Dr. Tom Liu, MD

Training and board certification

Source for all rows: source

• Board certification: "board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery."
• Co-Medical Director of the Plastic and Breast Program at El Camino Hospital.
• Published in the Annals of Plastic Surgery and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; book chapters on microsurgery, breast reconstruction, facelift surgery and the economics of plastic surgery.
• Member, ASPS and ASAPS (surgeons page).
• Hospital affiliations: Good Samaritan Hospital, El Camino Hospital, California Pacific Medical Centers.

Eyelid surgery work

The practice's eyelid and brow pages refer to "Dr. Liu" and ask patients to book with Dr. Jerome Liu or Dr. Tom Liu.

• Upper blepharoplasty. Excess skin is removed to create a crisp crease and a more open eye; extra fat is removed at the same time if present. Upper eyelid surgery takes about 45 to 60 minutes and can be done in the office under local anesthesia, or with sedation by an anesthesiologist at an accredited surgery center (eyelid surgery).
• Lower blepharoplasty. The approach is tailored to the patient. In many cases an incision inside the lid is enough; in select cases a fine incision on the eyelid itself is used. For tear trough hollowing the surgeon may reposition fat, conservatively remove fat or smooth the lid-cheek transition. Combined upper and lower surgery takes about 90 minutes to 2 hours.
• Upper eyelid surgery and vision. The FAQ states excess upper lid skin can hang over the lash line and interfere with vision, and upper blepharoplasty may improve visual function.
• Asian double eyelid surgery. The crease is created by adjusting the eyelid anatomy, with extra fat removed. In select patients the crease is made with three or four sutures without a traditional incision. The consultation reviews taper versus parallel crease, pretarsal show, brow position, fat and any epicanthal fold. The operation takes about 60 to 90 minutes under local anesthesia, with optional sedation (Asian eyelid surgery).
• Brow lift. Options listed: mini-brow, endo-brow, temporal brow lift and coronal brow lift, with incisions at or behind the hairline. A mini-brow takes about 90 minutes under local anesthesia in the office; the other types are outpatient operations at an accredited facility with an anesthesiologist present (brow lift).

Galleries (cases are not credited to a named surgeon):

• Brow lift and upper blepharoplasty: 15 cases on the first page, with a second page (source).
• Lower blepharoplasty: 5 cases (source).
• Asian double eyelid: 9 cases (source).

The site has no separate page for ptosis repair, canthoplasty or revision eyelid surgery.

Other procedures

The practice lists facelift, ear surgery, lip enhancement and FaceTite, breast surgery including augmentation, lift, reduction and reconstruction, body contouring including tummy tuck, liposuction and mommy makeover, gender confirmation surgery, and a medspa with injectables, CoolSculpting, Morpheus8 and Ultherapy (source).

Insurance and cost

The eyelid, double eyelid and brow lift pages state no prices and say nothing about insurance or Medicare coverage. The FAQ page states a non-refundable consultation fee is charged for cosmetic evaluations and can be applied to surgery; visits classed as medical are billed to the insurance carrier (FAQs). The practice offers financing through PatientFi and accepts cash, cashier's check, debit and major credit cards (financing).

Recovery

• Patients go home the same day with a responsible adult for 24 hours; most feel very well by 2-3 days (eyelid surgery).
• Exercise: strenuous activity avoided for 1 week.
• Swelling and bruising: about 5 days after upper eyelid surgery; about 7 days after combined upper and lower surgery.
• Asian double eyelid and brow lift recovery: swelling and bruising usually last around 5 days (brow lift).