Training and board certification
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| BS | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| MD | Medical College of Georgia |
| Residency | Ophthalmology, Medical College of Georgia |
| Fellowship | Ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Vanderbilt University Medical Center |
- Has exclusively performed oculoplastic surgery since 2009 and has operated on over 11,000 patients.
- Member: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American College of Surgeons.
- Partner and oculoplastic surgeon at Wilmington Eye; previously practiced as Oculoplastic Consultants of the Carolinas, which joined Wilmington Eye in January 2021, becoming the practice's central oculoplastics location (news release).
Eyelid surgery work
The eyelid-surgery, tearing-issues and orbital-issues pages describe Wilmington Eye's oculoplastics service generally ("our oculoplastic surgeons"), not Dr. Oester's work individually:
- Upper lid blepharoplasty. Removes excess skin and fat through a hidden incision at the natural eyelid crease, closed with tiny sutures (source).
- Lower lid blepharoplasty. Removes or repositions fat to smooth the transition between the lower lid and cheek; can be performed at the same time as upper lid surgery (same page).
- Ptosis repair. Addresses levator muscle function to improve eyelid position and restore visual field (same page).
- Ectropion repair and entropion repair. Correct outward- and inward-turned eyelids; symptoms typically resolve almost immediately after repair (same page).
- Periocular skin cancer reconstruction. After Mohs surgery removes the cancer in layers under microscopic control, the surgeon repairs the area with sutures, flaps, or skin grafts (same page).
- Tear duct (lacrimal) surgery. For tearing from overproduction or poor outflow of tears into the tear duct system (source).
- Orbital surgery. For conditions affecting the eye socket, including thyroid eye disease (source).
His bio page states he performs "brow lifts, lid lifts, cancer reconstructions, and cosmetic lower eyelid surgery," though the practice site has no dedicated brow-lift procedure page. A video on the practice's page features "Dr. Chip Oester, Jr" discussing common eyelid concerns. The practice site has no before-and-after photo gallery page (a "Before & After Surgery Results" heading on his bio page has no working link).
Other procedures
Dermal fillers, neurotoxin injections (Botox/Dysport) and skin resurfacing, through the practice's Cosmetics service (cosmetics).
Insurance and cost
"Most insurance policies will cover eyelid surgery if the condition is obstructing your vision or threatening the health of your eye" (source). The practice "accept[s] most insurance plans and welcome[s] Medicare, Medicaid, and Workers' Compensation," listing Medicare, Medicaid (Healthy Blue, Carolina Complete, UHC Community Plan), BCBS, UHC, Aetna and TRICARE (insurance); the practice became cashless effective March 1, 2026. No procedure prices are published.