Oculoplastics surgical procedures involve the eye socket, eyelids, tear ducts and face. Also known as oculoplastic surgery, oculoplastics deals with reconstruction surgery around the eye and its associated structures. An oculoplastic surgeon can perform several types of oculoplastic surgery, including a variety of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures.
Oculoplastic surgeons are eye doctors who complete 1–2 years of additional fellowship training following their ophthalmology residency. This extra training gives oculoplastic surgeons the expertise they need to perform eyelid surgery and reconstruction, tear duct surgery, procedures to remove tumors or repair damage to the eye socket, manage thyroid eye disorders, and correct congenital defects. Oculoplastic surgeons can also perform eyebrow and forehead lifts along with other types of facial rejuvenation procedures.
Types of Oculoplastic Procedures
- There are several general types of oculoplastic procedures, including:
- Eyelid surgery
- Tear duct surgery
- Orbital surgery – for the eye socket
- Pediatric surgery
- Eyebrow and forehead lift
- Face lift and implants
Specific oculoplastic procedures include:
-
- Upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasty, commonly known as an “eye lift”
- Brow lifts
- Repair of ptosis, commonly known as “drooping eyelid”
- Excision and reconstruction of skin tumors affecting the skin near the eyes
- Surgical repair of abnormal or clogged tear duct system
- Treatment of eyelid laxity, malposition and lagophthalmos, which is the inability to close the eyelids completely
- Reconstructive surgery involving the bones around the eye
- Treatment for loss of an eye
- Treatment of Graves disease, a thyroid condition
Some types of oculoplastics are cosmetic, meaning the procedures improve the patient’s appearance. Other procedures are reconstructive and medically necessary to protect vision, eye comfort and eye health. A handful of oculoplastic procedures are both cosmetic and medically necessary, meaning they fix a medical problem and enhance aesthetics. Most insurance plans cover reconstructive and medically necessary oculoplastic procedures but not cosmetic surgery.
An oculoplastic surgeon can perform many of these procedures at an outpatient clinic after administering local anesthetic. Patients can go home the same day. Other procedures require a stay in the hospital and general anesthesia. Oculoplastic surgery is not right for everyone. Consult with a oculoplastic surgeon in your area to learn if one of these procedures is right for you.
If you have a condition that could benefit from oculoplastics, explore your options with Florida Eye Specialists. Our doctors, David Kostick, MD and Wassia Khaja MD, are both available to perform a comprehensive examination to determine if oculoplastic surgery is right for you. Make an appointment at one of our five convenient locations around Jacksonville by booking online or by calling us today.