Training and board certification
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| College | East Tennessee State University, bachelor's degree, 1993 |
| Medical school | University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Memphis, 1997 |
| Residency (general surgery) | Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia |
| Residency (plastic surgery) | University of Tennessee |
- Board certified: American Board of Plastic Surgery.
- Fellow, American College of Surgeons (FACS).
- Member: American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), American Association for Hand Surgery (AAHS), Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (SESPRS).
- With Northeast Georgia Plastic Surgery since 2004.
Eyelid surgery work
The practice's eyelid surgery page (shared across its surgeons, not exclusive to Dr. Abell) describes:
- Upper eyelid surgery. Incision in the natural lid fold extended outward; removes excess skin, tissue and, in some cases, a portion of the orbicularis oculi muscle; closed with absorbable sutures, scar hidden in the natural crease. Many insurers cover it when criteria such as hooding are met, usually requiring a visual fields eye test from an ophthalmologist.
- Lower eyelid surgery. Incision along the lower lash line to remove excess fat and tissue. For patients with puffy lower lids and good skin tone, a transconjunctival blepharoplasty places the incision inside the lower eyelid. Injectables may be used to fill soft-tissue deficiency causing dark circles.
- Eyelid surgery is performed under general or local anesthesia with oral sedation, outpatient, taking about 1.5 to 2.5 hours for both upper and lower eyelids.
Other procedures
Dr. Abell's own areas of expertise, per his bio page, are body contouring, liposuction, facelift surgery, breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast lift, breast reconstruction, skin cancer reconstruction, post-weight-loss body contouring and hand surgery (source). The practice also offers brow lift, facelift, fat transfer, neck lift, otoplasty and rhinoplasty, plus non-surgical injectables and skin treatments (plasticsurgeryofgainesville.com).
Insurance and cost
Many insurance companies cover upper eyelid blepharoplasty when criteria such as hooding are met; a visual fields eye test from an ophthalmologist is usually required for approval (source). No dollar price figures are published.
Recovery
After surgery, the area around the eyes will be bruised and swollen; patients are told to apply ice packs, keep their heads elevated, and apply medicated eye ointment for a few days (source).