Name: Dr. Maria Valenzuela-Arellano

Specialty: Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery | Ophthalmology

Qualification / Board Certification: MD — Graduated from Pontifical Catholic University of Chile; Fellowships completed in Canada and Australia

Affiliation(s): University Hospital — MU Health Care, Columbia, MO (Castle Connolly Top Hospital)

Locations (City/State): Columbia, MO | Santa Fe, NM | Rio Rancho, NM

Languages Spoken: English, Spanish

Accepting New Patients: Yes

NPI Number: 1568761955

About the Doctor

Dr. Maria Valenzuela-Arellano, MD is an exceptionally trained Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon and Ophthalmologist whose international medical education and multi-country fellowship training place her among the most globally experienced practitioners in her highly specialized field. She earned her medical degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile — one of Latin America’s most prestigious and rigorous medical institutions — and completed her ophthalmology residency at Universidad de Los Andes in Chile before embarking on an extraordinary international fellowship journey spanning three countries and three of the most respected academic medical institutions in the English-speaking world.

Dr. Valenzuela-Arellano completed fellowship training at the University of British Columbia in Canada, the University of Toronto in Canada — home to one of North America’s most prominent oculoplastic surgery programs — and at the Royal Children’s and Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospitals and Health Districts in Australia. This remarkable breadth of international subspecialty training across three continents has equipped her with an unparalleled depth of knowledge in oculofacial plastic surgery, pediatric ophthalmology, and orbital and periocular reconstruction.

Her subspecialty — Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, also known as oculoplastic surgery — sits at the intersection of ophthalmology and facial plastic surgery. It encompasses aesthetic and reconstructive procedures for the eyelids, brows, orbits, lacrimal systems, and surrounding facial structures. Dr. Valenzuela-Arellano treats a wide spectrum of conditions including eyelid disorders, drooping brows, cataracts, dry eyes, vitreous conditions, and hyperthyroidism-related orbital disease (thyroid eye disease). She performs eyelid surgery, conjunctival surgery, eye procedures, and periocular reconstruction with precision and artistry.

Her practice has earned a perfect 5-star patient rating, with 100% of reviewers reporting satisfaction with their diagnosis, office experience, and wait times — a testament to her clinical excellence and compassionate patient care. She is bilingual in English and Spanish, making her practice accessible to Spanish-speaking communities across Missouri and New Mexico. Dr. Valenzuela-Arellano is affiliated with University Hospital — MU Health Care, a Castle Connolly Top Hospital, and is currently welcoming new patients at all three of her practice locations.

Highlights at a glance:

• International fellowship training — University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, and Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospitals, Australia
• Medical degree from Pontifical Catholic University of Chile — one of Latin America’s most prestigious medical schools
• Subspecialty expertise in oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgery
• Affiliated with University Hospital — MU Health Care (Castle Connolly Top Hospital)
• Perfect 5-star patient satisfaction rating — 100% satisfaction across all review categories
• Bilingual — fluent in English and Spanish
• Three practice locations — Columbia, MO | Santa Fe, NM | Rio Rancho, NM
• Currently accepting new patients

Education & Training

Dr. Valenzuela-Arellano’s academic and clinical training reflects an extraordinary international pathway spanning South America, Canada, and Australia — making her one of the most globally trained oculoplastic surgeons in practice:

• Medical School: Pontifical Catholic University of Chile / Faculty of Medicine — Santiago, Chile (Doctor of Medicine — MD)
• Residency: Ophthalmology — Universidad de Los Andes — Chile
• Fellowship 1: Oculoplastic & Reconstructive Surgery — University of British Columbia — Vancouver, Canada
• Fellowship 2: Oculoplastic & Reconstructive Surgery — University of Toronto — Toronto, Canada
• Fellowship 3: Pediatric Ophthalmology & Oculoplastic Surgery — Royal Children’s and Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospitals and Health Districts — Brisbane, Australia
• Languages of Training: Spanish (Chile), English (Canada & Australia)
• NPI Registration: Active — NPI Number 1568761955

Medical Conditions Treated

As an Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon and Ophthalmologist, Dr. Valenzuela-Arellano diagnoses, treats, and manages a comprehensive range of eyelid, orbital, periocular, and ocular conditions, including:

• Eyelid Disorders — Ptosis (Drooping Eyelid), Ectropion, Entropion & Eyelid Malposition
• Drooping Eyebrows (Brow Ptosis) & Forehead Descent
• Dry Eye Syndrome & Lacrimal System Disorders
• Cataracts & Age-Related Lens Changes
• Vitreous Conditions — Floaters, Vitreous Detachment & Vitreous Hemorrhage
• Hyperthyroidism-Related Orbital Disease (Thyroid Eye Disease / Graves’ Ophthalmopathy)
• Orbital Tumors & Orbital Fractures
• Lacrimal Duct Obstruction & Tearing (Epiphora)
• Conjunctival Disorders & Growths — Pterygium, Pinguecula
• Periocular Skin Cancers — Basal Cell & Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Eyelid
• Blepharospasm & Hemifacial Spasm
• Chalazion & Eyelid Cysts
• Dermatochalasis (Excess Eyelid Skin)
• Orbital Cellulitis & Inflammatory Conditions
• Facial Asymmetry & Periocular Structural Abnormalities
• Pediatric Eyelid & Orbital Conditions

Medical Procedures Performed

Dr. Valenzuela-Arellano performs a comprehensive range of ophthalmic, oculoplastic, and reconstructive surgical procedures, including:

• Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) — Upper and Lower Eyelid Aesthetic & Reconstructive
• Ptosis Repair — Correction of Drooping Upper Eyelid
• Brow Lift & Forehead Ptosis Correction
• Conjunctival Surgery — Pterygium Excision & Conjunctival Reconstruction
• Eye Procedures — Diagnostic & Therapeutic Ocular Interventions
• Ectropion & Entropion Repair — Eyelid Malposition Correction
• Lacrimal System Surgery — Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) & Tear Duct Repair
• Orbital Decompression — for Thyroid Eye Disease
• Eyelid Tumor Excision & Periocular Skin Cancer Reconstruction
• Orbital Fracture Repair
• Botulinum Toxin (Botox) Injection — for Blepharospasm & Hemifacial Spasm
• Chalazion Incision & Drainage
• Cataract Evaluation & Surgical Referral Coordination
• Dry Eye Management & Punctal Plug Placement
• Pediatric Eyelid & Orbital Surgery

Services Offered

Dr. Valenzuela-Arellano’s oculoplastic surgery practice offers a complete and highly specialized range of aesthetic and reconstructive services focused on the eyelids, orbits, brows, lacrimal system, and surrounding facial structures. Her internationally trained expertise spans both the functional and cosmetic dimensions of periocular and facial surgery — ensuring that every patient receives care that addresses both their health needs and their aesthetic goals with equal precision and artistry. Her three-location practice across Missouri and New Mexico makes this rare subspecialty expertise accessible to a wide geographic patient population.

Eyelid Surgery — Aesthetic & Reconstructive Blepharoplasty Eyelid surgery is one of the most commonly requested and clinically important procedures in Dr. Valenzuela-Arellano’s practice. She performs both aesthetic blepharoplasty — to refresh and rejuvenate the appearance of tired, drooping, or puffy eyelids — and reconstructive blepharoplasty for functional conditions such as ptosis, ectropion, entropion, and dermatochalasis that can impair vision or ocular comfort.

• Upper and lower eyelid blepharoplasty — aesthetic and functional
• Ptosis repair for drooping upper eyelid affecting vision or appearance
• Ectropion and entropion correction — outward and inward eyelid malposition repair
• Eyelid reconstruction following tumor excision or trauma
• Dermatochalasis correction — removal of excess eyelid skin

Brow Lift & Forehead Ptosis Correction Drooping eyebrows can contribute to a tired, heavy, or aged appearance and may worsen upper eyelid ptosis. Dr. Valenzuela-Arellano evaluates and surgically corrects brow ptosis through a range of brow-lifting techniques, restoring a natural, rested, and youthful periocular appearance.

• Surgical brow lift for drooping eyebrows and forehead descent
• Endoscopic and open brow lift techniques
• Combined brow and eyelid surgery for comprehensive periocular rejuvenation
• Botulinum toxin for non-surgical brow elevation

Thyroid Eye Disease & Orbital Surgery Thyroid eye disease — most commonly associated with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ disease — can cause proptosis (eye bulging), double vision, eyelid retraction, and in severe cases, vision-threatening optic nerve compression. Dr. Valenzuela-Arellano’s training in orbital surgery equips her to manage this condition through orbital decompression, eyelid surgery, and strabismus coordination.

• Thyroid eye disease evaluation and staging
• Orbital decompression surgery for proptosis and optic nerve protection
• Eyelid retraction correction in thyroid eye disease
• Coordination with endocrinologists and strabismus surgeons for comprehensive management

Lacrimal System Surgery Tear duct obstruction causes persistent tearing, discharge, and recurrent eye infections. Dr. Valenzuela-Arellano performs lacrimal system surgeries including dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) to restore normal tear drainage and eliminate chronic tearing and infection-related symptoms.

• Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) — open and endoscopic approaches
• Punctal and canalicular repair
• Lacrimal probing and irrigation
• Congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction management in children and adults

Conjunctival & Ocular Surface Surgery Dr. Valenzuela-Arellano performs conjunctival procedures including pterygium excision and reconstruction, and manages a range of ocular surface conditions that affect the comfort and health of the eye.

• Pterygium excision and conjunctival autografting
• Conjunctival tumor evaluation and excision
• Dry eye management and punctal plug placement
• Ocular surface reconstruction for chronic or severe dry eye disease

Periocular Skin Cancer Management Eyelid skin cancers require specialized management that balances complete tumor removal with preservation of eyelid function and appearance. Dr. Valenzuela-Arellano performs eyelid tumor excisions and complex reconstructive procedures to restore both the protective function and natural aesthetics of the eyelid after cancer removal.

• Periocular skin cancer evaluation — basal cell, squamous cell, and melanoma
• Eyelid tumor excision with margin control
• Complex eyelid reconstruction following oncological resection
• Coordination with Mohs surgeons and dermatologic oncologists

Pediatric Oculoplastic Surgery Drawing on her fellowship training at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Australia, Dr. Valenzuela-Arellano has dedicated expertise in pediatric eyelid and orbital conditions — including congenital ptosis, pediatric orbital tumors, and childhood lacrimal obstruction.

• Congenital ptosis repair in children
• Pediatric lacrimal duct obstruction management
• Pediatric orbital tumor evaluation and surgical coordination
• Childhood eyelid malposition correction

Bilingual Care — English & Spanish Dr. Valenzuela-Arellano and her clinical team provide complete consultations and patient education in both English and Spanish, ensuring that Spanish-speaking patients across Missouri and New Mexico receive fully accessible, culturally respectful care for their eye and surgical health needs.

• Full oculoplastic consultations in English and Spanish
• Culturally sensitive surgical care and patient education
• Spanish-language pre- and post-operative instructions

Telehealth & Online Consultations Patients interested in virtual consultation options are encouraged to contact Dr. Valenzuela-Arellano’s office directly at (336) 716-2255 to confirm telehealth availability and appropriate scheduling for virtual ophthalmic and oculoplastic care visits.

Accepted Insurances

Dr. Valenzuela-Arellano accepts most major insurance plans. Patients are advised to call (336) 716-2255 before scheduling to verify their specific plan and network coverage. Accepted carriers include:

• Medicare
• State of Tennessee
• All Other Major Third Party Insurance Plans

Note: Insurance information publicly listed for Dr. Valenzuela-Arellano is limited. Patients are strongly encouraged to contact the office directly at (336) 716-2255 to confirm full insurance acceptance and out-of-pocket costs — particularly for surgical procedures which may have separate facility and anesthesia billing.

Practice Locations

Location 1 — Primary Office (Columbia, MO) Address: 1 Hospital Dr, Columbia, MO 65212

Phone: (336) 716-2255

Location 2 — Secondary Office (Santa Fe, NM) Address: 2947 Rodeo Park Dr E, Santa Fe, NM 87505

Phone: Contact primary office at (336) 716-2255

Location 3 — Additional Office (Rio Rancho, NM) Address: 1740 Grande Blvd SE, Suite B, Rio Rancho, NM 87124

Phone: Contact primary office at (336) 716-2255

Hospital Affiliations

Dr. Valenzuela-Arellano holds admitting privileges at the following hospital:

• University Hospital — MU Health Care — Columbia, MO (Castle Connolly Top Hospital — Ranked for Cancer Surgery & 3 Additional Procedures; the academic medical center of the University of Missouri Health Care system, providing tertiary and quaternary care to patients throughout central Missouri and beyond)

Patient Reviews

Dr. Valenzuela-Arellano holds a perfect 5.0 out of 5.0 star overall patient rating based on verified patient reviews:

• 100% of patients found the doctor and staff friendly and the office clean and modern
• 100% of patients were satisfied with their wait time
• 100% of patients were satisfied with the doctor’s diagnosis and explanation of their condition