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Ptosis Surgery in London

At a glance:

PTOSIS SURGERY

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Symptoms

Droopy eyes, Eye strain, Disturbed vision, Cosmetic concerns

Diagnosis

Ptosis is identified by a thorough eyelid examination with measurements and photographs

Treatment

The procedure tightens the muscles supporting the upper eyelids

Our clinic operates as a private surgery and is not affiliated with the NHS (National Health Service)

Ptosis Surgery London

Clinica London stands as a beacon of excellence in ophthalmology and dermatology, committed to delivering personalised care. We are deeply invested in understanding and addressing each patient’s unique concerns to achieve their desired outcomes.

Our oculoplastic eyelid consultant, Ms Olver, is a distinguished figure in ophthalmic surgery. Ms. Olver’s eyelid surgery expertise and precision have earned her a reputation for consistently delivering impeccable, natural ptosis surgery results.

Expert Care

At Clinica London, every patient with ptosis is treated with the utmost care. Our approach is rooted in a deep understanding of the individual needs and concerns of each patient. We are dedicated to providing tailored solutions, ensuring not just clinical excellence but also a compassionate and personalised experience.

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What is Ptosis?

Ptosis is a medical eye issue that can affect the upper eyelids, in both adults and children. Also known as droopy eyelids, this condition may affect one or both upper eyelids. The condition may develop during the natural ageing process or be congenital, meaning a person is born with it and can cause the upper eyelid tendon to stretch or be inelastic, resulting in eyelid droopiness.

As a result, some of the symptoms experienced include:

Aching eyebrows
Eye strain
Eyelid asymmetry
Disturbance of the field of vision
Difficulty keeping the eyes open
Fatigue
Abnormal head position
Cosmetic concerns

Illustration of eye related to ptosis

Types of Ptosis

Acquired Ptosis

Acquired Ptosis is the most common form of ptosis in adults. It arises from the overstretched eyelid levator muscle aponeurosis, often due to the natural ageing process.

Although ageing is a factor that contributes to the condition, acquired ptosis can be caused by other factors, which include:

Undergoing cataracts or any other eye surgeries
Experiencing eye trauma
Wearing contact lenses for an extended period of time
Swelling or large cysts weighing down the lids
Eyelid muscle disorder
Eyelid nerve disorder

In very rare cases, individuals experience droopy eyelids from a condition that weakens the eyelid muscles, such as myasthenia gravis or myotonic dystrophy. Neurological conditions may lead to paralysis of the nerves that supply the eyelid, either a type of stroke referred to as third nerve palsy or Horner´s syndrome.

Congenital Ptosis

Another form of ptosis is congenital ptosis, where the levator muscle does not develop properly in the womb. This means the child is born with little to no levator muscle function; it is inelastic and contains dystrophic fat, so it is unable to lift the eyelid.

Small children may be diagnosed with a rare Marcus Gunn ‘jaw winking” ptosis, which is characterised by an abnormal connection of the nerves. This condition generally affects only one eyelid and occurs when the jaw moves, and the eyelid rises.

What is Ptosis Surgery?

Ptosis surgery is a procedure adjusting the muscles or fine aponeurosis tendons responsible for lifting the eyelid. Our oculoplastic consultants recommend this treatment to elevate the eyelid when drooping is causing problems with the eyesight or an unsightly asymmetry or appearance.

The surgery is often conducted using a local anaesthetic injected into the top lid, but most patients, will also get light sedatives and pain relievers.

Pain should not be felt when an anaesthetic is injected into the eyelid area. A pulling sensation may be noticeable for adult patients who are awake and under local anaesthetic. Children are more likely to require complete general anaesthesia than adults.

In most situations, the surgeon must make small levator muscle changes. When the eyelid is open, an incision is made in the upper lid, usually in its natural skin crease, to hide any sutures and resulting scars.

For extreme cases, the whole levator muscle may need to be shortened and reattached to maintain the eyelid elevated when the eyelid is open properly.

illustration of eyelid ptosis surgery

Ptosis Surgery for Adults

For adult patients undergoing surgery for ptosis, the treatment typically involves the shortening of the muscles which raise the eyelid. Once shortened, the muscle is then reattached to the eyelid using sutures (stitches). These sutures are kept hidden beneath the skin. Often a special glue or fibrin adhesive is also used to close the skin incision and minimise sutures used.

Adult ptosis surgery is performed by our highly trained oculoplastic surgeons, who are experienced in fine, detailed and delicate surgery within the upper eyelid.

Ptosis surgery is typically performed under local anaesthetic, where the patient is awake, by an oculoplastic surgeon specifically trained in delicate plastic surgery on the eyelid. This ensures better judgement of the lid positioning when the surgery is being carried out. However, surgery can also be performed with local anaesthetic and sedation or with general anaesthetic.

At Clinica London, the oculoplastic surgeons obtain optimal results performing the ptosis surgery under local anaesthesia as the patients´ co-operation opening and closing their eye, looking up and down, and sitting up during the surgery to inspect all helps place the upper eyelid at the best position.

The stitches on the eyelid skin may be somewhat visible for one week after the surgery, after which they are usually removed. Any fibrin adhesive used simply disappears with time.

Ptosis Surgery for Children

Treatment is required for moderate to severe ptosis in children who are born with the condition. Correcting the problem in childhood will allow the child to develop normal vision, which is important, as when ptosis is left untreated, it can lead to the development of a lazy eye condition, known as amblyopia. This condition occurs when there is a lack of normal eye development during the early stages of childhood, causing poor vision long-term.

