What is upper eyelid ptosis?
It’s when the edge of the upper eyelid itself drops along with the lashes. The muscle that lifts the eyelid has weakened, stretched or has not worked at full strength since birth — so the eyelid settles over the pupil. Ptosis can affect one eye or both, in adults and in children. If the eyelid edge stays in place and excess skin settles onto the lashes, that isn’t ptosis but hooding, and blepharoplasty removes it.
When should you see a surgeon about ptosis?
When the eyelid covers the pupil, one eye looks noticeably smaller than the other, or you raise your eyebrows and tilt your head back to see. A child with ptosis from birth should see a surgeon straight away: a covered pupil stops the eye learning to see. An eyelid examination costs from 10,000 ₸ per visit; surgery with Dr. Bigeldiyev is 500,000 ₸ per eyelid.
How can I tell if I have ptosis?
One eye looks smaller than the other, or both look half-closed. People ask “didn’t you sleep?” when you feel wide awake. Without noticing, you lift your chin and eyebrows to see more, and by the end of the day your eyes are tired and your head aches from a tense forehead. The key sign: the eyelid edge itself has dropped and covers part of the pupil. Check yourself with the slider at the top of the page.
How is ptosis different from a hooded eyelid?
With hooding, the eyelid edge stays in place and excess skin settles onto the lashes — blepharoplasty removes it. With ptosis, the eyelid edge itself drops along with the lashes, because the muscle that lifts the eyelid has weakened. Removing skin won’t help here: the muscle needs surgery. Sometimes it’s both at once — the surgeon will tell you at the examination.
Can ptosis be fixed with massage or exercises?
No. It’s a common misconception, and it’s dangerous because time is lost. The cause of ptosis lies in the muscle, its tendon or the nerve. Massage won’t develop a muscle that was underdeveloped from birth, and won’t shorten a stretched tendon sheet.
Can ptosis be cured?
Yes. Surgical correction is the main way to treat most forms of upper eyelid ptosis. With congenital ptosis, surgery doesn’t just fix how it looks, it also helps prevent amblyopia in children. Age-related ptosis is also successfully corrected with surgery.
How much does ptosis surgery cost in Astana?
At RB CLINIC, upper eyelid ptosis correction costs 500,000 ₸ per eyelid and 1,000,000 ₸ for two eyelids. A revision after another clinic is 600,000 ₸ per eyelid and 1,200,000 ₸ for two eyelids. Prices are from Dr. Bigeldiyev’s price list; you can work out your own in the “How much ptosis surgery costs” section.
Who performs ptosis surgery?
At the clinic, ptosis is operated on only by RB CLINIC’s founder, Academician Rishat Kalilullaevich Bigeldiyev: more than 35,000 surgeries, ophthalmic surgeon. The pre-surgery examination is done by his team of eyelid surgeons.
My child has had ptosis since birth. When should we see a surgeon?
Straight away if the eyelid covers the pupil, or your child tilts their head back or raises their eyebrows. A covered pupil stops the eye learning to see. Whether surgery is needed now is decided by the surgeon at the examination. Dr. Bigeldiyev’s videos show his patients aged 10, 12 and 13.
My ptosis was operated on at another clinic. Will you take on a revision?
Yes. Every third eyelid operation at the clinic is a revision after another clinic. Ptosis revisions are done by Dr. Bigeldiyev, at 600,000 ₸ per eyelid. As a rule, it’s done no earlier than 6 months after the first operation.
My eyelid dropped after Botox. Do I need surgery?
An eyelid that drops after botulinum toxin injections is a separate case and needs a particular approach. First the surgeon examines the eyelid and decides whether surgery is needed at all. Send a photo — we’ll tell you where to start.
What are the grades of ptosis?
Mild — the eyelid has dropped by about 2 mm, the pupil is only slightly covered. Moderate — 3–4 mm, the pupil is partly covered. Severe — more than 4 mm, the pupil is largely or fully covered.
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