Blepharoplasty - Eye Doctor or Plastic Surgeon?

Dear Gorgeous

You could have expertise regarding blepharoplasty from a plastic surgeon, and oculoplastic surgeon, and or a facial Plastic Surgeon. It really depends on their experience and how you feel about their before and after photographs, their office environment and confidence in their credentials. Pick the best surgeon for the job.

Best,

Earl Stephenson, Jr, MD, DDS, MBA

ESJ Aesthetics.

Blepharoplasty is a specialized procedure that involves removal of excess eyelid skin. The eyelid has very specific anatomy that affects your eye (aka your vision). It is very different from the rest of your face. This is the number one surgery performed by a specialized eye doctor called an "oculoplastic" surgeon (aka an eyelid plastic surgeon). That is who you should trust to perform this surgery for you.

Oculofacial plastic surgeons are specialized in both the aesthetics and function of the eyelids and eyes.

There are many different types of surgeons who perform blepharoplasty: plastic surgeons, otolaryngologists, facial plastic surgeons, oculoplastic surgeons, etc. Any of these doctors can give good results. Surgeons who perform a large volume of blepharoplasties will typically have a large number of before and after photographs on their website. Reviewing their website allows you to get an idea of the number of surgeries that the surgeon that you’re looking at does, as well as the results. Reviews are also important. Check all of this before making your decision. Best wishes.

Thank you for your inquiry! We would love to sit down with you in person and discuss your concerns and your options. Schedule a consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to assist you in reaching your goals.

Blepharoplasty is usually performed by a properly trained plastic or oculoplastic surgeon (eye specialist with training in oculoplastic surgery). Having experience with a procedure and large series of good result is the most important; be sure that you do a good homework in that regard. Good luck.

Hello - You want to find a surgeon who is experienced in facial plastic surgery. Many different specialties try and claim aspects of cosmetic and aesthetic surgery, but an experienced plastic surgeon is the person to go to for this procedure, unless the ophthalmologist did a plastics fellowship (Oculoplastics).

Many surgeons perform eyelid surgery: general plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons, ophthalmologists, and other cosmetic surgeons of a variety of stripes. The most thoroughly trained eyelid plastic surgeons are board certified ophthalmologists who have done an accredited America Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS). However, this is a broad field. It is not a guarantee that a particular surgeon would be highly accomplished in aesthetic eyelid surgery. The same can be staid for the other types of specialty surgeons who offer aesthetic eyelid surgery. Don’t take things for granted. Training is important but not a guarantee that eyelid surgery will be right. Good people are where you find them.

Thank you for your questions. There are likely going to be a variety of answers to this question, all from the vantage point of the person giving the advice. The bottom line is that there are several qualified surgeons out there to do eyelid surgery, you just want to double check credentials and training and board certification. Plastic surgeons all receive training in aesthetic facial procedures such as blepharoplasty and should be board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Some eye doctors choose to undergo additional training in cosmetic plastic surgery and those should be board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and also have the additional training in oculoplastic surgery and likely be a member of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. Even further, there are also ENT surgeons who undergo additional training in plastic surgery (American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery) and even some dermatologic surgeons who also undergo additional plastic surgery training who perform eyelid surgery. The only wrong answer here is to go see a "cosmetic" surgeon or any of the other surgeons out there who do not have the proper residency training (they were trained in general surgery, emergency medicine, internal medicine, OBGYN, etc.) or the proper board certifications (they will be boarded by the "American Board of Cosmetic Surgery" or other such groups which are not a recognized board. Hope this helps!
Dallas Buchanan, MD
VIVIFY plastic surgery
Tampa, FL

Many different types of surgeons perform eyelid surgery, such as board-certified, plastic surgeons, Facial Plastic Surgeons, and Oculoplastic surgeons. Study your prospective surgeon's before and after photo gallery to make sure that it is extensive with many natural looking results on their eyelid photo gallery. Make appointments with three surgeons and just do your due diligence. In our practice, upper eyelid surgery can be performed under local anesthesia, but lower eyelid surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia.