Frequently Asked Questions about Asian Blepharoplasty

1. How do I contact Dr. Schiller's office?
2. How old do I have to be to have Asian blepharoplasty surgery?
3. Who is a good candidate for Asian blepharoplasty?
4. What about bags in my lower eyelids that make me look tired?
5. How soon can I have surgery?
6. How long do I need to stay?
7. When does the doctor see me again after surgery?
8. How long does surgery take?
9. Can I decide how the crease should look?
10. Will the result look natural?
11. What kind of doctor is Dr. Schiller?
12. How long has Dr. Schiller been doing this surgery? Does he have enough experience?
13. What is the difference between the suture technique and the laser technique?
14. Which technique is longer-lasting? Which one is best for me?
15. What is the advantage of the laser? Are there any risks from the laser?
16. Will there be visible scars?
17. What kind of anesthesia is used? Will there be pain?
18. What about after surgery?
19. When will I look ok to go out?
20. When can I go back to work?
21. When can I work out or play sports after surgery?
22. When can I wear contact lenses after surgery?
23. How safe is the surgery? Are there risks or complications?
24. What if I need a touch-up?
25. Is the result permanent?
26. Will my insurance pay for surgery?
27. My eyelids look different. Will they look the same after surgery?
28. Can you operate on only one eye if one eye already has a crease?
29. What if I already had surgery by another doctor and am not happy with the result?
30. Where is the surgery performed?
31. How much is the surgery? What kind of payment is expected?
32. Will Dr. Schiller do the surgery?

1. How do I contact Dr. Schiller's office?

Call toll-free 888-370-1001 for an appointment weekdays from 9-5 Eastern time. For general questions not answered below you can email to info@BeautifulEyes.com.

2. How old do I have to be to have Asian blepharoplasty surgery?

You must be 18 years old. If you are under 21 years old you may need your parent's consent. There is no limit for older patients.

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3. Who is a good candidate for Asian blepharoplasty?

If you have a single eyelid (no crease), low crease, asymmetric creases (different in each eye), double creases, or creases that come and go, then you could benefit from Asian blepharoplasty. Older patients with extra skin hanging over the crease or in front of the eye are also good candidates.

4. What about bags in my lower eyelids that make me look tired?

This is called lower blepharoplasty, and Dr. Schiller performs this very commonly. Generally the fat is removed with the laser through the inside of the eyelid, and the skin is not cut. The upper and lower eyelid surgery can be done together at the same time. For before-and after photos, click here.

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5. How soon can I have surgery?

We can usually schedule a visit and possible surgery within a few weeks of your call or email. Sometimes it can be sooner. For patients traveling from a distance we can arrange for surgery the same day that you have your examination by Dr. Schiller if you like.

6. How long do I need to stay?

You can be driven home that day if you are within driving distance, or can fly home the next day. You should not drive yourself. If there are stitches in the skin, they will dissolve by themselves.

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7. When does the doctor see me again after surgery?

We see local patients after one or two weeks, and again after a month or two. If you are from far away, and if all goes well, many patients do not need to be seen again. You can contact the doctor by phone or email, and Dr. Schiller will be available to see you in the office if necessary. There is no charge for visits after surgery. If stitches are placed in the skin, they will dissolve by themselves.

8. How long does surgery take?

Dr. Schiller spends about a half hour with you, using a mirror, discussing and drawing where you and Dr. Schiller think the crease should go. Then the surgery takes about an hour.

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9. Can I decide how the crease should look?

Dr. Schiller will show you how the crease can be created on your eyelid, and discuss with you where you would like it to be placed. The final decision is yours, together with what Dr. Schiller feels would work well with your own eyelid shape.

10. Will the result look natural?

Dr. Schiller's goal is that the result should look completely natural. As you can see from the pictures at www.BeautifulEyes.com , that is generally the result.

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11. What kind of doctor is Dr. Schiller?

Dr. Schiller is an eye plastic surgeon, specializing in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the eyelids, tear ducts, and orbit. Doctors in this specialty are uniquely qualified to perform delicate and precise surgery of the eyelids.

12. How long has Dr. Schiller been doing this surgery? Does he have enough experience?

Yes, Dr. Schiller has specialized in eye plastic surgery since 1990, and has performed thousands of cosmetic and reconstructive eyelid operations. He has operated on hundreds of Asian patients. He teaches eyelid plastic surgery to graduate surgeons, and lectures about eyelid surgery in America and internationally. He has taught eyelid plastic surgery and worked with leading plastic surgeons in Thailand, Japan, and the Philippines.

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13. What is the difference between the suture technique and the laser technique?

