Training and board certification
Source for all rows: source
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| College | Cornell University, Nutritional Science |
| Medical school | Chicago Medical School, graduated with honors |
| Residency | Ophthalmology, North Shore/Long Island Jewish Health System, New York; Chief Resident in his final year |
| Fellowship | Double fellowship track in cosmetic and reconstructive oculofacial plastic surgery: The University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston and Ophthalmic Plastic Surgeons of Texas |
- Board certification: "Board Certified by the ABMS member American Board of Ophthalmology"; second certification with "the American Board of Laser Surgery in Oculofacial Plastic Surgery and Cosmetic Laser Surgery" (February 2011).
- Fellow of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery; Active Member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology; Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Eyelid surgery work
- Upper blepharoplasty. About one hour; the incision is hidden in the upper eyelid fold. It is done in an outpatient surgery center under IV twilight sedation or in the Aventura office with local anesthesia and a light oral sedative. Dr. Lewen may use the CO2 laser for the surgery. A dilated eye exam within six months is required before surgery (source).
- Lower blepharoplasty. About two hours, under IV twilight sedation or light general anesthesia. The approach is transconjunctival (inside the eyelid, for fat), transcutaneous (outer corner and beneath the lashes, for muscle, lid tightening and skin) or both. Fat pockets are sculpted and repositioned, and fat transfer from the abdomen or thighs can be added (source).
- Ptosis repair. Three approaches are described: internal shortening of the muscle on the inside of the lid with absorbable sutures and no skin incision; external levator advancement through the lid crease; and a sling with graft material to the forehead muscle for congenital or poorly functioning muscle (source).
- Canthoplasty and canthopexy. Repositioning or tightening of the lateral canthal tendon at the outer corner of the eye, often with lower blepharoplasty (canthoplasty).
- Revision eyelid surgery. The site states a major part of the practice is revision cases, including overcorrection, lid crease problems, lower lid retraction and ectropion (source).
- Brow lift. Direct, endoscopic, temporal and trichophytic (open) techniques (source).
- Other eyelid pages: ectropion and entropion repair, xanthelasma removal, eyelid lumps, Asian eyelid crease surgery and eyelid surgery for men.
Galleries (source): blepharoplasty 35 cases, lower blepharoplasty 52, quad blepharoplasty 7, brow lift 17, ptosis repair 16, Asian eyelid 5, lid retraction repair 6, revision surgery 6.
Other procedures
Facial fat transfer, midface lift, reconstruction after Mohs surgery, scar revision, fillers and hyaluronidase, CO2 laser resurfacing, Morpheus8 and other skin treatments (lewencosmetic.com).
Insurance and cost
- "Dr. Lewen is not currently accepting new insurance patients." Cosmetic surgery is never covered by health insurance; repair of a complication from prior cosmetic surgery is not covered by most plans (source).
- Published prices, excluding anesthesia and facility fees (pricing):
| Item | Price as printed |
|---|---|
| In-office consultation | $400 |
| Revision consultation | $650 |
| Upper blepharoplasty | starting at $10,000 |
| Lower blepharoplasty | starting at $14,000 |
| Quad blepharoplasty | starting at $24,000 |
| Brow contour/lift | starting at $9,000 |
| Ptosis repair | starting at $7,500 |
| Xanthelasma | starting at $3,000 |
Recovery
- Sutures out: upper lid stitches are usually removed about one week after surgery (source).
- Bruising and swelling: about one to two weeks for upper lids and two to three weeks for lower lids (source).
- Exercise: no strenuous activity for about 2 to 3 weeks.
- Contact lenses: none for about two to three weeks.
- Final result: lower lid appearance improves over the following couple of months.