Joseph Walrath, MD

I think we all consider having eyelid surgery for many reasons, some are medical because the eyelids interfere with our vision, some are cosmetic, etc., but regardless of your reason or motivation, eyes are a serious matter. Everyone sees them, you can't hide them so to me it was very important to find a surgeon that would do an excellent job and who had experience with just eyes.

In seeing others photos, I realized how important it is to pick an Oculoplastic Surgeon over just a general plastic surgeon. I also have been battling dry eye for the past year so I didn't want to do anything to make it worse.

Why I chose Dr. Walrath - I read up on his experience, I looked for reviews here on real self and outside of real self on social media, etc. If he had patients that commented on his social media, I reached out to some and some actually answered and were nothing but happy with how he helped them. I watched one of his videos where he said, "I only do eyes" and that for me was the best thing he could have said. I met with other doctors prior but when I met Dr. Walrath for our consultation, I just felt so at ease. He was knowledgeable, didn't make me feel like my "concerns" for my eyes were really "not bad" or unimportant. He understood that I felt that my eyes had aged, looked crepey, and I really didn't like the changes that had been happening. I felt I looked tired all the time. Plus, I had a weighty feeling on my lids from the upper eye fat pockets that really felt annoying. My eyes did not stare back at me in the mirror, my mother's did. This operation for me was all about self care, my 58th birthday present to myself and Dr. Walrath understood.

The Procedure. I think I was more worried about the numbing process or the needles to numb around my eyes than the operation itself. I have had biopsies at the dermatologist so I have been awake while procedures have been done but the thought of a needle by my eye made me nervous even though I had tear trough filler years ago, it still unnerves me. Dr. Walrath had me take a Xanax before the surgery to help me relax and a Tylenol but I generally was fine so the Xanax just made it a little easier.

It was as Dr. Walrath had described - like a little bee sting for just a second and then you don't feel any of the rest for that eye. So it was amazingly tolerable. He'll explain what he is doing and you just rest on the table while he works, there is some music in the background for even more distraction and it is over before you know it. He used regular stitches on my procedure because I explained to him that I don't do will with breaking down the dissolvable ones and he said no problem and it put me at ease.

I went home that day and in the car I had a tubberware with ice & water and a clean rag to soothe the eyes during the ride home as he suggested and it felt good. At home my incisions felt a little sore and stingy for a few hours. Nothing bad. I didn’t even bother to take another round of Tylenol. I did ice water towels on eyes every hour until bedtime and application of ointment as directed. I slept well in my recliner.

Day 1
Eyelids are a little more swollen and red but do not feel bad or bother me. They don’t feel dry nor do they feel tight. I can see a little swelling starting to migrate to my undereye area which I expected to happen at some point. I took a shower. I gently washed my face - just forehead, cheeks and chin and then I let the water just run over my eyelids. I dried my face with the cold setting of my hairdryer just to make sure I didn’t disturb anything and then I reapplied my eye ointment. I continued to cold water ice washcloth every hour. I’m taking it easy today. I have been lazy with keeping my computer files organized so that is what I am doing in between icing.

Day 2
Eyelids seem to be as swollen as they were before, maybe slightly redder. I am noticing the bruising traveling down by my inner eye to my lower tear troughs. Not much but it is appearing. And there is slightly more swelling now in my undereye area where I suppose the extra fluid is starting to pool. I have been icing, continue to be sleeping upright, keeping my food low salt and eating 2 slices of pineapple to help disburse the bruising. Sleeping is the most difficult thing as the recliner becomes uncomfortable after about 2 hrs, and I will not consider going to my bed because the temptation to side sleep is way too great for me.

Day 3
The dreaded day three which really hasn’t been that dreadful. The swelling, redness and bruising are appearing really the same as the previous day. The only thing I am noticing is my skin is feeling really dry all over my face although I am trying to use moisturizer where I can. I am continuing to ice. I tried to clean my face in the shower a little better but not around my eyes but I did let the water run a little bit on them to clean them. Surprisingly, I did not put my regular eye drops that I use before I go to bed (for my dry eye) because my eyes have been not feeling dry.

Day 4 - I felt I had more swelling on this day but it was drainage swelling in my tear troughs. I just continue my icing and prescription oinment. I prefer to lay clean gauze over my eyes and use a ziplock with peas that seems to work the best for me.

Days 5-7
Swelling started to reverse about day 5 and on Day 7, I had my removal of the stitches. That was no biggie either. It was like any other time that I had stitches removed. Dr. Walrath put numbing drops in my eyes. I felt him do a little tug here and there to pull the stitch up so he could cut it (that didn't hurt, I was just aware of the tugging) and it was done. They were out.

Days 8-14
After my stitches came out, I cleaned my lids with sterile saline solution and dried them with my hair dryer on low and cool so I didn't touch them with my fingers before reapplying the prescription ointment with a qtip. I still have a bit of bruising on the upper lid that has to disburse but when I bruise it usually takes a little time.

On day 8, I had to do the inevitable grocery shopping and run errands. I wore sunglasses but I can honestly say, no one was staring my eyes were not being noticed as being bruise or something wrong with them. Each day has gotten a bit better and now at day 14, my husband finally said, "Wow, now I understand why you got it done."

Even though I write this review at Day 14, it is awesome to see MY eyes when I look into the mirror. Tomorrow I am celebrating passing my 2 week mark by putting on some mascara and next week, I will try wearing my contact lenses. I do hope that my previous dry eye has cleared up. That I think is an unexpected bonus that I have been experiencing. Fingers crossed that it continues.

I have a follow up at my 2 month but I also will try to update this review between now and my 2 month because I know many are curious, as was I, about the weekly healing process.

