Training and board certification
Source for all rows: source
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| College | Bachelor of Science in Biology, Northeast Missouri State University, Kirksville, Missouri |
| Medical school | M.D., University of Missouri, Columbia |
| Residency | Plastic and general surgery training, Ohio State University, Columbus, 1994 to 2000 |
- Board certification: "Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery."
- Member, American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
- Specialty interests listed on the bio include facial and eyelid surgery, cosmetic breast enhancement, abdominoplasty, liposuction, tissue fillers and Botox injections.
Eyelid surgery work
- Eyelid lift (blepharoplasty). The page lists candidates as people with sagging or wrinkled upper or lower eyelid skin, excess upper lid skin that interferes with vision, a lost upper eyelid crease, or puffy fat pouches. It states the procedure may widen visual fields when upper lid skin partially blocks vision (source).
- Upper blepharoplasty is typically done in the office with local anesthesia and oral sedation. Lower blepharoplasty is done as an outpatient under light or general anesthesia.
- The upper lid incision sits in the natural crease. The lower lid incision is made either inside the lower lid or beneath the lash line. Excess skin and muscle are removed, remaining tissues are tightened, and fat is removed or repositioned. Incisions are closed with fine sutures.
- The page names forehead lift or face lift as procedures that may be added to an eyelid lift.
- Brow lift. Performed at an outpatient hospital or surgical facility under general anesthesia or monitored sedation, using an endoscope through incisions behind the hairline, or in front of it for patients with high foreheads. The muscles that cause frown lines are weakened (source).
Gallery: the eyelid lift gallery holds one female patient case, credited to Dr. Barbara Howard (source). The site has no brow lift gallery and no pages for ptosis repair, double eyelid surgery, canthoplasty or revision eyelid surgery.
Other procedures
The site also lists facelift and neck lift, lip lift and fat transfer; breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction and male breast reduction; arm lift, liposuction, mommy makeover, thigh lift and tummy tuck; and Botox, Juvederm and Kybella (howardplasticsurgery.com).
Insurance and cost
- The payment page states that health insurance does not cover elective cosmetic surgery. The practice accepts VISA, MasterCard, Discover, official check or cash, and helps arrange financing. Surgery fees are due in full 10 days before the surgery date (source).
- The brow lift page states a brow lift "is considered a cosmetic procedure and therefore is not covered by insurance."
- The site publishes no price for eyelid surgery or brow lift. Revision procedures are billed at $500 per hour in the office and $1,000 per hour in surgery, doctor's fee only.
Recovery
- Sutures: usually removed within 6 to 7 days.
- Bruising and swelling: progressively disappear in 2 to 4 weeks.
- Contact lenses: worn when comfortable, usually within 5 to 10 days.
- Eye makeup: after sutures are removed and incisions are healed.
- Brow lift: sutures or staples are removed within 10 days; most swelling and bruising is gone in 7 to 10 days (source).