Missouri has 12 fellowship-trained oculoplastic surgeons listed on EyePlastics. Every surgeon here completed an ophthalmology residency followed by an accredited fellowship in eyelid, orbital and lacrimal surgery; all are ASOPRS members. Ptosis (TOE-sis) is drooping of the upper eyelid caused by weakness or dysfunction of the levator muscle — the muscle responsible for lifting the upper eyelid. It can affect one or both eyes and may be present from birth (congenital) or develop over time (acquired).
Every listed surgeon is fellowship-trained in eyelid, orbital and lacrimal surgery; none has listed individual procedures yet.
Adam Buchanan
MD
Ophthalmic Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery, Inc.
📍 Saint Louis, MO
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Steven Couch
MD, FACS
Washington University in St. Louis
📍 St. Louis, MO
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Philip Custer
MD
Washington University School of Medicine
📍 St. Louis, MO
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Gabriela Espinoza
MD
SSM Health Saint Louis University
📍 St. Louis, MO
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John Holds
MD
Ophthalmic Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Inc.
📍 St Louis, MO
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Kevin Kalwerisky
MD
KK Aesthetics, P.C.
📍 St. Louis, MO
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Robi Maamari
MD
Washington University in St. Louis
📍 St. Louis, MO
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John McCann
MD, PhD
Restoration Eye Care
📍 Camdenton, MO
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Carisa Petris
MD, PhD
Univ. of Missouri-Columbia
📍 Columbia, MO
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Nicholas Ranson
MD
Ophthalmology Consultants
📍 St Louis, MO
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Sara Reggie
MD
Ophthalmic Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Inc.
📍 Des Peres, MO
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William White
MD
Associated Ophthalmologists of Kansas City
📍 Kansas City, MO
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Ptosis is caused by levator muscle weakness and requires surgical repair of the muscle itself. Blepharoplasty addresses excess skin overlying the eyelid. Both conditions can cause drooping or hooding, and they often occur together. Only an oculoplastic surgeon can reliably distinguish them and perform the correct procedure.
Yes — ptosis repair is typically covered by health insurance when the drooping eyelid causes functional visual field obstruction, documented by a formal visual field test with the eyelid in its resting position.
Look for three things on any Missouri surgeon's profile: an accredited oculoplastic fellowship (ASOPRS is the recognised US credential), board certification in ophthalmology, and current hospital or surgery-centre privileges. Then ask how many of this specific procedure the surgeon performs a year and to see before-and-after photographs of similar cases.
Ptosis guide · Ptosis surgery & insurance · What eyelid surgery costs · Financing options