Plastic Surgeon vs. Oculoplastic Surgeon

Cosmetic surgery for eyelids and other areas related to the eyes requires specific skill and training because eyes are a sensitive area of the body. While a plastic surgeon is a trained expert to perform most cosmetic surgical procedures, an oculoplastic surgeon will be more appropriate particularly for eye related procedures.

Dr. Jennifer Hui is an eye surgeon with advanced qualifications in oculoplastic surgery. Patients in Palm Springs, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Coachella Valley, Riverside, Redlands, Yucaipa, Loma Linda, and surrounding communities and neighborhoods in this part of The Golden State have an opportunity to receive cutting edge cosmetic procedures from Dr. Hui.

Oculoplastic Surgeon

After finishing medical school and completing an internship with a residency in ophthalmology or eye surgery, the medical professional is qualified to pursue training in oculoplastic surgery. This training involves gaining a close understanding of the anatomy of the eye, eyelids, and facial area around the eye.

One of the key areas of ophthalmology training is performing surgery on the eye itself. This is an advanced procedure, requiring a highly delicate touch. Some of the sutures used in eye surgery are so fine they float in the air when the surgeon tries to tie them.

Following training in ophthalmology, the next stage is fellowship training. The delicate touch expertise that the surgeon has acquired during ophthalmology training is now translated into a careful and precise touch when performing facial plastic and eyelid surgery.

Plastic Surgeons

The training in plastic surgery begins once the medical school is finished and a general surgery residency is completed. General surgery involves procedures in multiple areas, including very large body parts. The sutures used in most of these surgeries are substantially larger than those used in ophthalmology.

A fellowship in plastic surgery involves training in procedures such as trauma repair, skin flap surgery and burn care. The sutures used here are again larger than those used in ophthalmology and oculoplastic surgery. The plastic surgeon can address different parts of the body, but the oculoplastic surgeon trains and specializes in the face alone.

The Difference

While training as an oculoplastic surgeon begins with the fine touch acquired in ophthalmology, a plastic surgeon’s training begins with the large touch acquired in general surgery training. Plastic surgeons cover multiple body sites and are generalists in this regard, while an oculoplastic surgeon focuses on the face and around the eyes, and is considered a specialist in this area.

Both plastic surgeons and oculoplastic surgeons can be outstanding experts in their field, but when it comes to procedures related to the eyes, an oculoplastic surgeon will have an edge. In a metaphorical sense, a plastic surgeon is the big sculptor, chipping away and carving to create a visually appealing result.

An oculoplastic surgeon, on the other hand, is like a diamond cutter, using precise, small, fine movements to produce a desirable result.