For years, I struggled with severe confidence issues because of my under-eye bags and deep tear troughs. This affected my daily life and my social interactions. After saving for months, I finally put aside thousands of dollars to resolve the issue with surgery.

In August 2025, I scheduled a consultation with St. Louis Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery. I explained directly to Dr. Beal that I wanted my under-eye bags and tear troughs removed. Although I didn’t know the medical term “tear troughs” at the time, I made it completely clear what I wanted. Dr. Beal assured me that laser resurfacing would be the best solution. Trusting his judgment as a doctor, I scheduled the procedure.

I prepared carefully, booking a hotel for a week and buying everything I would need to heal in private. During the procedure, I felt my skin being burned. The pain was sharp and undeniable. Afterward, my face was so swollen that I couldn’t judge whether the procedure had actually worked.

Once the swelling went down, the truth became obvious. My eye bags and troughs were still there. The procedure had not addressed the issue I went in for. After doing my own research, I realized that the procedure I actually needed was lower blepharoplasty, not laser resurfacing.

As a plastic surgeon, Dr. Beal should have known this. I believe he recommended laser resurfacing because it was easier and more profitable, not because it was what I needed. Instead of helping me, he prioritized his own interests.

Now, I am left with the same insecurities I tried to fix, after spending thousands of dollars. The money hurts, but the betrayal hurts more. I trusted him, and I was misled.

If you are considering Dr. Beal, I urge you to look elsewhere. I do not believe he can be trusted with something as important as your face, your confidence, or your wellbeing.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I truly hope that whatever leads you to seek surgery is handled by a doctor who puts your best interests first.