Revision Surgery

Droopy Lower Eyelids

Normally a result of very old age, drooping lower eyelids can also be caused by lower eyelid surgery. It can make you look older in mild cases and lead to uncomfortably dry eyes in more severe cases.

Normally a result of very old age, drooping lower eyelids can also be caused by lower eyelid surgery. It can make you look older in mild cases and lead to uncomfortably dry eyes in more severe cases. The lower eyelids are perfectly designed like a tennis court net. There is a supporting cable (named “tarsus”) running through the top of the lower eyelids, similar to the steel cable in the tennis court net, which helps to keep the eyelid straight and tight without any bowing at the center. After plastic surgery, particularly in those with an already loose tarsus, the lower eyelid can sag. This sagging which leads to the white of the eye (sclera) showing below the iris, can be prevented in nearly all cases by tightening of the cable running across the lower eyelid. This procedure resembles tightening of the tennis court net by tightening the cable at the supporting posts using the crank handle. Termed “canthopexy,” the tightening procedure should be routinely performed in those who have a loose lower eyelid. Once the lower eyelid sags as a complication of surgery, it can be a difficult problem to correct. A lower eyelid tightening procedure can be performed to correct mild cases of eyelid sagging, but more severe cases will require everything from microfat injection to tissue grafts from the palate. If you have experienced such a problem, we encourage you to come in for a consultation to discuss your particular concerns and the best solutions.