Specific Eyelid and Eyebrow Services and Surgeries performed by Dr. Cockerham include:
Dr. Cockerham has trained as an eye surgeon and an oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgeon. (Facial plastic surgery is a specific ENT subspecialty with its own boards). Dr. Cockerham is an expert in these techniques and you should discuss with her the method that will give you the best result. To learn more about eyelid and brow procedures, click here to schedule a FREE consultation with Zeiter Eye Medical Group.
Blepharoplasty & Your Eyelids
Dr. Cockerham has trained as both an eye surgeon and as a facial plastic surgeon. This training and experience makes her exceptionally well qualified to conduct eyelid and brow surgery. Because your eyes are the focus of your facial appearance and eyelid surgery is the most critical and detailed type of facial plastic surgery, it is important to seek out the services of a true cosmetic eyelid specialist.
One surgical procedure Dr. Cockerham uses to treat problems associated with the eyelids is Blepharoplasty, which is the repositioning or removal of soft tissue from the upper or lower eyelids. When performing upper eyelid blepharoplasty surgery a cosmetic lid crease incision is created to allow the reshaping of the contours of the upper eyelid. By removing the redundant skin, the patient is able to apply makeup more effectively which helps bring out the natural beauty of the human eye. Furrows and worry lines between the eyebrows amy be significantly improved with Botox or filler agents such as Juvederm or Restylane.
When performing lower lid surgery a hidden incision is usually created on the inside of the eyelid. Through this incision, Dr. Cockerham is able to sculpt and reposition the fat bulges in the lower eyelid to give a more youthful, rested appearance. By filling in the hollows in the lower eyelids we can help resolve those dark circles. To help manage those Brown spots and fine wrinkles of the lower eyelids Dr. Cockerham can perform a TCA peel or resuspension of the lower eyelids with a pleasing uplift to the outside corner.
Your Forehead and Brow Lifts
Your eyebrows are a key to how you convey your emotions. Because of this, your eye brows and forehead are important aspects of how the world views you. So, if you have eyebrows that slant downward your eyes may be expressing sadness of anger, while those droopy eyebrows may give you a tired or aged look. By performing endoscopic brow and forehead lifts, Dr. Cockerham can help show the world the real you. These lifts are performed by performed utilizing an innovative surgical device via small incision hidden behind the hairline.
One way to lift the forehead and brows is via an Endoscopic Brow Lift. With this procedure, Dr. Cockerham elevates and shapes the eyebrows while removing droopiness and wrinkles from the forehead. Another common approach is the internal brow lift and this procedure is performed in conjunction with the upper blepharoplasty. The internal brow lift is accomplished via the same incision used to rejuvenate the upper eyelids and it is effective in raising the eyebrows and removing the furrows between the brows.
Ptosis & Blepharoplasty
Ptosis surgery and upper eyelid blepharoplasty surgery is one of the most common reconstructive surgeries performed by Dr. Cockerham.
Some people suffer from an excess of extra skin and fat in their upper eyelids or have excessive drooping in the upper eyelids that it may block a portion of their peripheral vision. This condition can cause problems in keeping the eyelids open while driving, watching TV or reading. Whether the visual field obstruction is caused by the excess skin or the lid droopiness or both, Dr. Cockerham will evaluate the cause and determine which surgery or surgeries are required to correct the problem. If your eyelids are blocking your peripheral vision, Zeiter Eye Medical Group will work with you to receive the necessary authorizations from your insurance company.
It is also common for patients to have cosmetic lower eyelid surgery and cosmetic eyebrow or forehead lift surgery performed simultaneous with the reconstructive upper eyelid surgery. The doctors at Zeiter Eye Medical Group have found that patients who choose procedures that improve both form and function are the happiest with their post-operative result.
Eyelids provide the necessary protection for your eye and any abnormalities in the contour, strength, or position can dramatically affect your ocular comfort and vision. Dr. Cockerham is an expert in correcting eyelid malposition problems. Of particular concern are the conditions of entropion and trichiasis where the eyelashes rotate against the eyeball or ectropion where the eyelid sags away from the eyeball. Any of these conditions, entropion, ectropion, and trichiasis can cause a red, watery, irritated eye.
