A Different Kind of Cosmetic Surgery Testimonial

I frequently get thank you notes from patients, which I post to the “testimonials” page of my website. I am very happy to receive them. In many ways, they are more valuable than the fee I receive for my surgical procedures. It is extremely rewarding to learn from patients of their happiness, satisfaction or how something I have done has changed their lives.

A recent one has a little different character because it refers to the work by another doctor that left the patient unhappy. I am very reluctant to criticise another doctor. I know we all study hard and work hard to serve our patients. Nevertheless, as with any field of endeavor, some people are better at some aspects than others; they have more experience, have more specific training, or are more sensitive to a patient's needs. So there are bound to be differences in performance.

With that as background, here's what JT wrote to me about the results of her cosmetic surgery:

“I had an opthalmologist perform a blepharoplasty of both eyelids – complications followed, and then he did a brow lift on one eye causing a major disfigurement of my facial appearance. 

It was time to see a plastic surgeon and I chose Dr. Robert Brueck. His friendly smile, caring personality and reassurances of “I can help you” were comforting and confidence earning. Dr. Brueck did a corneal browlift, repeat blepharoplasty of both eyes and a fat graft injection into a scar. 

Dr. Brueck called me the evening after the surgery to see how I was!! One week after surgery, the results are dramatic. I am pleased with the entire office staff and I would highly recommend Dr. Brueck.”

The point I guess is to be certain that your surgeon is trained at the highest level to do what you want done. Be sure he or she understands you, what you want and your expectations. (This one of the major benefits of consultation and why I do them without charge.) 

I'll leave it at that except to say in good humor, “Please don't ask me to do your cataract surgery”.

Are your eyes the windows to your soul?

They definitely are the windows to your future.

If your upper lids get fleshy and hooded, you look tired, old and unenergetic. That can influence how people see you and what they expect from you.

Looking for a job? The younger-looking person has an advantage. Working for a promotion? What if all your boss sees when she looks in your eyes is an aging face.

So, eyelid surgery is growing in popularity. And the demand is being energized by real problems with patient vision. An ophthalmologist, who tests you for peripheral vision, may tell you that your ability to see and read will be affected by eyelids that obstruct vision and reduce the amount of light entering the lens of eye when you read.

When that happens, the doctor may prescribe eyelid surgery. And it may be covered largely by insurance (at least for now). The doctor may even have a surgeon in his office that can perform the surgery, and probably do a good job. Board certified plastic cosmetic surgeons, however, have very specific and stringent standards for surgical procedures.

Many people, who would not go to a cosmetic surgeon for an eye test seem to be unconcerned about having the eye doctor do eyelid surgery, also known as blepharoplasty. If the surgery is medically indicated, insurance also covers work by a cosmetic surgeon. If it is simply a cosmetic eyelift, insurance probably won't cover it. It may well be worth it, however, as a career investment.

This was all triggered by "thank you note" forwarded to me the other day:

"Though my ophthalmologist suggested that I have upper eyelid surgery, the decision to have the surgery was more difficult than the choice of surgeons. In choosing Dr. Brueck, I assumed I would experience excellent medical care delivered in a professional manner; my expectations were more than met.

The skills of the surgeon were never in doubt. but the courtesy and efficiency of the staff were a pleasant surprise. The pre-op and post-op instructions were communicated in a clear and understandable manner. The reminder calls regarding appointments were appreciated. The caring attention of Dr. Brueck's nurse was certainly notable.

I would recommend Dr. Brueck without any reservation to my family and friends. He will make a surgical experience as pleasant as possible."

Thank you for your attention

Another satisfied cosmetic surgery patient

I get these letters from time to time and they always please me. What more can a plastic surgeon ask for than a patient who is excited about the outcome of her surgery. It is the supreme reward of the work I do. 

