Training and board certification
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| College | University of Arkansas; B.S. in Biology |
| Medical school | University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; valedictorian |
| Residency | Otolaryngology, University of Utah |
| Fellowship | Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vanderbilt University |
- Board certification: American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. The practice page describes him as a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon.
- Academic appointment: Assistant Professor of Facial Plastic Surgery at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center for over three years.
- Member of the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society.
- Author of articles in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery and Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America, and of book chapters on rhinoplasty and facial reanimation after facial paralysis.
Eyelid surgery work
- Upper blepharoplasty. The upper blepharoplasty page describes removing excess skin, muscle and fat and sculpting the eyelid. It is an outpatient procedure performed in the office under local anesthesia, with sutures hidden in the natural crease. Clearance from the patient's eye doctor is required before surgery.
- Lower blepharoplasty. The lower blepharoplasty page names two approaches. In the transconjunctival approach, used for minimal wrinkles with significant fat, fat is repositioned and sometimes partly removed through a small incision inside the lower lid. In the transcutaneous approach, used for excess skin or muscle, an incision below the lashes extending toward the crow's feet allows skin and muscle tightening. Fractionated laser resurfacing is often added to tighten lower lid skin.
- Brow lift. The browlift page names the endoscopic approach as the most common, using small hairline incisions. A trichophytic approach raises the brows and lowers a high hairline, and a lateral approach uses temple incisions. Surgery is performed under IV sedation with local anesthesia and is often combined with a facelift.
- The practice offers a complimentary VBeam Perfecta laser treatment after eyelid surgery to reduce bruising.
- Gallery. The blepharoplasty gallery shows upper, lower, and upper and lower blepharoplasty before-and-after photographs. Cases are not credited to a named surgeon.
- The site has no ptosis repair, double eyelid or revision eyelid page.
Other procedures
Dr. Sowder's bio lists facelift, rhinoplasty, otoplasty, injectables and laser skin resurfacing. The practice also offers chin augmentation, lip lift, fat transfer, breast and body surgery, and BBL, HALO and Morpheus8 skin treatments (procedures).
Insurance and cost
- The site publishes no eyelid or brow prices. A detailed surgical quote is given at consultation, and a non-refundable, non-transferable booking fee secures the surgery date.
- The site makes no statement on insurance or Medicare coverage.
Recovery
- Upper blepharoplasty sutures are removed five to seven days after surgery (upper blepharoplasty).
- Bruising and swelling typically resolve within ten days to two weeks; makeup can cover bruising after one week.
- After transcutaneous lower blepharoplasty, bruising may last seven to ten days and redness at the outer incision several weeks (lower blepharoplasty).
- Brow lift: bruising around the eyes for seven to ten days, swelling over one to three weeks, and forehead numbness resolving within two to four weeks (browlift).
- Blood thinners and certain supplements are stopped at least two weeks before surgery.