Training and board certification
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| College | University of Miami, B.S. in Biology, minor in Chemistry, with honors (1994-1997) |
| Medical school | University of Miami School of Medicine, M.D. with research distinction (1997-2001) |
| Residency | General surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems, Richmond (2001-2003) |
| Research | Research fellow, Division of Surgical Oncology, VCU Health Systems (2003-2005) |
| Residency | Plastic surgery, VCU Medical Center/Medical College of Virginia (2005-2009) |
| Fellowship | Craniomaxillofacial and pediatric plastic surgery, Primary Children's Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah (2009-2010) |
- Board certification: "She earned her board certification from the American Board of Plastic Surgery." The CV lists the certification year as 2013.
- Joined Richmond Plastic Surgeons in 2011.
- Member of the Cleft and Craniofacial Team at St. Mary's.
- Memberships listed: American Society of Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Virginia Society of Plastic Surgeons, Richmond Pediatric Society.
- The bio lists the "Top Doctor Award in Richmond Magazine" in several years from 2019 to 2025.
Eyelid surgery work
- Blepharoplasty. The page describes reducing fat and extra skin of the upper and lower eyelids as an outpatient procedure, usually performed at the practice's surgery center under conscious sedation or general anesthesia. Surgery takes one to three hours; with all four eyelids, the upper lids are usually done first (source).
- Incisions follow the creases of the upper lids and run just below the lashes in the lower lids. For lower-lid fat pockets with no skin removal, the page describes a transconjunctival blepharoplasty, with the incision inside the lower eyelid.
- Eyelid surgery can be combined with a facelift or brow lift.
- Brow lift. The brow lift page describes an open technique, with an incision along a headphone line, and an endoscopic technique through four to five short scalp incisions (source).
Galleries:
- Blepharoplasty: before-and-after patient cases across two pages (source).
- Brow lift: before-and-after patient cases (source).
Gallery cases are not labeled by surgeon. The site has no page for ptosis repair, double eyelid surgery, canthoplasty or revision eyelid surgery.
Other procedures
The practice offers facelift, deep plane facelift, neck lift, rhinoplasty, chin and cheek augmentation, ear surgery and fat transfer, plus breast, body, hair restoration and medspa services. Dr. Aboutanos's bio lists pediatric plastic surgery, including cleft lip and palate, craniosynostosis, plagiocephaly, ear anomalies, skin lesions and vascular malformations (bio page).
Insurance and cost
- "While cosmetic blepharoplasty is an out-of-pocket expense, some cases of upper blepharoplasty may be covered by insurance" (source).
- "Insurance won't cover the cost of a brow lift"; a cost breakdown follows the consultation (source).
- The site publishes no price for eyelid surgery or brow lift. Financing is available through CareCredit.
Recovery
- Sutures out: two days to a week after surgery.
- Back to work: most people feel ready to go out in public and back to work in a week to 10 days.
- Bruising: peaks in the first week and generally lasts two weeks to a month.
- Exercise: avoid strenuous activities, bending, lifting and rigorous sports for about three weeks.
- Scars may remain slightly pink for six months or more, then fade to a thin white line.