It took over 3 years to diagnose my condition of blepharospasm, and it was a lonely frustrating journey along the way. I will not list the doctors that were unable to help me, as I hold nothing against them, they just didn’t have the knowledge to diagnose or fix my problem. In March of 2015, I noticed a “distraction” with my eyes..excessive blinking and winking. I visited my primary care doctor. He thought my condition was dry eyes so he referred me to an optometrist. I had no relief so I visited another optometrist based on a recommendation of my friend. This doctor recommended heat compress, eye wipes, vitamin e, and eye drops. They were still heavy, difficult to keep open, and especially painful when driving. After that, I tried many doctors and many treatments for several years. Eventually, I found a Dr. Salinas in Las Vegas who concluded that I had blephoraspasm with apraxia, and it was very rare. He recommended me to Dr. Digre with John A Moran Eye Center in Salt Lake City. By the time I got to Dr Digre, my symptoms were bad. Often my eyes ache and it was painful to look up, to be in sunlight, to drive, and to focus on writing. I continued to have spasms in my cheeks right below my eyes (I only noticed when I was ready to go to sleep and am totally relaxed). Sometimes I would wake up because my eyes seem to be clenching shut, they ached and I would have to open them and make them “relax” when closing them again. Finally, in the last several months, I have noticed that my left eye doesn’t respond as quickly as the right. I “tell” my eyes to open, one would open faster than the other. When I went to see Dr. Digre in April of 2018, I was desperate to find answers. I had tried everything the doctors prescribed. From drops to gel to warm socks over my eyes. From humidifier to flaxseed oil. Surgery to lift my brow. Tear duct plugs. The special process called Lipiflow. Botox Shots. My problem had deteriorated to the point that my eyes spasmed so often that it made it difficult to drive, run, hike, even work. Dr. Digre and her staff made me feel like the most important person in the world. They eventually referred me to Dr. Buphendra Patel (he works in Salt Lake City as well as St. George). His knowledge, his expertise, his caring, and most of all the botox treatment that he has given me (and will continue to provide every three months) has literally turned my life around. I had botox before but it was not the dosage or the position of the muscles that it needed to be. His technique, the amount of time he took to listen to me and understand the issue…it has changed my outlook on what life is for me. While it’s not perfect, and I will never be exactly as I was before, I can now enjoy my life again. I can drive, I can work, I can hike on the weekends. I have my life back. I know this is a long story and I’m sorry if it repeats too much. I felt like I was the only on the planet with this condition. It was taking away everything I loved to do. And to discover that it was possible to have all that back because of a few amazing doctors that are caring, professional, and design their practice around truly learning what the issue is and providing some relief to that….well, that deserves to be shared, if for no other reason to recognize Dr. Digre and Dr. Patel and their staff for the amazing and awesome job they are doing. But if you are like me and suffer these same symptoms, please do not despair. You are not alone and there is help available!

About six weeks ago I had a lower face and neck lift surgery and I am overwhelmed with the beautiful results that Dr. Patel achieved. All I was expecting was a tighter jawline, soften lines from my nose to my mouth and a firmer looking neck. Not only did he achieve what I had requested, I also have the most beautiful healthy looking skin (smaller pores) and a glow to my skin than I can't ever remember having. I love looking at my profile and my beautiful neck. I look at my before and after pictures and I can't believe what a "skilled" surgeon can achieve. Dr. Patel asked me to trust him to do the procedures/treatments that would give me the best results and that's what I did. He used fat grafts to give volume to my brows (they look fuller) and also raised the bridge of my nose-the horizontal lines are much improved and the "fatness" of the nose bridge is gone. The staff, Dena, Stacie, and Amy were so supportive and helpful in aiding in my recovery from surgery. I'd text them with any questions or concerns I had and would always get a quick response back. It also took some coordination between offices as I had the surgery in Salt Lake, but all my follow up care was in St. George (where I live). Dr. Patel and his staff were so kind to accommodate this arrangements which I'm sure created more work for everyone. Thank you Dr. Patel, I now feel like I look as young on the outside as I feel on the inside. Sherrie four or five years now

I can't thank you enough for the support I've had by a great professional, serious, courteous, very knowledgeable and helpful. He kindly provided me with in-depth clarifications via email regarding my dry eye problem, clarifications that I was unable to obtain from other ophthalmologists due to unavailability or lack of specific knowledge and it seemed to me that I did not get to the bottom of the matter. Dr. Patel is simply wonderful

Dr. Patel performed a CO2 laser procedure on my face. While the procedure itself was painful the results have been amazing. I am thrilled with the tightening of my eye lids and the wrinkle reduction. I was awake for the laser but I would recommend sedation! The week after was not too uncomfortable. The results 5 weeks later are well worth any discomfort. Dr. Patel as always was very professional and concerned about my comfort and recovery!

I am soooo happy with Dr. Patel's results in my case. I was recommended to him by a dear friend who had had a botched eye lift. Her results gave me full confidence to proceed. I was NOT disappointed. He is amazing!

My husband Rick was blessed with "heavy eyelids" which interfered with his eyesight and peripheral vision. It is something his father and other family members also deal with. We heard Dr Patel was the best and so met with him and we were so impressed with his knowledge, concern, and great care he gave my husband. He noticed that my husbands forehead muscle was thick and heavy and would continue to put pressure on the eyelids so we chose to do the eyelid and forehead muscle lift surgery. This is a procedure that he created and executed beautifully. He not only can see better but he looks younger and not so tired and old. WE LOVE the knowledge and experience Dr Patel has and would HIGHLY RECOMMEND him to anyone!