Who is the best to perform an Upper Blepharoplasty? A plastic surgeon or ophthalmologist?

Both a plastic surgeon and an ophthalmologist experienced with eyelid surgery can give a good result.  Often a browlift is needed in addition to an upper eyelid surgery.  If only the upper eyelid surgery is performed, the rejuvenation of the upper eyelid area with not be complete and the patient will often perceive little improvement following the surgery.  I suggest that you see a plastic surgeon to determine if this is the case for you.

Hello and thank you for your question.  You will find that the answer to your question depends on the type of surgeon you ask.  Plastic surgeons will say plastic surgeon and ophthalmologists will say ophthalmologist.   It is very
important that you thoroughly research your surgeon before committing to
surgery. It is a good idea to research your surgeon's educational background,
online reviews, before & after pictures, and speak with anyone who you may
know who has had surgery with that surgeon. During your consultation, make sure
that you don't feel rushed and make sure that you have adequate time with your
surgeon and not just their patient coordinator or nurses. If the majority of
your consultation is spent with someone other than the surgeon, this is usually
not a good sign. The most important aspect is to find a surgeon you are
comfortable with. I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified
board-certified expert surgeon who can evaluate you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Thank you for your question.  I have been performing facial plastic surgery for over 12 years in private practice and I have a practice solely dedicated to the FACE.  Ophthalmologists (Oculo-Plastics trained) are well qualified to perform this surgery.  General Plastic Surgeons, who perform roughly 10-15% of their practices in the face are the least qualified.  Facial Plastic Surgeons are well qualified to do this surgery, but you need to sit down with a couple of surgeons.  Look at their before and after galleries, testimonials, etc.

If you have a web in the inner corner, you may need additional surgeries to help you.  

Hi.  As you may know, there are several fields which all quite legitimately are trained to operate on the eyelid area, including plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons, and ophthalmologists.  In your case, it sounds more like a matter of choosing a surgeon who can deliver the result you are looking for.  That will require interviewing several possible surgeons, and looking at their before and after photos, and asking the tough questions of "Doctor, do you think you can deliver my desired result?"

There are several types of surgeons who do blepharoplasty.  These include general ophthalmologists,  facial plastic surgeons, general plastic surgeons, and oculoplastic surgeons.  Oculoplastic surgeons have 1-2 years of training in eyelid surgery so they should be a good option for you especially for a revision which can be tricky.  There are also many skilled plastic surgeons who do a lot of eyelid surgery who could help you with this.You should have some in person consultations.  See how many eyelid surgeries they do, and take a look at the before and after pictures.  Go with the surgeon that  you feel best understands your issues and that you think will be able to address them.

Upper blepharoplasty for functional reasons (visual field obstruction) alone is a relatively simple procedure that either practitioner should be able to perform safely.  When aesthetic or secondary reconstructive concerns come into play it becomes much more complex and the big picture needs to be considered.  For example dynamic brow position needs to be understood and likely addressed with a brow sexy, cantonal angles should be considered as well as fat distribution and overall aesthetics.  In this case an ophthalmologist would not be the right choice.  A plastic surgeon with a track record of excellence and preferably with craniofacial training is the most apt for addressing these issues.  I hope this helps!All the best,Rian A. Maercks M.D.

Mamarosa --

Choosing a surgeon is an important decision. As long as he or she has undergone the appropriate training in cosmetic eyelid surgery, either an oculoplastic surgeon, a facial plastic surgeon, or a plastic surgeon should be able to achieve your goals. It's best to meet with your surgeon before-hand and make sure you both have the same aesthetics, and that you feel comfortable with them and their level of expertise.