Service
Correction of a drooping eyelid (ptosis) and ectropion
In ptosis, the edge of the upper eyelid itself droops, because the muscle that lifts it has weakened or come away — removing skin does not solve this. In ectropion, the lower eyelid is turned outward, so the eye waters and turns red. Canthopexy secures the outer corner of the eye when it has given way.
What concerns does it address?
Ptosis
The muscle that lifts the eyelid is shortened or reattached, through an incision in the crease of the eyelid. It is done on one or both eyes. The aim is for the edge of the eyelid to sit at the same height on both eyes.
Ectropion
The turned-out lower eyelid is returned to its position by shortening and securing the edge of the eyelid near the outer corner of the eye.
Canthopexy
An outer corner of the eye that has given way and is sagging is secured with a stitch to the bone. It is done on its own or together with lower eyelid surgery.
When is the procedure not suitable?
The procedure is postponed until the cause of the ptosis is clarified: if the eyelid started to droop suddenly, with double vision or weakness of other muscles, a neurological work-up comes first, because surgery does not treat the cause. It is not done with active inflammation of the eye or eyelid, with dry eye that is not controlled with drops, and with uncontrolled thyroid disease that changes the position of the eyelids. For ectropion caused by a skin scar or by paralysis of the facial nerve, the technique is different and the result less predictable, which we discuss at the examination. With clotting disorders, the procedure is planned in agreement with the doctor who manages the treatment.
General reasons for postponing a procedure (pregnancy, breastfeeding, inflammation, a clotting disorder, smoking): When is a procedure postponed?
Anaesthesia
Before a procedure under general or regional anaesthesia, you are seen by the anaesthetist, who works full time at the clinic; the same doctor is also present during the procedure. The anaesthetic assessment and the anaesthesia for larger operations are included in the price of the procedure. What happens before, during and after anaesthesia is described on the Anaesthesia page.
Risks
Occasional — a difference in eyelid height that needs correction, temporarily difficult eye closure, dry eye.
Expected, and rare but serious → Risks and complications: what is the course of healing, and what is a complication?
Price
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Ptosis, one eyelid | €1,500–2,000 |
| Ptosis, both eyelids | €2,500–3,000 |
| Canthopexy, one side | €300–350 |
| Canthopexy, both sides | €500–600 |
| Ectropion correction, one side | €1,500–3,000 |
Specialist and team
Specialty: plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.
When the procedure is done under sedation or general anaesthesia, the anaesthesia is led by a specialist in anaesthesiology, resuscitation and intensive care who works full time at the clinic.
In the operating theatre, the surgeon is assisted by head nurse Martina Šereg, with the help of nurses Kristina Jurešić and Mateja Tomorad, and in recovery the care assistant Mirjana Kovačić is with you. Martina also looks after preparation, scheduling and contact after the procedure.
Who will operate is decided at the examination, based on the findings and the type of procedure. You know the name of the surgeon before the procedure and meet them at the examination.
What happens at the examination?
The first examination lasts 30 to 45 minutes on average. The surgeon examines the area you are concerned about, asks about illnesses, medicines, allergies and previous operations, and talks with you about what you expect. If the procedure is appropriate and likely to help, you receive a plan: which procedure is proposed, under which anaesthesia, what recovery looks like and what is included in the price. If the procedure is not needed or would not give you what you expect, you will hear that at the examination too.
What if the result is not as agreed?
The result of a procedure is assessed at a follow-up visit, once the swelling has gone down and the scar has matured, not in the first weeks. If it differs from what was agreed at the examination, the same surgeon carries out the correction.
→ Poliklinika Barbel's correction policy
Frequently asked questions
How do you measure how much the eyelid needs to be lifted? At the examination we measure how much of the pupil the eyelid covers and how strong the muscle that lifts it is. We choose the technique according to that strength: with good strength the muscle is shortened, with a weak muscle the eyelid is attached to the forehead muscle. Millimetres decide, so we repeat the measurement before the procedure.
Will both eyes be symmetrical? That is the aim, but perfect symmetry is not always possible, especially when only one side is operated on. A difference of one millimetre is, on average, the limit the eye does not notice. If the difference is larger once the swelling goes down, a correction is possible.
What is ectropion and why does the eye water? Ectropion is a turned-out lower eyelid that no longer sits against the eye. Tears are not drained through the tear duct but spill over the edge, and the exposed conjunctiva dries out and turns red. The procedure tightens the eyelid and returns it against the eye, so the watering stops.
When can I go back to reading and screens? You can read and look at a screen straight away, resting when your eyes get tired. For the first week the eyelid is swollen and may bother you; contact lenses are not worn for two weeks on average.
Can ptosis come back? In adults it rarely comes back if the cause was a stretched muscle. With a very weak muscle, or with ptosis from birth, an additional correction is occasionally needed after several years.
How much does the result depend on care after the procedure? The larger the procedure, the more it depends on it, but it always does. Healing takes weeks and months and happens almost entirely at home, so the instructions you receive when you go home, about the wound, physical activity and the scar, are part of the procedure, not a recommendation.
Medical review: doctors of Poliklinika Barbel · October 2026.