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Question:

Could you please explain what a coronal brow lift is?

Answer:

A coronal browlift is a browlift that uses an incision that extends from the hairline just above your ear on one side, directly over the top of the scalp, to the hairline directly over the opposite ear. The coronal browlift used to be a very popular approach to elevation of the brow however, there were several side effects from the incision that most surgeons felt were not worth the approach to browlifting given the available alternatives. Prolonged numbness of the scalp and the inability to use the approach in male patients are two of the issues that have decreased the use of the coronal browlift approach.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question:

My mother has decided that she wants a brow lift. She typically jumps into things without ever thinking them through so I’d like to get some research together for her. Can you tell me what sort of recovery she’d be facing, and also any precautions that we’d need to take to ensure that she doesn’t get an overdone or surprised look.

Answer:

I have several patients who come to see me who sound very much like your mother. A browlift is a very good procedure when the eyebrows have descended to a point that you appear angry or tired all the time. The recovery for a browlift will depend in large part on the approach that is used to elevate the brow. If it is an open approach, it can take a little while for the incision to heal in the scalp. An endoscopic browlift requires smaller incisions but in both the endoscopic and open browlift approaches you can expect forehead swelling and tenderness for about a week. The best way to avoid an overdone or surprised look after your browlift is to make sure that your surgeon understands the look that you are trying to achieve. I would expect a bit of over correction of your eyebrows immediately following surgery, but, your brow will likely descend a few millimeters in a short period of time.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question:

I had eyelid surgery approximately two years ago, now I have small wrinkles under my eyes. Is this normal? And how can it be remedied?

Answer:

Small wrinkles that have appeared underneath your eyelids following blepharoplasty of your eyelids two years ago is not that unusual. It is likely that you are having normal aging of damaged eyelid skin. I would suggest a consultation to see if a mild chemical peel or laser of the lower lids would be helpful in this scenario. I would likely avoid further surgery to your lower lids unless there are findings that you have described that I am not aware of.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question:

How long is a typical blepharoplasty surgery?

Answer:

The time it takes to perform a blepharoplasty surgery will depend in large part on the complexity of your eyelids. An upper eyelid surgery generally takes less than an hour to perform. Lower eyelid surgery can take anywhere from 30 minutes for a minimal transconjunctival blepharoplasty, up to 1 1/2 hours if there is significant skin, muscle, fat, and eyelid laxity which needs to be addressed at the time of surgery.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question:

Will I be able to drive home after my eyelid surgery?

Answer:

You will not be able to drive home after your eyelid surgery for a few reasons. I use either a mild IV sedative or a deeper sedation when performing eyelid surgery, especially if the lower eyelids are being treated. You will not be permitted to drive after receiving any sedative medications at the time of surgery. The other reason is that even in the most uneventful blepharoplasty surgeries, you will still experience swelling of the eyelids that will preclude you from driving safely after your surgical procedure.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question:

What areas of the face can be treated with laser liposuction?

Answer:

Several areas of the face can be treated with laser liposuction. The area that is treated most often is the area beneath your chin and portions of the neck. The jowls and cheeks can also be treated with laser liposuction. The Slimlipo laser has two laser wavelengths which gives the laser an advantage in terms of surgical outcome over other laser liposuction technology. One wavelength targets fat for reduction and removal, and the other wavelength targets the collagen of the skin. The second wavelength tightens the skin after the fat has been melted and this is certainly an advantage in cases of mild to moderate facial skin laxity and excess facial fat.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question:

I have diabetes and I’m wondering if I can still undergo laser liposuction and if there are any additional risks.

Answer:

Although laser liposuction with the Slimlipo technology is extremely safe, there is always an increased risk of surgical complications such as infection or poor wound healing in patients with diabetes. In patients with a history of diabetes I tend to perform more conservative laser liposuction to insure a good surgical result, but, also a safe and complications free post operative course.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question:

Is laser liposuction ever used in the breasts in place of breast reduction?

Answer:

Although laser liposuction with the Slimlipo technology is extremely safe, there is always an increased risk of surgical complications such as infection or poor wound healing in patients with diabetes. In patients with a history of diabetes I tend to perform more conservative laser liposuction to insure a good surgical result, but, also a safe and complications free post operative course.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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