Training and board certification
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Medical school | University of Virginia School of Medicine |
| Residency | Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School / Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston |
| Fellowship | Oculoplastic, orbital and cosmetic surgery, Emory Eye Center, Atlanta |
- Board certification, as the site states it: diplomate of the American Board of Ophthalmology.
- Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Assistant Professor of Medicine (Dermatology), Vanderbilt University; Director of Medical Student Education, Vanderbilt Department of Ophthalmology; attending oculoplastic surgeon, Nashville Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
- Fellow, American Academy of Ophthalmology; Fellow, American College of Surgeons.
- Site lists recognitions: Nashville's Top Doctors (2024-26), Castle Connolly Top Doctor, U.S. News & World Report.
Eyelid surgery work
Procedure text on the cosmetic eyelid lift page is attributed on-page to Dr. Sherman and describes the practice's general approach rather than Dr. Melson individually.
- Upper eyelid lift. Incision marked within the natural eyelid crease; removes excess fat, muscle tissue and loose skin, closed with fine sutures (source).
- Lower eyelid surgery. Transconjunctival (hidden, internal) incision with self-dissolving sutures, or an external lash-line incision removing fat, muscle and skin (source).
- Functional/reconstructive blepharoplasty. Same crease-incision technique; page states coverage depends on insurer-specific guidelines and requires visual field testing and pre-op photos (source).
- Ptosis repair. Short natural-crease incision; the levator palpebrae superioris (the eyelid-raising muscle) is identified and shortened to lift the lid, an external levator advancement technique (source).
- Double eyelid surgery. Listed as a cosmetic procedure (source).
- Brow lift. Offered as both a cosmetic eyebrow lift and a direct (reconstructive) brow lift (source, source).
- Entropion/ectropion. Repair of inward- and outward-turning eyelids (source).
Other procedures
Reconstructive tearing-condition, eyelid movement/spasm, and sagging eyes/brows treatment; med spa services including neuromodulators, dermal fillers, chemical peels and skin resurfacing (source, source).
Insurance and cost
Functional blepharoplasty: "Every insurance company has specific guidelines as to whether you qualify as a candidate," requiring a taped and untaped visual field test and pre-operative photos documenting vision loss; lower eyelid blepharoplasty "is rarely covered by insurance and is considered a cosmetic procedure" (source). Ptosis repair "is usually covered by insurance" when it causes a functional visual deficit; mild, cosmetic ptosis is not covered (source). The practice's page states patients receive "a personalized quote" in person; no prices are published (source).
Recovery
- Back to work. Most eyelid lift patients return to work after about one week (source).
- Swelling/bruising. Mild bruising and swelling follow surgery, which itself takes one to two hours (same page).