Ptosis
Pronunciation: TOH-sis (silent p)
Drooping of the upper eyelid, which in aesthetic dermatology most commonly refers to a complication of incorrectly placed botulinum toxin injections.
Full Definition
Ptosis (also called blepharoptosis when referring specifically to the eyelid) describes an abnormal drooping of the upper eyelid margin. In aesthetic medicine, it is a recognized, though infrequent, complication of periorbital and forehead neuromodulator injections when the product migrates to the levator palpebrae superioris muscle. It is documented in complication reports, adverse event filings, and follow-up consultation notes. Editors should not confuse ptosis of the eyelid with brow ptosis (descent of the brow), which is a separate clinical and editorial concept. The correct pronunciation is 'TOH-sis'; the initial 'p' is silent.
Usage
Usage note: Always clarify in context whether 'ptosis' refers to the eyelid or the brow, as these are clinically and editorially distinct. The silent initial 'p' is a frequent spelling trap.
In Context
- "The complication report noted unilateral ptosis appearing five days post-injection, which resolved within three weeks." — Complication report
- "Brow ptosis must be distinguished from lid ptosis when editing neuromodulator outcome documentation." — Editorial style guidance