Training and board certification
- Board certification as printed on the eyelid pages: "double board certified in Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery" (blepharoplasty).
- The brow lift FAQ states he "is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery" (source). The two statements differ.
- Residency training at Walter Reed Army Medical Center; Army veteran.
- Practicing facial plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgery in Washington DC and Maryland since 1998.
- Serves on the written board review committee and as an oral board examiner for the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (source).
- Credential printed as "Philip S. Schoenfeld, M.D., F.A.C.S."
- Volunteer work listed: the Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery Face to Face program for survivors of domestic violence, and Project Access.
The site does not name his medical school.
Eyelid surgery work
- Blepharoplasty. Performed under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation, or general anesthesia when combined with other procedures. The page states the term "eyelid lift" is a misnomer because no lifting is done (blepharoplasty).
- Upper lid. The incision sits in the eyelid crease, about 1 cm above the lash line. Excess skin, displaced fat and sometimes muscle are removed. Upper eyelid surgery can be done under local anesthetic alone, with oral or IV sedation as options. Each lid is marked separately to check symmetry, and no bandages are placed (source).
- Lower lid. Two approaches: transconjunctival, through the back of the lower lid, for patients with more fat than skin; and a skin approach, with an incision just below the lash line. The surgeon may add or remove fat, remove skin or muscle, and decide whether to tighten the lid with a canthopexy or canthoplasty to prevent malposition or ectropion (source). The main page states he developed a technique that repositions the lower lid fat pad rather than removing it all, to avoid a hollow look.
- Patients listed as not candidates for lower lid surgery include those with uncontrolled dry eye syndrome or active thyroid ophthalmopathy.
- Brow lift. Coronal brow lift through an ear-to-ear incision in the hairline, or endoscopic brow lift through small scalp incisions, under IV or twilight anesthesia, about one to three hours (source).
Galleries: blepharoplasty before-and-after photos span four pages of patient cases (source); the brow lift gallery shows one case (source). The site has no ptosis repair or double eyelid page.
Other procedures
The site offers rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty, deep plane facelift, mini facelift, revision facelift, neck lift, buccal fat removal, chin augmentation, lip lift, Botox, fillers, thread lift, lasers and NeoGraft hair restoration (source).
Insurance and cost
- The home page FAQ states health insurance "won't be helpful in cosmetic procedures"; payment plans are discussed (source).
- Upper blepharoplasty: "generally upto $6,000" (source).
- Brow lift: "anywhere from $6,500 and beyond" (source).
- The lower lid page cites the American Society of Plastic Surgeons national estimate of just over $6,500, excluding facility, anesthesia and other costs.
Recovery
- Patients feel well in less than a week; it may be two weeks before they are presentable at work (blepharoplasty).
- Makeup can cover bruising one week after surgery. Arnica gel and ice are applied right after surgery.
- Lower lid: cold compresses for two days, then warm compresses; follow-up visit about one week after surgery (source).
- Upper lid: patients are usually completely healed within two weeks (source).