Training and board certification
Source for table rows: CV
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| College | Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; B.A. Psychology, minor Biology, 1989 |
| Medical school | Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio; M.D., 1994 |
| Internship | Department of Anesthesia, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 1994-1995 |
| Residency | General surgery, University of California San Francisco, 1995-2000 |
| Fellowship | Plastic and reconstructive surgery, UCSF, 2000-2002 |
| Additional training | Micro-fellowship in aesthetics and rhinoplasty with Ronald Gruber, MD, Oakland, 2002 |
- Board certification: the site describes him as "a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 22 years of experience" and does not name the board (psspecialists.com).
- The CV lists Chief, Division of Plastic Surgery, 2008-2012, and active staff at Marin General Hospital, with staff privileges at Novato Community Hospital and California Pacific Medical Center.
- Memberships listed on the CV: American Society of Plastic Surgeons and American College of Surgeons.
- He grew up on an island in Norway and moved to San Francisco for residency at UCSF (source). He co-founded the practice with Dr. Stanley Poulos, who is now retired.
Eyelid surgery work
- Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). The eyelid page names Dr. Hvistendahl and describes three types: upper (removal of excess skin that gives a hooded look), lower (removal of excess orbital fat beneath the lower lids), and quad (upper and lower in one appointment) (source).
- Upper eyelid incisions follow the fold of the upper lid; lower eyelid surgery uses small incisions inside the lower eyelid to remove fat through the conjunctiva.
- Surgery is done under local or general anesthesia and takes one to three hours, depending on whether both lids are treated. Protective plastic shields cover the eyes during surgery.
- The page states that removing droopy upper eyelid skin can improve the field of vision.
- Brow lift. The brow lift page describes small incisions in the hairline, lifting the brow to a higher position, and the option to sever the muscles that cause frown lines. It is offered alone or combined with blepharoplasty (source).
Galleries:
- Eyelid surgery: 36 before-and-after patient cases (source).
- Brow lift: one before-and-after patient case (source).
Other procedures
The practice also offers deep plane facelift, Quicklift, neck lift, facial fat transfer, rhinoplasty, chin and cheek implants and otoplasty, plus breast, body and reconstructive surgery. Its medspa offers injectables, fillers, laser treatments and skin care (psspecialists.com).
Insurance and cost
- The site publishes no eyelid surgery prices. Costs vary by procedure, and the surgeon provides a specific quote at consultation; financing plans and virtual consultations are available (source).
- Surgery center and anesthesia fees are included in the quoted cost of surgery (source).
- The site makes no statement about insurance or Medicare coverage for eyelid surgery.
Recovery
- Recovery from eyelid surgery takes 1-2 weeks; cold compresses and pain medication ease discomfort (source).
- Sutures: absorbable sutures heal on their own; non-absorbable sutures are removed after a week.
- Exercise: the practice gives specific instructions about when to resume exercise.
- Patients stop smoking for 6 weeks before and after surgery.
- Brow lift: external stitches are removed in about a week (source).