Dr. Steven Montante, MD

Training and board certification

Source for all rows: source

• Board certification: "Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery."
• Member, American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
• Career: began practice in Lynchburg, Virginia; joined the faculty at VCU Medical Center, working on resident education, patient safety and medical informatics; led surgical services at Southern Ohio Medical Center, where he set up a breast reconstruction program.
• Returned to Richmond in 2014. He and Shelly Montante, NP opened Montante Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics in 2017.
• Hospital locations: Henrico Doctors Hospital, Chippenham Hospital and Johnston Willis Hospital, all in Richmond.
• Co-author of four wound-healing research papers published 1998 to 2001, listed on the bio page.

Eyelid surgery work

• Upper blepharoplasty. Treats loose or excess upper eyelid skin and, when appropriate, selected areas of prominent fat. The incision is generally placed in the natural upper eyelid crease (eyelid).
• Lower blepharoplasty. Treats under-eye bags, puffiness, prominent fat and selected loose skin. The incision may be placed inside the lower eyelid or near the lash line, depending on the tissues treated.
• Combined blepharoplasty. Upper and lower eyelids treated in one operation with one recovery period.
• Evaluation covers eyelid fat and volume, brow position, symmetry, skin quality, lower eyelid support and the lower eyelid to cheek junction.
• Anesthesia: local anesthesia with sedation or another plan suited to the patient.
• The page states that upper blepharoplasty may improve peripheral vision when excess skin obstructs the visual field.
• The page lists what blepharoplasty does not correct: a low brow, crow's feet, pigmentation, tear-trough volume loss, fine lines and midface descent.
• Brow lift. Three techniques: endoscopic (small incisions in the hairline with an endoscope and fiberoptic camera), direct (for heavy brows and deep wrinkles) and temporal or lateral (raises the outer brow) (source).

Galleries:

• Blepharoplasty: upper, lower and combined upper and lower cases (source).
• Brow lift: before-and-after cases (source).

The site has no separate page for ptosis repair, double eyelid surgery, canthoplasty or revision eyelid surgery.

Other procedures

The site lists facelift, mid and mini facelift, neck lift, rhinoplasty, cheek enhancement and reduction, ear surgery, facial fat grafting, breast and body surgery, injectables, lasers, skin treatments and a wellness program (montanteaesthetics.com). The bio states added focus on facial rejuvenation and body contouring after weight loss.

Insurance and cost

• Cosmetic eyelid surgery is generally not covered by insurance. Coverage may be possible when upper eyelid surgery is medically necessary because excess skin significantly obstructs vision; requirements vary by plan (eyelid).
• Patients with functional symptoms may need documentation or visual-field testing.
• The site publishes no eyelid surgery price. Cost depends on upper, lower or combined surgery, the surgical setting, anesthesia and complexity; the practice gives an individual estimate after consultation.
• Financing: the site has a patient financing page (source).

Recovery

• First week: swelling and bruising are most noticeable in the first several days; temporary dryness, tearing, light sensitivity or blurred vision from ointment may occur (eyelid).
• One to two weeks: many patients return to selected daily and social activities.
• Sutures are removed according to the postoperative plan.
• Exercise, contact lenses and eye makeup resume only when cleared.
• Brow lift: return to work and exercise within 7 to 10 days; full results in 2 to 3 months (source).