"I would highly recommend Dr. Robert Brueck to anyone needing cosmetic surgery - I had two procedures done - eyelift & neck surgery. I am getting so many compliments now that It's Unreal - I look ten years younger and I really have a lot of confidence now that I had the procedures done - I look good, I feel better about myself and I love all the compliments I'm getting from all my friends. I love you, Dr. Brueck, for changing my life." - BM 12/17/2012

Thank you.

What your eyes say about you.

Eyelid surgery is  the third most popular cosmetic surgery. More than 147,500 procedures were performed last year,  The change in appearance can make you look more rested, refreshed and alert. One surgery can be used to have the upper eyelid, lower eye or both areas tightened. In many cases, droopiness in the upper eye can inhibit vision, while puffy bags in the lower eye create the appearance of constantly being tired or sad.

Those who undergo the procedure can expect to have incisions made to remove the loose skin surrounding the eye. As your plastic surgeon, I will determine the best technique and area to concentrate on to achieve the best outcome for you. (After all, every person has different eyes.). The incision for the upper eyelid is usually hidden in the crease or natural fold. On the lower eyelid, the incision is hidden right below the lash line. Your eyelashes can hide any scarring there. If the under-eye is dark or sagging due to loss of volume, I may suggest dermal fillers lasers or a different approach since the purpose of eyelid surgery is primarily to remove excess  skin and fat.

I perform this surgery on an outpatient basis in my licensed surgery center. Your eyesight will be blurry and compromised following surgery, so you should arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you for 24-hours. Stitches are usually removed within a week. But blurriness, swelling and bruising can last for up to several weeks depending on each patient. In some cases, eye drops and wearing sunglasses to protect from the sun and wind are advised while your eye  recover.

Eyelid surgery is relatively low-risk and patients are generally satisfied with a 77% worth it rating on RealSelf.com. The most important part of limiting risks and complications is to 

1) make sure you see a board-certified plastic surgeon who has experience with eyelid surgery 

2) follow all pre and postoperative instructions 

3) let your doctor and his staff know if you are having any problems. 

If you have heavy-set eyelids and/or bags under your eyes, this procedure might change the way others see you, and more importantly, how you see the world.

Options for facial rejuvenation

This is information from another communique from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, of which I am a member as a board-certified cosmetic surgeon. 


Options for Rejuvenating Your Face - Surgical solutions and non-surgical alternatives

When you go to your high school reunion, you don't want your classmates to squint at your name tag in confusion. You want them to instantly recognize you and think that you look well-rested and "good" for your age.  In the past there was only one way to rejuvenate your face: it took a scalpel, several weeks off from work and a nice chunk of change. Today, however, nonsurgical options that promise to turn back the clock are proliferating at a dizzying rate. 

Is it overwhelming to consider so many options on your own? Instead, schedule a free consultation with me or any board-certified plastic surgeon equipped with the latest and greatest nonsurgical innovations. 

Face-to-face with your doctor, you can be presented with procedures that offer the results you want. Both surgical and non-surgical options yield improvements but, as you may expect, the level of improvement will not be the same and the surgical option will yield more significant and more durable changes.

So you can go into your consultation with some knowledge, here is a "heads-up" (pun intended), from hairline to the base of the neck, about some surgical and non-surgical approaches to facial problems that occur with aging:

Drooping Forehead

Surgical: A forehead lift involves incisions in the hair-bearing scalp to rejuvenate the upper third of the face through lifting. 

Non-surgical: Botox is injected in the forehead to soften frown lines. Botox and fillers may be injected around brows to lift and add fullness.

Dark Circles, Eye Bags, Hooding of the Upper Eyelid

Surgical: Blepharoplasty removes fat deposits, excess tissue or muscle from the eyelids to improve the appearance of the eyes.

Non-surgical: Frown lines can be softened and Crow's feet minimized with injections of Botox or Dysport; three times a year in both areas will do the trick. When injected above the eyebrows, Botox or Dysport can also give a ten-degree lift to the arch and a slight lift to the tail. To get rid of under eye bags, a plastic surgeon or dermatologist can inject your own fat, which will last 2 years or more, or hyaluronic acid, which will last up to a year.

