Ptosis is an unfortunate condition where the skin of the upper eyelid begins to droop and sag. Although it rarely becomes a medically concerning issue, it is quite aesthetically unpleasant and can become a medical issue at higher levels of severity. So why does ptosis look worse in photos?
Ptosis never looks really so great aesthetically. To add insult to injury, sometimes it looks even worse in photographs. Fortunately, ptosis repair surgery has the potential to correct this issue.
Why Does Ptosis Look Worse in Photos?
If you are suffering from ptosis or are just curious about why and how this condition develops and appears, then take a look at this guide outlining many of the pertinent details surrounding it.
What Is Ptosis?
Ptosis can take on a variety of shapes. It can range in severity from minor to severe, but it typically manifests as sagging and drooping skin around the eyes. Sometimes, it comes from nerve damage, which causes the skin affected by certain nerves to deflate.
Other times, Ptosis can form as the result of traumatic accidents or simply as a natural cause of aging.
Ptosis is typically addressed with upper eyelid surgery or upper blepharoplasty. A doctor pulls back the skin and gets rid of the ptosis condition during this operation by working on the muscles and skin around this area of the eye.
Once Ptosis obstructs a patient’s vision, it might start to escalate into a more serious problem. Daily tasks like driving or operating large machines can now become increasingly challenging or perhaps impossible.
An Early Age-Related Symptom
The eyelids are one of the first body parts to experience the effects of aging. Gradually dropping eyelids are caused by gravity as we age, which starts to do its inevitable work.
As a result, the eyelids are usually mistaken for stress or age indicators, two regretfully seen as negative traits in our society.
By avoiding this occurrence’s detrimental professional, personal, and emotional impacts, one can prevent a great deal of irritation in the long run. It also positions you in the best position to prepare you for life’s challenges.
Nerves and Ptosis
Information is sent to the eyes by the “seventh” nerve in the face. This neuron innervates the circumferential orbicularis oculi, which regulates the closure of the upper and lower eyelids.
If this nerve is hurt, the muscles and skin around the eyes become less elastic, which results in the drooping effect.
The entire body’s muscles can be harmed by damage to the central nervous system. Such damage can cause dysfunction in many places, depending on which section of the nervous system is affected.
Medical-Grade Ptosis
For Ptosis treatment to be covered by insurance, this aforementioned level of severity is what is required to get insurance to cover treatment in most cases.
This is because insurance agencies must be convinced that the issue is of medical concern on some level and not just an aesthetic issue that a patient wants to address.
Convincing insurance companies to pay out in these situations can sometimes be challenging. There’s a strong possibility that you’ll have to undergo several medical tests and provide a medical referral from your physician in order to acquire approval from insurance.
Dermatochalasis vs Ptosis
Dermatochalasis, a term that simply denotes the overall loosening of the skin surrounding the eyelids over time, is distinct from Ptosis.
It might be challenging to pinpoint the exact cause of dermatochalasis because it can be caused by a variety of various factors and medical disorders. Dermatochalasis in the eyelids can be caused by a variety of internal diseases.
In light of this, your doctor can decide whether you are indeed experiencing Dermatochalasis or Ptosis.
Why Does Ptosis Look Worse in Photographs?
Ptosis appears worse in photographs due to the nature in which photography captures and then frames the appearance. This is especially the case with flash photography.
Flash photography has the potential to accentuate and reveal every little discrepancy in one’s appearance and make them look much worse than they should. Sometimes, elements of our appearance that might not even look strange to the naked eye appear grotesque in a photograph.
This, of course, goes beyond just Ptosis, as photography has the potential to bring out the best and the worst in someone’s appearance. Given that Ptosis is a genuinely appearance-altering condition, this phenomenon is doubled down upon. Returning a person’s eyelid area to normal becomes paramount in the quest to get them to take normal and beautiful photographs again.
Dealing With Ptosis with Blepharoplasty
Blepharoplasty is the procedure of choice to correct the issue. Ptosis can be lessened or completely eliminated via blepharoplasty, generally referred to as eyelid surgery.
Your doctor manipulates the muscles and skin around the eyelids during an upper eyelid surgery to return them to their natural, symmetrical shape. This is typically sufficient to reverse the Ptosis and return the eye region to its pre-ptosis state.
Lower versus Upper Blepharoplasty
Each form of eyelid surgery focuses on the aforementioned areas of the face. So the distinction between upper and lower blepharoplasty is a little clear.
Upper blepharoplasty treats conditions affecting the upper eyelids, while lower blepharoplasty focuses on issues with the lower eyelids.
In general, choosing one will depend on your specific circumstances and the problems you’re attempting to resolve. Your doctor will have a list of recommendations for you to consider based on what they think is the best course of action.
In the case of Ptosis correction, upper blepharoplasty is the kind of treatment you’ll be looking for. This is because Ptosis is a condition of the upper eyes.
Am I a Good Candidate for Eyelid Surgery?
Your doctor will need to be consulted to determine whether or not a blepharoplasty is the best course of action before you proceed.
In general, patients who are physically healthy and fit are candidates for eyelid surgery. If you have a history of heart or lung disease, as well as other severe chronic medical conditions, problems could occur.
We’ll look at things like your family’s medical history and other pertinent information. Overall, there is a very good likelihood that you will be accepted.
Making A Plan for Your Operation
Each person’s experience with Ptosis is unique. Therefore, your doctor will probably recommend a course of action. They also provide set of instructions for you based on your particular needs in light of your circumstance.
In addition to your specific case of Ptosis, your doctor will ask you a number of questions to ascertain your overall level of physical fitness and medical background.
All this ultimately ensures you receive the best possible care that meets your unique needs as a patient. It will also help to describe your personal expectations and concerns regarding the surgical procedure.
How Long Will My Results Last?
Upper blepharoplasty results can be expected to last quite a while, but not forever. This is because the results of upper blepharoplasty are constantly fighting the effects of gravity and time.
That being said, you should be able to expect your ptosis results to last for at least a couple of years. The only thing that should interfere with this is engaging in sustained poor lifestyle choices over a long period of time.
Things That Exacerbate Ptosis
There are some behaviors that can exacerbate Ptosis and make it worse. This will certainly pop up in your photographs as well. Some of these behaviors include:
- Smoking cigarettes
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Excessive sun exposure
- Nerve damage
- Poor diet
- Excessive stress
- Lack of quality sleep
These behaviors, when performed chronically, can make your ptosis condition noticeably worse. And they may require higher levels of medical interference to correct the issues at hand.
Arranging a Consultation
Your procedure’s goal will be to be as safe, predictable, and devoid of unneeded difficulties as you can.
By discussing your specific needs and physical qualities with your doctor beforehand, you can develop a personalized plan with them.
You should also feel free to talk to your doctor about any concerns you may have before the two of you go into the operating room.
Overall, this is the best time to ensure moving into your operation informed and in a place to maximize the possible benefits you’ll receive. There’s no better place to field any concern you might have.
The Ptosis Experts of Beverly Hills
Dr. Taban and the rest of the team at Taban MD Oculoplastic Surgery are completely dedicated to giving the residents of Beverly Hills and beyond the best in oculoplastic surgery across all procedures. Interested in receiving blepharoplasty treatment to treat your Ptosis? Contact Dr. Taban’s office today to make an appointment to discuss your options.