Blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery, is a highly specialised area. So it is important that you choose an expert in this field to carry out any surgery on this most delicate of areas.
An oculoplastic surgeon is an ophthalmologist, otherwise known as an eye doctor, who has undergone many years of specialised training in eyelid and facial plastic surgery. Although plastic surgeons are highly trained and are able to carry out aesthetic eyelid surgery, they do not possess the depth of knowledge or expertise of the eye as an oculoplastic surgeon does.
As a trained ophthalmologist, an oculoplastic surgeon is able to examine the eye, identify any pre-existing eye disease and deal with any functional eyelid disease such as eyelid cancer, lid malpositions and entropion, a condition which turns the eyelid inward. These specialists are also able to examine the eye after blepharoplasty to ensure there are no eye complications and expertly manage any complications should they arise after surgery. A plastic surgeon will not be able to carry out these examinations as they have not undergone the same level of training in the eyes and have no training in the basic equipment used to carry out eye examinations. As a result, a plastic surgeon cannot provide the same level of expert care as a trained ophthalmologist.
These specially trained oculoplastic surgeons are responsible for eyelid surgery in hospitals across the UK.
As well as blepharoplasty, oculoplastic surgeons can carry out other eyelid surgery including repairing an eyelid which is turning in or out, correcting drooping eyelids (ptosis) and removing eyelid cysts (also known as chalazion or meibomian cyst).
Here at the Cadogan Clinic, we would highly recommend that an oculoplastic surgeon carries out any eye-related surgery, be it for functional or purely aesthetic reasons.