Training and board certification
Source for all rows: source
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| College | Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University |
| Medical school | Honors Program for Medical Education, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago; graduated 1998 |
| Residency | Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, five years, Northwestern Memorial Hospital |
| Residency | Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, three years, Northwestern Memorial Hospital |
| Fellowship | Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery, one year, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston |
- Board certification: "board certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery."
- Practicing plastic surgery in the Boston area since 2007.
- Director of Aesthetic Surgery, BIDMC; Chief of Plastic Surgery, BID-Needham Hospital; Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School; Executive Director, Harvard Surgical Program in Innovation (SPIN).
- Editor in Chief, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal; the home page states he is the 8th Editor-in-Chief in the journal's 80-year history (linplasticsurgery.com).
- Founding program director of the BIDMC-Harvard Plastic Surgery Residency Training Program; co-director of the Harvard Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Fellowship at BIDMC.
- Editor of textbooks including Aesthetic Atlas of the Head and Neck, Atlas of Body Contouring Procedures and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Pearls of Wisdom.
- The home page lists Boston Magazine "Top Doctor" recognition for 2017 to 2026.
Eyelid surgery work
- Blepharoplasty. Dr. Lin operates on one or both eyelids, removing excess skin and tightening the underlying support muscles; in most cases fat is repositioned or removed (source).
- Surgery takes 45 minutes to two hours, depending on whether upper, lower or both eyelids are treated.
- Upper eyelid. A small incision is made in the natural crease. Muscles are tightened as needed, fat is repositioned and excess skin is trimmed. Unless fat is abundant, it is reduced rather than removed, to avoid a hollow look.
- Lower eyelid. The incision is placed just below the lower eyelash or within the inside of the eyelid, depending on the patient's eyelid characteristics. Extra skin may be removed if it causes puffiness and wrinkling.
- Risks listed on the page include infection, bleeding, poor wound healing, dry eye, entropion, ectropion and problems closing an eyelid.
Galleries:
- Blepharoplasty (eyelift): 4 cases, including upper and combined upper and lower blepharoplasty (source).
- Upper eyelid blepharoplasty: 2 cases (source).
- Lower eyelid blepharoplasty: 2 cases (source).
The site has no separate page for ptosis repair, brow lift, canthoplasty or revision eyelid surgery.
Other procedures
Face procedures listed are facelift, neck lift, otoplasty, rhinoplasty and chin and cheek implants. The site also lists breast augmentation, reconstruction and reduction, body lift, liposuction, tummy tuck, BodyTite and FaceTite, BOTOX, dermal fillers and laser skin resurfacing (linplasticsurgery.com).
Insurance and cost
- The eyelid page states blepharoplasty is "deemed to be elective cosmetic surgery, and health insurance plans don't cover it." When severe upper eyelid sagging impinges on the field of vision, the procedure is deemed functional and may be covered (source).
- Cost depends on whether one or both eyelids are treated; an estimate is given after consultation. The site publishes no price.
- The FAQ states insurance covers non-cosmetic or reconstructive procedures but not cosmetic surgery (faqs).
Recovery
- Eyelids are covered with light gauze; patients receive lubricating eye drops and a cold compress.
- Soreness is managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.
- Stitches are removed at the Boston office at one week.
- Intermittent light swelling resolves in two or three weeks.