Sagging Cheeks

Surgical: With aging, the distance between the eyes and cheeks increases. In the midface lift, the malar fat pad overlying the upper cheek is lifted to its youthful position with either sutures or an absorbable implant, restoring a youthful, heart shaped face. 

Non-surgical: A doctor can restore high, full youthful cheeks using injectables such as Restylane, Radiesse, Juvederm or other fillers. Injected over the cheekbones or in depressions, fillers can add fullness to sunken or sagging cheeks for more than 18 months.

Droopy Nose

Surgical: With aging, the tip of the nose may drop down and inwards towards the face. The drooping tip may cause a slight hump on the bridge and appear to cover up part of the upper lip, especially when you smile. A rhinoplasty procedure rejuvenates the nasal tip, which is re-supported with a cartilage graft. An added bonus is that re-elevation of the tip can improve nasal air flow.

Non-surgical: If Botox is injected at the base of the nose by a skilled injector, slight nasal tip elevation may be achieved, resulting in a nose that stays turned upwards, rather than droopy - even with big smiles. If your nose droops when your face is static, Botox will not help. Injectable fillers such as Juvederm may be used for nose shaping/augmenting purposes in a non-surgical rhinoplasty. 

Thinning upper lip and droopy mouth

Surgical: With age, the upper lip lengthens, sags and thins. An upper lip lift shortens the lip by removing a small ellipse of skin under the nose-lip junction, creating fuller mucosal show. The corner lift, removing a small triangle of skin above the corners of the mouth, elevates a downturned mouth, making you appear happier.

Non-surgical: Volumizers, such as Juvederm Ultra Plus and Perlane, injected in the lips, can restore the ideal volume ratio of upper to lower lip, creating fuller plumped lips. "Smoker's" or "lipstick bleed" lines can be treated every six months with Botox to soften them and micro droplets of fillers to plump them.  Lips may also be injected with collagen or your own fat harvested from another site. Both liquid collagen and fat are absorbed, so repeat treatments are necessary to maintain results. Newer, longer-lasting options include implantable materials like AlloDerm and SoftForm.  

Sagging jawline, neck, prominent neck cords

Surgical: Many different varieties of facelift approaches smooth the face and neck skin, tighten the underlying tissues and muscle and remove excess skin. 

Non-surgical: To camouflage a sagging jawline, Juvederm or Restylane may be injected, lasting up to 18 months. Botox or Dysport, fillers and laser treatments can be used to reduce the appearance of neck cords. Fillers may be injected to smooth a pebbly chin. Fillers can be injected to reduce smile lines between the nose and mouth corners. Botox or Dysport injections can make neck cords recede. Neckline appearance can be softened with mini doses of hyaluronic acid fillers combined with Botox or Dysport.

Get the best results by finding a medical professional with the appropriate board certification. 

Be sure to ask how long and how often this doctor has been doing the procedure you desire. In a tough economy, nonsurgical facial rejuvenation seems to offer a cost-effective alternative for looking good. But, does it really? Ask your doctor how frequently you'll need to repeat the nonsurgical procedure. Then consider your age and do the math. You may find that a surgical procedure is more economical in the long run - or you may not. Some believe that fillers help skin regenerate natural collagen, and neuro-toxins like Botox help retrain your muscles so the face creases less. 

Final advice: schedule your surgical or non-surgical procedure far enough in advance of an important event, so that you are healed and look your best.  

PS: I am currently offering three special "non-surgical packages" for the Holiday Season:

Happy, Holiday Face Special  #1 -  25 units of Botox, one syringe of filler (Juvaderm or Restylene) and a regional peel, i.e., around the mouth or the eyes or even the forehead. $999.

Happy, Holiday Face Special # 2 - 40 units of Botox, two syringes of filler,and a regional peel . $1,400

Happy, Holiday Face Special #3 - 50 units of Botox, two syringes of filler and  a regional peel,  X2. $1,800

Call my office - 239-939-5233 - for more information or to set up an appointment. And put on a Happy, Holiday Face.