Training and board certification
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| College | Johns Hopkins University; neuroscience, graduated with honors |
| Medical school | Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; Honors and Distinction in Clinical Research |
| Residency | Integrated plastic surgery training begun at Case Western Reserve, completed at the Cleveland Clinic |
- In Cleveland his training focused on aesthetic plastic surgery of the face, breast and body, including facial and rhinoplasty surgery.
- The eyelid and brow pages name him as one of two "Board-Certified Plastic, Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgeons" at the practice; the site does not name the board (source).
- Over 30 scientific publications and book chapters and over 40 podium presentations, per his bio.
- During medical school he held a research fellowship in Papua New Guinea on a WHO-supported lymphatic filariasis trial and spent an added year with Operation Smile in Nicaragua; he continues to volunteer for Operation Smile.
- He was born in Sierra Vista and raised in Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico.
Eyelid surgery work
The blepharoplasty page covers upper and lower eyelids and states the surgery can improve functional eyelid problems as well as appearance (source).
- Upper blepharoplasty. A small incision in the natural eyelid crease; marked excess skin is removed, and the inner and middle fat pads are dissected and removed. Ptosis or looseness of the eyelid muscles is occasionally repaired at the same time.
- Lower blepharoplasty. An incision just below the lower lash line; the skin is lifted, the lower lid fat pads are removed, and excess skin is trimmed.
- Sutures are typically dissolvable. Each eyelid procedure takes about one hour, so upper and lower together take about two hours.
- Aftercare includes saline drops, a night ointment, antibiotic ointment on the incisions, icing and keeping the head elevated.
The eyelid gallery spans three pages of before-and-after cases from both plastic surgeons (source). Case 5403, a Sierra Vista patient with hooded upper lids, credits Marco Swanson, M.D. for an upper blepharoplasty (source). Other cases credit Dr. Jamie Moenster.
Other procedures
The brow lift page describes endoscopic brow lift through small hairline incisions, open coronal brow lift, browpexy through an eyelid incision, and direct brow lift above the brow hair (browlift). His bio also lists rhinoplasty, face and neck rejuvenation, otoplasty, lip rejuvenation, breast surgery, body contouring, reconstruction after Mohs, hand surgery and migraine surgery. The practice also offers dermatology and Mohs surgery.
Insurance and cost
The billing page states the practice participates in most insurance plans, including Medicare, and that some services may not be covered by Medicare or other insurers (source). The site publishes no eyelid surgery prices.
Recovery
- Bruising: most resolves around two weeks after surgery.
- Swelling: can take 6 to 8 weeks to resolve completely.
- Public: most people are out and about after one to two weeks without dark glasses or makeup.
- Exercise: wait 4 weeks before strenuous or head-down activities.
- Sutures: any permanent sutures are removed after one week.
- Final result: appears within several weeks; incision lines may take up to a year to fully heal.