Updated on 12 Feb 2024:
Today, is day 21 post op for me and I was comfortable wearing makeup (everything except for my eyeshadow) only because I am still using a bit of vaseline on my scar lines to keep them supple and help them flatten out. I've also begun wearing my contact lenses again and everything has been fine.

I was out and about today, met with some friends who I haven't shared my surgery with for lunch and 2 of my friends commented that they like how I did my eye makeup. So they noticed something but didn't realize what really changed but obviously, they liked the change.

The biggest tell is my hubby who has commented repeatedly on how pretty my eyes look (He said, "I forgot how beautiful your eyes were"). He admitted he was nervous about my want to have upper eyelid surgery but he understands now why I wanted it. At week 3, no regrets whatsoever about having this surgery.

Updated on 22 Mar 2024:
Tomorrow is officially 2 months post-op - All I can say is Wow! It is so nice not to look tired anymore and to feel bright and refreshed.

It really does affect your psyche when you are not feeling your best. A bit of self-care goes a long way and as I have said before don't let people in your life tell you, "Well, you don't need it." "It's not affecting your vision." etc., etc., If you notice it and it bothers you, then do it.

If you have followed my review, the healing journey was easy with no complications. I would do it again in a second and the only reason I waited was to save up for it.

Updated on 14 Sep 2024:
At 9 months post op there is no obvious signs of any scarring and my eyes look amazing. The scar is flat to the touch, not white or pink, it just blends in with my eyelid skin.

When I share that I have had my upper eyelids done with people, I literally have to bring their attention to it.

I am happy that I made the decision to do the procedure and so happy with Dr. Walrath who did an amazing job on my eyes.

i live in LA and had to fly to atlanta to perform my direct brow lift by dr joseph . i picked him based on his vast experience in direct brow lift !! this doctor is very ethical , decent and pretty much confident & experienced in what he does !!! his whole team are great !!! his coordinator angelica was super accomedating & helpful so is his medical assistant tom !! i highly recommend this facility if you are looking for whatever service they provide !!!

Updated on 6 Oct 2022:
here is a picture of before & after ! after picture is 3rd day of out of surgery !! recovery is good so far ! as you see there is no bruising, just some swelling which is very normal . been taking arnica & icing it 6 times a day which help a lot !! i'll update in few weeks wih the final results .

Updated on 5 Apr 2023:


Updated on 15 Aug 2023:
dr joseph's work on my face changed my life ! he is vey a skilled surgeon and goes out of his way to deliver great results not to mention his great bedside manners !!

Updated on 5 Jan 2024:
after the great success of my direct eyebrow lift . i decided to go for a direct midforhead lift / and co2 for under my eyes by dr joseph . he did a great job and am beyond happy with the result after 3 months of my procedure . my before & after pictures speaks of his great work on my face . dr joseph make me look 30 years old on my 46 birthday !!! i feel so lucky

I highly recommend Dr. Joseph Walgrath - he and his team are awesome. I had little or no pain, and a quick recovery period from my upper and lower eyelid surgery. Dr. Walgrath was not only an extremely talented and skilled surgeon, but genuinely cared about each patient. He would even call to check-in to seeing how recover was going. So glad he was recommended to me by a couple of my old-time friends in Gainesville! Check out my "before" and "after" pictures - amazing what a huge difference a couple of months can make for someone almost 70 years old!

Thank you, Dr. Walrath!!

Dr. Walrath is clearly an expert in his specialty. I sought his help to correct a problem I was experiencing with an old surgery (not performed by him). He knew exactly what the problem was and set up a procedure to repair it. The results were beyond my expectations. He is very genuine, meticulous, and reassuring, and obviously quite talented.

I had a terrific experience with Dr. Walrath and his caring staff at the Woolfson Eye Institute in Atlanta. I would highly recommend him if you are considering eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). I am now 58 years old and had both upper and lower lids done. Surgery was relatively easy and recovery was challenging the first few days and quickly got better just a few short days post-operation.

I had a upper and lower blepharoplasty about 5 years ago which never quite fixed the issue. I tried filler from an ocuplastic surgeon that didn’t fix it either. Dr Walrath did upper and lower bleph and laser resurfacing for malar mounds/festoons. I’m two weeks out. Literally stared in wonder at my beautiful eyes in a magnifying mirror yesterday for 10 minutes.

What a great experience! I had previously had a not-so-good blepharoplasty and was in dire need of a revision. I consulted two other doctors who said there was nothing they could do for me. Then I found Dr. Walrath. He did a great job. I no longer cry when I look in the mirror. You can't even see a scar. Amazing work. This man is truly gifted.

I had an upper blepharoplasty with Dr. Walrath. The results are amazing! From the first appointment for consultation through the 2 month post operative visit, the experience was positive in every way.

In August 2020, Dr. Walrath performed a bilateral lower lid corrective blepharoplasty on me. Because I had had this same surgery from other doctors with not the desired results, my case was a challenge. I had both bags and a sunken-in appearance under both eyes. His procedure eliminated both the bags and the sunken-in look under my eyes. Dr. Walrath did an outstanding job! I think my results were phenomenal! In short, I'm very pleased with the results. I give him 5 stars, and I highly recommend him as an oculoplastic surgeon.

Dr. Walrath and his staff were very welcoming and friendly. I felt safe and comfortable before and after the surgery. He did a great job. It was very beneficial to correct droopy lids and puffy under eyes. It allowed me take advantage of the situation. I had red, swollen and bluish/black eyes. When I told my husband that I might tell the police that it was his fault; he immediately asked “Honey what all can I do for you?” My eyes have a major change and look so much better. It improved my vision and took away the tired look. Dr. Walrath made it fun. He has a good sense of humor. Thanks to Dr Walrath and his staff.