Who should perform eyelid surgery? Is it an ophthalmologist? Perhaps a plastic surgeon?
Frankly, it can be either. Both medical specialties have expertise in eyelid surgery, and often it comes down to a patient’s comfort with the physician and his or her skill set when deciding who will perform the surgery.
Not so long ago, Dr. Chirag Patel (ophthalmologist) and Dr. Anup Patel (plastic surgeon) wondered why patients couldn’t have the best of both worlds. Over the past few years, both Dr. Patels would pick each other’s brain on complex eyelid cases, techniques, and procedures to achieve optimal patient outcomes both functionally and cosmetically.
A Friendship That Goes Way Back
Their relationship extends far beyond the last few years – in fact, they were former college roommates at the University of Florida where they used to root for the Gators in the Swamp.
After medical school, Dr. Chirag Patel went off to a prestigious ophthalmology residency at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, while Dr. Anup Patel completed a Plastic Surgery residency at Yale University. Years later, Dr. Chirag Patel founded Lake Nona Ophthalmology, and Dr. Anup Patel founded the Orlando Plastic Surgery Institute.
Teaming Up
Today, everything has come full circle, and the two surgeons have developed a novel, multi-disciplinary approach as they connect as co-surgeons on “cosmetic Saturdays” delivering a unique and true Oculo-Plastic Surgery experience addressing aesthetic and functional eyelid disorders. The idea developed when a patient saw Anup as an aesthetic consult for rejuvenation of the upper eyelids.
It quickly became obvious the excess skin of the upper eyelids needed removal not only for restoration of a youthful appearance but also to improve vision. Anup reached out to Chirag, who immediately saw the patient, concurring that the skin, as well as the ocular muscle for elevating the eyelid, were contributing to the patient’s visual deficits. The patient’s surgery was approved by insurance, and the patient requested that the two surgeons work together to optimize the surgical outcome.
That Saturday the roommates from Gainesville reunited at the Downtown Surgery Center providing the patient removal of the skin via an upper eyelid blepharoplasty and vision improvement by a levator advancement combined with an internal eyebrow lift. Using skill sets derived from ophthalmology and plastic surgery, the two surgeons restored the patient’s form and function creating a natural, youthful look, while enabling improvement in vision.
“Cosmetic Saturdays” Are Here to Stay
Since that Saturday, the two continue to work together on weekends providing patients with a highly-specialized experience without time off from work in an extremely private environment. Patients are raving about the opportunity to receive simultaneous treatment from a board-certified ophthalmologist and plastic surgeon integrating the most innovative and multi-disciplinary techniques.
The combined approach reduces operative and anesthesia time without compromising the safety and success of surgery. Furthermore, both doctors comment that the operative experience is much more fun and enriching having the other one there.
Despite going away for years after meeting as undergraduates, the two now remain linked together on “Cosmetic Saturdays” optimizing cosmetic and functional eyelid surgeries for the greater Central Florida area.
If you are interested in a consultation for cosmetic eyelid surgery, feel free to contact our office to make an appointment.
