Training and board certification
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| College | DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana; Biochemistry major, Anthropology minor; summa cum laude |
| Medical school | Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, M.D. (2006-2010); Alpha Omega Alpha |
| Residency | Integrated plastic surgery, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor (2010-2017) |
| Research | Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy post-doctoral research fellowship, University of Michigan (2014-2015) |
| Fellowship | Aesthetic and oculoplastics fellow, Dr. Julius Few, The Few Institute, Chicago (July to December 2017) |
- Certification, as printed on the CV: "American Board of Plastic Surgery," as of 11/16/2019.
- At Ann Arbor Plastic Surgery since January 2018.
- Authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications.
- Her bio lists her specialties as breast, body and labiaplasty procedures.
Eyelid surgery work
- Blepharoplasty. The page describes removing excess skin and fat from the eyelids and tightening the skin, with the eyelid and brow assessed together. Some patients need a brow lift with their blepharoplasty (source).
- At a glance: outpatient, 1-2 hours, local anesthesia.
- Upper eyelids. Incisions are placed in the eyelid crease. Most patients have upper lid surgery in the clinic procedure room, with oral medication to relax and local anesthetic injections.
- Lower eyelids. Incisions are placed inside the eyelid or just below the lash line. Lower lid surgery is done in an operating room at a hospital-affiliated surgery center. Lower blepharoplasty can remove herniated orbital fat.
- Local anesthetic is used in all eyelid surgeries to reduce bruising.
- Patients who have had PRK or LASIK wait at least 6 months before eyelid surgery.
- Brow lift. Small incisions are made at the hairline or within the scalp; the brow is lifted, excess skin removed and underlying tissues tightened, under general or local anesthesia. Procedure time is 1-2 hours (source).
Galleries: 15 eyelid surgery patient cases (source) and one brow lift case (source). Cases are not labeled by surgeon. The site has no page for ptosis repair, double eyelid surgery, canthoplasty or revision eyelid surgery.
Other procedures
The practice offers rhinoplasty, facelift, hair restoration, breast, body and medical spa services. Dr. Ballard's bio names mommy makeover, abdominoplasty, breast reduction, breast lift and in-office labiaplasty as her focus (bio page).
Insurance and cost
- Patients with confirmed visual field obstruction "may qualify for a functional upper blepharoplasty, which may be covered by insurance." However, "all eyelid procedures are done on a cosmetic basis and therefore no insurance claims are submitted" at the practice (source).
- Eyelid surgery cost, per the page's at-a-glance box: $6,000 to $8,000. The total depends on which eyelids are treated and any added procedures.
- Brow lift cost is listed as "Varies" (source).
- Payment and financing options are listed (source).
Recovery
- Cosmetic downtime: 7-10 days, with sutures likely in place.
- Back to work: office workers usually take five to eight days off.
- Swelling and bruising: typically improve over the first 7-10 days; lower lid surgery can bruise longer.
- Exercise: normal physical activity at about 2 weeks.
- Dry eyes: may worsen temporarily.
- Brow lift recovery: approximately 1 week (source).