Dr. Kahana offers a customized approach to various eyelid surgeries. Please continue reading below to learn more about the eyelid surgery options available to you.

Droopy Upper Eyelids

Droopy eyelids can make it difficult to keep your eyes open, giving you a sleepy appearance and potentially interfering with vision. There are three main causes of droopy upper eyelids: (1) weakness of the levator muscle that opens the eyelid, known as ptosis, (2) excess upper eyelid skin, known as dermatochalasis, and (3) mechanical brow drooping.

A customized approach to droopy upper eyelids requires a complete eye exam, including assessment of eyelid muscle function as well as skin height and brow position. The goals of treatment depend on whether your primary concern is functional (i.e. vision is affected) or cosmetic.

Dr. Kahana offers the following surgeries to repair droopy upper eyelids:

  • Upper eyelid blepharoplasty
  • Brow lift – direct or indirect approach
  • Ptosis repair (levator muscle repair) – internal or external approach

This is a patient with a very complicated history of left orbital pseudotumor, status post 4 orbital surgeries including wedge implant for improved globe position and symmetry. She returned for left upper eyelid drooping, and underwent left upper eyelid external ptosis repair. Post op at 2 weeks.

 

Bilateral upper eyelid functional blepharoplasty with internal brow lift. Post op at 8 months.

 

Bilateral upper eyelid functional blepharoplasty with fat debulking, internal brow lift, and cosmetic lower eyelid blepharoplasty. Post op at 2 months.

 

Functional upper eyelid blepharoplasty with medial fat pad excision and orbicularis excision, with left functional direct brow lift and bilateral lower eyelid cosmetic blepharoplasty. Post op at 2 weeks.

 

Bilateral upper eyelid functional blepharoplasty with fat removal. Post op at 2 weeks.

 

Bilateral upper eyelid functional blepharoplasty with direct lateral brow lift and 4 lid ectropion repair for eyelid tightening. Post op at 11 days.

 

Bilateral upper eyelid external ptosis repair with skin excision. Post op at 1 month.

 

Bilateral upper eyelid functional blepharoplasty. Post op at 9 days.

 

Bilateral functional upper eyelid blepharoplasty with internal brow lift. Post op at 3 weeks.

 

Internal ptosis repair with functional upper eyelid blepharoplasty and internal brow lift. Post op at 1 week.

 

Bilateral upper eyelid external ptosis repair, upper eyelid blepharoplasty and direct brow lift. Post op at 2 months.

 

Bilateral functional upper eyelid blepharoplasty with internal brow lift. Post op at 3 months.

 

Left upper eyelid external ptosis repair with lash rotation sutures. Post op at 2 months.

 

Right upper eyelid external ptosis repair with skin excision. Post op at 2 weeks.

 

Bilateral upper eyelid blepharoplasty with internal brow lift for asymmetric brow ptosis. Post op at 2 months.

 

Left upper eyelid external ptosis repair with medial fat pad excision. Post op at 2 months.

 

Bilateral upper eyelid blepharoplasty with external direct brow lift. Post op at 5 weeks.

 

This patient presented with bilateral upper eyelid ptosis. She underwent small incision external levator muscle repair. Post op is 2 months.

 

Bilateral external ptosis repair with functional upper eyelid blepharoplasty. Post op at 2 weeks.

 

Functional upper eyelid blepharoplasty. Post op at 1 week.

Blepharoplasty Video

Ptosis Repair Video

Eyelid Malpositions

When the eyelids are not well opposed to the globe or are too wide open, this can lead to ocular irritation, tearing, and blurry vision. Due to a variety of causes, including previous eyelid surgery, eyelid laxity or other abnormalities, the eyelids may turn inward (entropion) or outward (ectropion). The eyelids can also become very loose, causing them to not function properly, and require tightening. Additionally, the upper or lower eyelids can become retracted due to different factors such as in the case of thyroid eye disease. A thorough exam and history will help tailor the surgical approach to your eyelid malposition for best results.

Kahana Oculoplastic & Orbital Surgery performs a variety of surgeries to correct eyelid malposition including:

  • Ectropion Repair
  • Entropion Repair
  • Eyelid Laxity or Floppy Eyelid Repair
  • Upper Eyelid Retraction Repair (Blepharotomy)
  • Lower Eyelid Retraction Repair

This patient presented with thyroid eye disease and left upper eyelid retraction. She underwent left upper eyelid retraction repair via a posterior approach (no skin incision). Post op is at 6 months.

Right lower eyelid retraction and ectropion repair. Post op at 3 months.

This is a woman with a history of thyroid eye disease, status post right and left lateral orbital decompression, and finally two staged left upper eyelid retraction repair. Post op at 2 weeks.

Entropion/Ectropion Repair Video

Eyelid Lesions & Cancers

Eyelid skin is prone to developing lesions, growths and bumps. Some are benign, some infectious and others may be malignant (i.e. cancer). The first step in evaluating an eyelid lesion is a careful clinical exam. If warranted, a biopsy can be performed. If the lesion is malignant, then a complete excision for clear margin is required for a cure. Oculoplastic surgeons are particularly adept at reconstructing the eyelids and surrounding structures. If you have a concerning lesion, do not hesitate to make an appointment for an evaluation and possible biopsy.

The following procedures are available for eyelid lesions & cancers:

  • Eyelid Lesion Excision or Biopsy
  • Chalazion Incision and Curettage
  • Eyelid Reconstruction After Mohs Micrographic Surgery for Skin Cancer

Excision of xanthelasma, bilateral upper and lower eyelids. Post op at 1 month.

This man was found to have a mass of the right conjunctiva following his cataract surgery and referred for biopsy, which revealed amyloidosis. He then underwent excision of the amyloidosis with reconstruction using a buccal mucous membrane graft as well as umbilical cord graft. The postoperative photo was taken 1 month after surgery.

Lesion excision. Post op at 2.5 months.

Chalazion incision and curettage.

Reconstruction after Mohs excision for basal cell carcinoma. Post op at 2.5 months.

Lesion excision. Post op at 1 month.

Lesion excision. Post op at 1 month.

This is a man with basal cell carcinoma of the right medial canthus and tip of the nose. He underwent Mohs excision followed by oculoplastic reconstruction using flaps and grafts from the forearm, and required canalicular repair with stenting. Post op at 6 months.

Eyelid reconstruction following Mohs excision of basal cell carcinoma. Post op at 5 months.