shin Jong-in <Answer>

Hello.

This is Obje Plastic Surgery.

If you keep feeling like your eyes do not open well and people around you often say, “you look sleepy,”

it is natural to think of ptosis.

But when it actually comes down to it, there are many cases where people hesitate, wondering, “Do I really need surgery?”

If you look online, some people say “it is best to have surgery right away,”

while others say “surgery is not always necessary,” which can make things even more confusing.

In fact, not all ptosis is the same.

In some cases, surgery is definitely necessary, while in others, the condition can be improved sufficiently by other methods.

So today, I would like to talk about when ptosis surgery should be considered,

and the 기준 you can use to judge for yourself whether your eyes are at a level that requires surgery.

If you read until the end, I think you will be able to judge more clearly whether surgery is needed right away or whether it is okay to wait a little longer.

Congenital vs. acquired: You need to know this difference first

Ptosis is broadly divided into two types.

There is “congenital ptosis,” where the muscle function for opening the eyes is weak from birth,

and “acquired ptosis,” which develops later due to aging or other causes.

First, in the case of congenital ptosis, if the eyes have been difficult to open since childhood, it is important to consider the timing of surgery.

In particular, if the pupil is significantly covered, it can affect visual development, so treatment may be needed at an early stage.

In newborns or young children, if the eyes remain under-opened and the eyelashes keep poking the eyes,

it can cause problems with the eye itself, so the timing of surgery is determined along with an ophthalmologic examination.

Acquired ptosis is a little more complicated.

In some cases, the muscle function has truly weakened, but in other cases, the eyelid skin has loosened and makes the pupil appear covered.

These two situations require completely different approaches.

“Pseudo-ptosis” caused by loose skin

does not involve a problem with the actual muscle function that opens the eyes, so it can often be improved sufficiently with double eyelid surgery or skin excision alone.

On the other hand, if the muscle function has truly weakened, ptosis surgery is needed to adjust the length of the muscle.

This procedure works by helping the muscle that opens the eyes gain more strength so the pupil can be exposed adequately.

Another point to be careful about is the relationship with other conditions.

If your eyes suddenly start opening less, you should also check for the possibility of an autoimmune disease such as myasthenia gravis.

If you feel fatigue throughout your body as well and your eyes are not opening properly, it may not be simple ptosis,

so in such cases, medical testing for the underlying condition should come before surgery.

Will I need surgery too?

<Self-diagnosis test>

To determine whether surgery is necessary, it is important to first understand how severe your eye condition is.

The easiest way is to look in a mirror and check how much of the pupil is visible.

Our eyes, when seen from the outside, appear to be divided roughly into two circles.

There is the larger outer circle, which looks slightly brown, and the inner black circle, which changes size in response to light.

The normal eyelid position is appropriate around the boundary between the outer brown circle and the inner black circle.

If the eyelid comes down over the inner black circle and covers it,

you may suspect ptosis.

Conversely, if the eyelid is much higher than the outer brown circle,

and a lot of the white of the eye is visible, this is not a natural state either, so a different approach is needed.

However, this is only a rough guideline, and there are individual differences in reality,

so for an accurate judgment, it is best to receive a diagnosis from a medical professional.

Today, I explained when ptosis surgery is needed

and how you can check the condition of your eyes.

In the end, the important thing is that not all ptosis leads to surgery.

If the cause is loose skin, it can be improved sufficiently by other methods,

and ptosis surgery is considered only when the actual muscle function has weakened.

If you currently keep feeling like your eyes are not opening well,

it is wisest to first determine clearly whether your symptoms are due to loose skin or weakened muscle function,

whether they are congenital or acquired,

and then choose the necessary method.

Also, if the symptoms started suddenly or you have accompanying overall fatigue, you should check for the possibility of another condition.

Dr. Shin Jong-in of Obje Plastic Surgery, in diagnosing ptosis, does not simply look at the eyelid position.

He carefully evaluates the actual state of muscle function, the degree of skin laxity, and the strength of the eye-opening force.

In particular, he accurately distinguishes between pseudo-ptosis and true ptosis,

and considers it important not to recommend unnecessary surgery but to suggest the most appropriate method for your current condition.

I hope this article has helped to answer, at least a little, your questions about ptosis surgery.

This has been Obje Plastic Surgery.

Thank you.

<🔽🔽A video that may be helpful to watch together🔽🔽>

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• This post is medical information written by Obje Plastic Surgery Clinic in compliance with the Medical Advertising Act.

• The effects of procedures may vary depending on the individual, and side effects may occur.

We recommend that you fully consult with medical staff in advance before deciding on a procedure.