Step 1: Anchor the decision on a single number: how strong is the levator? Here it is poor, which immediately rules out muscle-shortening operations.
Step 2: Mullerectomy and Fasanella-Servat are reserved for small ptosis with adequate function, and a levator resection needs a functioning levator to shorten. None of these can lift a lid that has little intrinsic power.
Step 3: The work-around is to borrow power from a different muscle. Frontalis suspension connects the lid to the brow with a sling so the frontalis muscle does the lifting whenever the patient raises the eyebrow.
Step 4: This is the standard solution in congenital ptosis with poor levator function.\[\boxed{\text{Frontalis suspension surgery}}\]