Training and board certification
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Medical school | Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, 1989 |
| Internship | Charity Hospital of New Orleans, LA, 1990 |
| Residency | Ophthalmology, Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital, New York, NY, 1993 |
| Fellowship | Oculoplastic surgery, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, 1994, with Drs. Frank Nesi and Geoffrey Gladstone |
- Board certified, American Board of Ophthalmology, 1994.
- Fellow: American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS), American College of Surgeons, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery.
- Clinical Lecturer, University of Arizona School of Medicine; Adjunct Professor, Arizona State University; Clinical Assistant Professor, Tulane University School of Medicine.
- In private practice since 1994; moved to Arizona in 1997. Site states he has performed over 30,000 major surgical procedures.
Eyelid surgery work
Procedure pages describe the practice's shared service (Dr. Chen and his partner, Dr. Austin Pharo), not Dr. Chen individually.
- Upper lid blepharoplasty. Removes excess skin and fat from the upper lid; incision within the natural eyelid crease; 30-60 minutes under local anesthesia with sedation; about 2 weeks of expected bruising/swelling, up to 3 months for the lid to reach its final position (source).
- Ptosis (blepharoptosis) repair. Anterior incision with muscle tightening, a posterior/conjunctival approach with no visible incision, or a frontalis sling for severe/congenital cases (same page).
- Lower lid blepharoplasty. Transconjunctival approach to access herniated orbital fat; excess/loose skin trimmed or tightened with CO2 laser; canthopexy or canthoplasty added if needed to reinforce the outer corner of the eye; 1-2 hours, local anesthesia with sedation or general; 2-3 weeks recovery (source).
- Festoon correction. Laser resurfacing, skin excision, mini-midface lift, or direct excision, often combined with lower lid blepharoplasty (same page).
- Brow/forehead lift. Endoscopic technique (1-1.5 inch incisions behind the hairline) or pretrichial (hairline) approach; 1-2 hours, local with sedation or general anesthesia; results typically last 10-15 years (eyebrows).
- Ectropion and entropion repair. 30-60 minutes, local anesthesia with sedation or general; described as performed "thousands" of times by Drs. Chen and Pharo (source).
The practice site has no before-and-after photo gallery page.
Other procedures
Eyelid tumor removal and Mohs reconstruction, orbital trauma repair, orbital inflammation/tumor treatment, tear duct (lacrimal) surgery, eye removal surgery, and non-surgical cosmetic treatments (site navigation).
Insurance and cost
- Upper lid blepharoplasty/ptosis repair: "covered by most insurance plans" if photo documentation and visual field testing show reduced peripheral vision; otherwise elective/cosmetic (source).
- Lower lid blepharoplasty: insurance coverage listed as "Not covered" (source).
- Brow/forehead lift: insurance coverage listed as "Not covered" (eyebrows).
- Ectropion/entropion repair: insurance coverage listed as "Covered" (source).
No prices are published.
Recovery
- Swelling. Upper lid blepharoplasty/ptosis repair: expect at least 2 weeks of bruising and swelling (source).
- Final result. Upper lid surgery: can take up to 3 months for the eyelid to reach its final position (same page).
- Swelling. Lower lid blepharoplasty: 2-3 weeks recovery (source).
- Swelling. Brow/forehead lift: expect at least 2 weeks of bruising and swelling (eyebrows).
- Final result. Brow/forehead lift results typically last 10-15 years (same page).
- Back to work. Ectropion/entropion repair: typically clear to return to normal activity after 2 weeks (source).