These common forms of eyelid position problems and hundreds of other less common forms are easily corrected by Dr. Cockerham with an outpatient surgical procedure. If you are looking for an expert in correcting your eyelid malposition problems, contact Dr. Cockerham for a personal consultation.
One of the most common locations for skin cancer are the face and eyelids. Many times skin cancers may appear as benign growths or they can develop cancerous characteristics over a relatively short period of time. The potential warning signs of cancerous growths are new growths with elevated, irregular borders, coloration, indentation, or ulceration. Many times when skin cancer forms along the edge of the eyelid it often causes the eyelashes to fall out.
Using state of the art technology, Zeiter Eye Medical Group will develop the most appropriate treatment options for you. Initially, the area of concern is first biopsied to determine if it is in fact a cancer. If the biopsy is not cancerous, no further treatment is required and Dr. Cockerham will consult with you on what procedures may be of benefit. If the biopsy is malignant, then Dr. Cockerham will likely recommend complete removal of the tumor, using real-time (frozen section) pathology to ensure the entire tumor is removed.
It is of the utmost importance that our patients are not only cured of the cancer but also are provided with the best possible post reconstruction function and facial appearance. Dr. Cockerham has extensive experience in performing both reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, which is extremely important as both aspects play an important part in reconstructing the defect left by removal of the tumor and maximizing your facial appearance.
Midface and SOOF (Sub-orbicularis oculi fat) Lifts
Often there is no excess skin, sometimes because of previous blepharoplasty surgery, scarring, or some other skin tightening condition. This condition is occurs as the cheek drops and pulls the eyelid down with it. To correct this condition, an incision is made through the back side of the eyelid and the upper cheek fat pad is pulled up. This elevates the cheek and takes its weight off the eyelid, allowing the eyelid to return to its normal position. This is usually done in conjunction with a lid tightening procedure
Lash excision for trichiasis and distichiasis
Distichiasis and trichiasis are eyelash problems that cause considerable pain and damage to the eye. Such eyelash problems, may appear to be of little concern and simple to treat. However, constant rubbing of the eye may result in severe corneal disease and may even cause blindness.
Distichiasisis a disease where eyelashes grow at the back of the normal row of eyelashes and is generally a rare congenital disease, which can occur sporadically and may also occur as a genetic autosomal dominant inherited trait. In this disease, the embryonic pilosebaceous units differentiate into hair follicles instead of meibomian glands. Since these extra distichiatic hairs grow at the back and are close to the eye, any rubbing of the eye due to irritation causes rubbing and matting of these hairs against the eye. Distichiasis may also occur because of chronic irritation or inflammation of the eye margin.
Trichiasis is a more common eyelash problem where the eyelash hairs grow from the normal portion of the eyelid but their growth is directed towards the eyes. Individuals with this condition typically have the sensation of a foreign body in their eyes as well as suffering from eye pain. If Trichiasis is left untreated, corneal abrasion, infection or scarring of the cornea may result. Trichiasis may be caused by eyelid trauma, chemical burns, leprosy, trachoma, blepharitis and eye surgeries.
Dr. Cockerham can help patients treat these conditions by performing lash excision surgery. This surgery splits the eyelid along the eyelid margin and surgically removes the rear portion of the margin and tarsal plates containing the follicles of these distichiatic hairs. To cover the scarring caused, a mucous membrane graft can then be done.
Reconstruction from traumatic injury
Oculofacial plastic surgeons are uniquely trained to address alterations of the normal anatomy of the face, orbit, and eyelid caused by trauma and other accidents. Every patient and every accident is unique and requires a personalized approach to rehabilitation. Dr. Cockerham is a regional expert on repair of all eyelid abnormalities and all abnormalities of the eye socket caused by trauma.
Dr. Cockerham has experience treating both the acute effects of trauma and late term effects of trauma that might include fractures, scars, deformed eyelids, sunken eye sockets, double vision, or tearing.
Dr. Cockerham is an expert in these techniques and you should discuss with her the method that will give you the best result. To learn more about eyelid and brow procedures, click here to schedule your consultation with Zeiter Eye Medical Group.