Training and board certification
Source for all rows: source
| Year | Stage | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | College | BS in Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles |
| 1989 | Medical school | MD, UCLA School of Medicine |
| 1993 | Residency | General Surgery, University of California-SF, East Bay |
| 1994 | Fellowship | Plastic Surgery Research, University of Southern California |
| 1995 | Fellowship | Microsurgery and Hand Surgery, University of Pittsburgh |
| 1997 | Fellowship | Plastic, Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Lahey-Hitchcock Clinic, MA |
- Board certification as printed: "Diplomat of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Inc."
- Fellow, American College of Surgeons; member, American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Society of Laser Medicine & Surgery and The Wound Healing Society.
- Hospital privileges: Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center and Encino Hospital.
- Co-author of a 1998 Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery paper on skin tightening with the Ultrapulse CO2 laser.
Eyelid surgery work
- Upper blepharoplasty. The incision is marked in the natural eyelid crease, about 7 to 10 mm above the lashes. Excess skin and orbicularis oculi muscle are trimmed and protruding fat is removed or remodeled. A ptotic lacrimal gland is repositioned when indicated.
- Lower blepharoplasty. Two approaches: a transconjunctival incision inside the lid, for younger patients with fat bags and no excess skin, and a transcutaneous subciliary incision below the lashes, which allows skin re-draping and access for a mid-face lift or SOOF lift.
- Transposition blepharoplasty. Lower eyelid fat is moved over the orbital rim to prevent hollowness, combined with canthopexy to tighten the lower lid.
- Canthopexy and ectropion. Lateral canthopexy, lateral tarsal strip re-suspension, and skin grafts or flaps for lower lid skin deficiency.
- Ptosis repair. The levator tendon is repaired or shortened; in severe cases a sling is used.
- Asian double eyelid surgery. An incisional crease is created by fixing the levator aponeurosis to the tarsal plate; the page also describes non-incisional suture methods and epicanthoplasty.
- Brow. Trans-palpebral browpexy and corrugator muscle excision through the upper lid incision. The brow lift page describes endoscopic, trans-palpebral and direct skin excision brow lifts and thread lift (source).
- Surgery takes under an hour for upper or lower lids alone and one to two hours for both, under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia.
Galleries: eyelid before and after (31 patient cases) and Asian eyelid surgery before and after (8 patient cases).
Other procedures
The site lists facelift, mid-facelift, neck lift, rhinoplasty, otoplasty, facial implants and fat grafting, plus breast, body contouring, male procedures and a skin care spa (beautifulself.com).
Insurance and cost
- Upper eyelid surgery "may be covered only in few cases" when excess skin and fat block peripheral vision; coverage requires testing by an ophthalmologist and insurer pre-approval. Any cosmetic aspect is not covered (source).
- Financing: CareCredit, with PatientFi, Alphaeon Credit and Prosper also listed (financing). The site publishes no eyelid prices.
Recovery
- Back to work: within 3 to 7 days.
- Exercise: no heavy lifting, frequent bending or jogging for the first two weeks; no public pool, Jacuzzi or ocean for at least 4 weeks.
- Bruising: eyelids look bruised and swollen for about a week.
- Swelling: most resolves in the first two months; some may last up to one year.
- Contact lenses: not worn for about two weeks.