Childhood ptosis can be treated with oculoplastic eyelid surgery, however, there are some rare disorders that may be fixed using medication. At Clinica, consultation and comprehensive assessment will be carried out by a paediatric ophthalmologist, who can determine if the child needs to have surgery to prevent amblyopia. The oculoplastic surgeon will assess the child´s eyelids and determine the type of and amount of ptosis surgery required.

If ptosis surgery is necessary, it will be carried out under general anaesthetic. The typical method used is to tighten the levator muscles, which lift the eyelid. In children with very severe ptosis, the levator is extremely weak. This means that the lid may be suspended from under the child’s eyebrow so that the forehead muscles can do the lifting.

For small children with Marcus Gunn ‘jaw-winking’ ptosis, eyelid surgery may be necessary, but operating on one eyelid can cause the other eyelid to droop. As such, performing the surgery on both eyelids may be recommended.

Recovery & After Care

After the procedure, you will likely be in a bit of pain and discomfort for the first couple of days, but this is nothing that regular paracetamol can’t remedy.

Before you leave the clinic, a nurse will clean the area around your eyes. You’ll also receive advice on properly treating the area and a prescription for eye drops or ointment.

The day following the droopy eyelid treatment, you can remove this eye pad at home. Cold packs may also reduce swelling pain or discomfort, as well as taking over-the-counter painkillers.

IMPORTANT: Avoid touching your eyes when cleaning your face. Moreover, during the initial 7–10 days, it is crucial to keep the affected areas as dry as possible. We strongly advise against swimming and applying any eye makeup for two weeks following your surgery.

About 1-2 weeks following the procedure, your sutures will either dissolve or be removed in the clinic.

Risks

While rare, every surgical procedure has its risks. However, at Clinica London, you can trust that you are in safe and capable hands. During the consultation with us, we will discuss all possible side effects or complications. You will also be given written information summarising the discussion and ensuring your consent for the procedure.

After your ptosis surgery, you can expect some common symptoms that normally go away after a few days. Such as:

Swelling
Bruising
Minimal blurred vision
Dry eyes resulting in red, itchy eyes and a gritty sensation
Bleeding or getting an infection can occur, but this is not so common

As your eyes are also more prone to infections and dryness during this period, your doctor may prescribe you artificial tear drops or ointments, which can help lubricate your eyes and relieve your symptoms.

Other potential complications include eyelids being too low or too high, an irregular curve of the lid, or the upper lid fold being uneven.

Photo focused on a woman's left eye with a colorful reflection on top of it

Our consultant

At Clinica London, we offer the expertise and top-quality care from our consultant ophthalmic surgeon, Ms. Olver.

Ms. Jane Olver, Clinica’s Founder and Medical Director is a renowned ophthalmologist with over 25 years of specialised eyelid surgery experience. She pioneered oculoplastic and lacrimal surgeries, offering a comprehensive range of treatments from cosmetic blepharoplasty to dry eye management. Ms Olver was co-founder of the British Oculoplastic Surgery Society (BOPSS) in 2000 and co-authored the BOPSS Ptosis Surgery Audit helping set national benchmark standards for ptosis eyelid surgery. She founded Clinica to provide quick access to top-notch ophthalmology and dermatological services. Her impactful contributions, including ground-breaking surgical techniques, international lectures, and authoritative medical texts, establish her position as a leading individual in her area.

Miss Ting focuses on small incision and hidden incision ptosis surgery to create results with minimal scarring. She takes a meticulous approach to achieving symmetry and a natural eyelid shape.

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Miss Jane Olver

Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
Oculoplastic (Eyelid) & Lacrimal Specialist
Medical Director
President International Society Dacryology and Dry Eye 2024-2026

Ms Michelle Ting

Consultant Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon

Our clinic operates as a private surgery and is not affiliated with the NHS (National Health Service)

Pricing

Prices will vary depending on the procedure required, whether one or both upper eyelids rare operated, and the patient. Ptosis treatment at Clinica in London costs between £2900 and £4900.

Please book a consultation to receive a written quote with a detailed breakdown of treatment costs.

Initial consultation fees are not included.

PTOSIS FAQS

You will not feel pain during the treatment as an anaesthetic is injected into the eyelid region. For adults patients who are awake and under local anaesthesia may experience tugging sensations. Children are administered general anaesthetic.

For the first few days following the treatment, you will likely experience mild pain and discomfort, but this is nothing that regular paracetamol cannot alleviate.

According to the British Oculoplastic Surgery Society (BOPSS) Survey on Ptosis, which Ms Olver co-authored, it showed a very low re-operation rate of only 2.6%. However, some people may require further treatment or experience droopy eyelids returning at any point in time.

By the third week, there will be virtually no sign of your surgery other than looking refreshed, open-eyed and less aged.

Ptosis surgery requires a five to ten-day recovery time, during which we advise you to take off work. However, this depends on you and is determined individually. We generally recommend taking things slow for a few days and refraining from strenuous activities like heavy lifting or exercise.

Award Winning Clinic in London

Clinica London is a leading ophthalmology and dermatology medical clinic. It has a sense of passion for helping patients. The clinic’s consultants are highly skilled professionals who have received British, European, and international awards in their respective fields. Clinica is honest and offers transparent treatment advice in a relaxed and comfortable environment.

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