How to Find the Right Eyelid Surgeon
It’s safe to say that most cosmetic surgeons have a few favorite procedures, and many will not tell you what they are. We’re not reluctant to reveal that in our practice in New York, eyelid surgery is one of our favorites. We’ve performed hundreds and hundreds of blepharoplasties—the medical term—or eyelid tucks as we sometimes call them, and lower eyelid surgery too. Our team really enjoys delivering the rejuvenation power of this procedure, and if it doesn’t sound too boastful, we feel we’re pretty good at it.
We invite you to come see us in New York if eyelid surgery is in your future. If having cosmetic surgery in Manhattan won’t work, we’d like to advise you to find a plastic surgeon with similar expertise and enthusiasm for blepharoplasty. While the operation is generally very safe, since you’ll be putting your lids in the hands of someone with a scalpel, the stakes are high.
So, how will you know when you’ve found a good surgeon to work with?
Beyond the Basics
Of course, you will research your cosmetic surgeon candidates by visiting their website, and you’ll make sure any you consider are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. You’ll also figure out about how many years of successful practice they have, and perhaps you’ll go to your state’s medical board site to see if the doctors have any complaints against them.
Give your cosmetic surgeons’ online information on eyelid lifts a careful read. Do they talk about the subject briefly and in an offhand manner? Or do they do a deeper dive on the procedure and give you more information than you had before? As an example, we discuss the subtle differences between eyelid surgery for male and female patients, and we suggest other ways to enhance the upper face instead of or in addition to blepharoplasty. You can read about our approach here.
Evidence of Satisfied Patients
It can be reassuring to find evidence that your potential plastic surgeon has many patients who are satisfied with their eyelid surgery. One New York patient of ours, a Broadway actress, tells her story here. You can also read about our friend and patient Moira, who was pleased with her eyelid surgery and opted to have more “work done” a few years later.
Any plastic surgeon you’re considering should be able to refer you to a patient to chat with about their experience. We are happy to do that for men and women who are thinking about having eyelid surgery with us in New York.
Use the Consultation Wisely
Armed with what you’ve been able to discover about your plastic surgeon candidates, prepare to get the most out of each consultation you schedule. Make a list of questions and don’t be afraid to ask them. Find out how many lower and upper eyelid surgeries each surgeon does annually, and ask about the percentages of men and women patients. You should also ask about the possibility of complications, and whether the doctors you’re considering have ever had a patient whose surgery did not go well.
Also, talk with the surgeons you visit about how many patients they decline to operate on and why. Listen for examples like our actress patient Claire who thought she might need more surgery than she actually did—in other words, test whether your plastic surgeons will pass up the chance to operate when the patient won’t realize much benefit.
Finally, ask about your responsibilities. We always insist that our blepharoplasty patients see their eye doctor before surgery to rule out conditions like glaucoma—the plastic surgeon you choose should do that too.
What’s the Answer?
So, do we enjoy performing eyelid surgery so much because we’re adept at it, or are we skilled because we enjoy it so much? Perhaps the answer is yes, and yes! We hope you might consider working with us even if you don’t live nearby. This is one procedure with a relatively smooth recovery, and a few days after blepharoplasty in New York you will be able to enjoy the Big Apple. Contact us and let’s discuss the possibilities.
