Ptosis is a condition that affects the eyelids. This is characterised by a droopy eyelid caused by weakened muscles. People who have droopy eyelids normally do not go to have their eyes corrected. This should not be. Although Ptosis may seem not to affect the body’s health in a major way, the truth is, leaving it untreated can pose serious consequences. For one, it can have an effect on the eye’s ability to see with clarity. Also, it can cause headaches and tiredness.
You have probably landed on this page by typing "ptosis surgery Singapore" on Google and pressing the search button. Regardless of the reason or method you got here, whether you know of someone with this kind of condition or not, I encourage you to read on because you never know the information written here just might come in handy in the future.
As a disclaimer, this article is written as a general overview of the condition and is mainly focused on the diet you should try and stick to in order to supplement the effects of the treatment. If you'd like to read a more in-depth post about this condition and many others, I encourage you to visit Allure Plastic Surgery, a clinic that offers ptosis surgery in Singapore.
Ptosis General Overview
The severity of eyelid ptosis is identified using the Marginal Reflex Distance 1 (MRD1). This is an indicator that measures the distance between the top eyelid margin and corneal light reflex. A normal eyelid is able to retract all the way back. A measurement of 2mm eyelid droop is indicated as mild ptosis, 3mm as moderate ptosis, and coverage of 4mm or more, severe ptosis.
Ptosis can be caused by the following reasons:
- A person can be born with it (congenital)
- It can be caused by wear and tear (involutional)
- A result of an injury, eye strain, or hormonal imbalance due to pregnancy (traumatic)
- Neurological causes
- Unknown causes (idiopathic)
Ptosis symptoms
Ptosis can be characterised by:
- Difficulty in opening the eye
- An eye that is half-closed
- An eye that looks sleepy
- Vision obstruction due to an upper eyelid sag
Ptosis Surgery in Singapore
Ptosis can be corrected with Blepharoplasty surgery. This procedure operates on the muscles that control the movements of the upper eyelid.
There are three types of methods used by doctors to do ptosis surgery in Singapore (aka Blepharoplasty):
Frontalis Suspension Method
Uses sutures to suspend and anchor eyelid muscle tissue that is very weak to the muscles located above the eyebrow.
Incisional Ptosis Eyelid Correction
A cut is made along the skin where the double eyelid crease is to be placed; excess fats, skin, or muscle may be removed when necessary before the eyelid tissue is stitched higher.
Suture Ptosis Eyelid Correction
Best used for the treatment of mild ptosis; eyelid tissue is stitched highly in order to remove vision barriers.
When performing the procedure, local anaesthesia with a sedative is first administered to the patient. Next, then an incision is created in the eyelid in order to access the levator muscle. For incisional ptosis eyelid correction, a part of the eyelid tissue, skin, or fat is then removed. Once done, the eyelid muscle is adjusted and stitched at a high position. The incision is then sutured closed.
Ptosis surgery aftercare and food to avoid
Ptosis surgery patients are recommended to take at least 10 to 14 days of rest to allow their eyes to heal completely.
After the surgery, patients are advised to avoid touching or rubbing their eyes. Mild swelling may occur in the operated area. To aid its healing, a cold compress may be applied on a regular basis on the first day after the surgery, followed by warm compress on the second day. When sleeping, the head must be elevated to 45 degrees to minimise swelling.
Patients should avoid physical activities that may cause strain to the eyes. Driving, bending, lifting, or other activities that can raise the body’s blood pressure should not be done. Likewise, patients should eliminate the following items from their diet during the recovery period:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Foods that have a high sodium content
- Medicine or any products containing aspirin
- Processed foods
Factors that contribute to the success of a ptosis surgery
There are several factors that contribute to the success of ptosis surgery. These are the things that a patient should be keen to look out for:
- Correct evaluation and ptosis diagnosis
- The right method used in ptosis surgery
- Experience, knowledge, and skill of surgeon doing the surgery
Ptosis surgery Singapore cost
The total cost of ptosis surgery in Singapore will greatly depend on the complexity of the patient’s case. The more complex the surgery needed, the higher the cost will be. The usual range of ptosis surgery is from $5,000 to $12,000. Additional costs may be on top of this, like:
- Anaesthesia and anaesthetist fees
- Fees for removal of stitches
- Operating facility charges
- Medicines
- Post-operative check-up
- Surgical fees
Use of Medisave and insurance for ptosis surgery in Singapore
Fortunately, patients who are subsidised can file for Medisave and insurance to save on costs, on the condition that the surgery done is considered a medical condition. To determine that a patient is qualified to apply for Medisave claims, the Ministry of Health in Singapore needs to issue a certificate proving that the results of a patient’s MRD 1 test require a ptosis surgery done by an ophthalmologist.
Allure Plastic Surgery
435 Orchard Rd, #22-04 Wisma Atria, Singapore 238877
+65 6734 9988
https://www.allureplasticsurgery.sg