Your eyes are the window to your soul. And your eyes form the connection with others around you. When choosing a surgeon for eyelid surgery, it is important to consider the physician’s training.
What is Oculoplastic Surgery? What is Oculofacial Plastic Surgery?
Oculoplastic Surgery is confusing because our specialty keeps changing names.
Currently, the official name is Oculofacial Plastic Surgery.
These are the changing names of the same specialty :
- Oculofacial Plastic Surgery
- Oculoplastic Surgery
- Ocular Plastic Surgery
- Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery
I still use Oculoplastic Surgery because that is what I am used to. And younger surgeons use Oculofacial Plastic Surgery. And older surgeons use Ocular Plastic Surgery. But they are all the same specialty.
Regardless of the name, Oculoplastic Surgery is a specialized field with a total of 6 years in the training of the eyes and eyelids which is the most eyelid training than any other type of cosmetic surgeon. An Oculoplastic Surgeon spends 4 years in the training of eyes and eyelids gaining board certification in Ophthalmology and then spends 2 more years in fellowship with specialized plastic surgery training of the eyelids and face to gain the ASOPRS approved certification as an Oculoplastic Surgeon.
What is ASOPRS?
The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS) comprises an elite group of Oculoplastic Surgeons who have training and experience in the highly specialized fields of eye, plastic, facial, and reconstructive surgery who have passed rigorous requirements to join ASOPRS.
First, the surgeon must complete a 2-year fellowship training program which has been approved by ASOPRS as having the proper volume, depth and breadth of training in cosmetic and reconstructive eyelid and facial surgery. These fellowship programs are prestigious and coveted because there are many more applicants than slots available. Each year, only about 20 surgeons in the US and Canada are trained in this field.
Furthermore, ASOPRS members must pass a written exam, an oral exam, and write a scientific thesis of original research. Only after all of these steps have been completed is a surgeon allowed to become a member of ASOPRS.
Dr. Erb is a full member of ASOPRS, having completed all of these requirements. Around the world, there are approximately 600 such physicians who have passed these rigid criteria for certification.
True Eyelid Expert
Combining knowledge of how to manage the delicate eye with detailed plastic surgery knowledge for the eyelids, an Oculoplastic Surgeon offers the very best experience to ensure the safest and most cosmetically appealing results after surgery. When you consult with an Oculoplastic Surgeon, like Dr Erb, you are consulting with a true eyelid expert. Why trust your eyes to anyone else?