This can be confusing, because sutures (stitches) are used in both techniques. In the suture technique there is no cutting and no tissue removed. The sutures are passed in and out of the eyelid and are buried, and remain there permanently. There are no stitches outside on the skin. This is best in younger patients with thin eyelids with little fat.

The laser technique is like other Asian blepharoplasty cutting techniques, but the laser is used to cut. The skin is cut with a special radio frequency tool (to avoid scarring), and the CO₂ laser is then used to cut and remove a thin strip muscle and fat. Then two layers of stitches are used to make the crease and close the skin. The stitches on the skin dissolve by themselves after a week or 10 days.

14. Which technique is longer-lasting? Which one is best for me?

Some doctors feel that the suture technique might not be as long-lasting as the cutting technique. Other surgeons disagree. Dr. Schiller does not feel that there is much difference, and will suggest which technique he feels is best for your eyes when he examines you. The suture technique is only used in younger patients with thinner eyelids.

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15. What is the advantage of the laser? Are there any risks from the laser?

Dr. Schiller has used the CO₂ laser since 1992 and has lectured about lasers in cosmetic and reconstructive eyelid surgery at medical meetings. The laser allows a much more precise surgery, with less swelling and bruising. Only the deeper layers are cut with the laser, not the skin, to avoid any scarring. There is no risk from the laser, and Dr. Schiller feels that there are important benefits in precision and faster recovery.

16. Will there be visible scars?

Most of the time there is no visible scar after the healing is complete. With the laser/cutting technique, the skin is cut with a radio frequency device, to eliminate the chance that the laser could scar the skin. Then only the deeper layers are cut with the laser. The incision is hidden deep inside the crease. If you have a history of abnormal scarring, there are medications that can be used to help prevent excess scarring.

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17. What kind of anesthesia is used? Will there be pain?

An anesthetic cream is applied to the eyelids to numb the skin. Small injections are then given to make the deeper tissues numb. Generally there is no pain during surgery. If you are very nervous, you will be given a Valium pill to help you relax.

18. What about after surgery?

After surgery there is sometimes mild discomfort which can be relieved by Tylenol. You will be asked to use ice cold compresses on the eyelids for the day of surgery and the day after.

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19. When will I look ok to go out?

There is usually some swelling which gradually resolves after one to two weeks. There may be some bruising, but usually very little. Some patients heal faster, and a few take longer. Most patients look ok but a little swollen after one week, and fine after two weeks. The crease is high just after surgery, and gets lower as the swelling resolves. Dr. Schiller will show you pictures of what to expect after a week and two weeks. For a wedding or special occasion with photography, expect to wait four weeks.

20. When can I go back to work?

You can work within a few days if you do not mind looking a bit swollen and possibly bruised. If your appearance is important then you need at least two weeks off.

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21. When can I work out or play sports after surgery?

You should plan to take it easy and put ice on the eyelids for two days, and not work out or play sports for a week.

22. When can I wear contact lenses after surgery?

Generally you should stay out of contact lenses for a week after surgery.

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23. How safe is the surgery? Are there risks or complications?

All surgery has risks. The vast majority of these operations go perfectly well with excellent results and happy patients. The risk of bad results in this surgery is quite rare, but can include creases that do not form where they are planned, and can be too low or high, or not deep enough, or not exactly the same in both eyes. Any surgery has a risk of bleeding and infection. These are very rare in this surgery. Scars can heal abnormally and be visible. All of these are quite rare, and there are other complications are even less common. For some of these complications, a touch-up procedure might be necessary for correction. Dr. Schiller will discuss any possible risks with you before surgery is done, and answer all of your questions.

24. What if I need a touch-up?

It is very rare that a second operation is necessary. Rarely, the crease needs to be deepened or lengthened. In that case, there may be a fee for the operating room. There is no charge for Dr. Schiller to perform any touch-up surgery.

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25. Is the result permanent?

The goal is to create a permanent crease. Of course with aging, the skin gets looser and can hang down. But the crease generally is permanent.

26. Will my insurance pay for surgery?

In some older patients when the eyelid skin blocks the vision, some insurance plans will cover the surgery. Most of these operations are cosmetic and are not covered by insurance.

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27. My eyelids look different. Will they look the same after surgery?

Most patients' eyelids are a bit different. The goal is that they look exactly the same, and that is generally the result.

28. Can you operate on only one eye if one eye already has a crease?

Sometimes it is easier to match the eyelids if both are operated. You must be examined before Dr. Schiller can answer this question for you.

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29. What if I already had surgery by another doctor and am not happy with the result?

Every case is different and Dr. Schiller would need to examine you decide if any more surgery is necessary. In general, a crease that is too low can be raised, but a high crease can be difficult to lower. You need to wait three to six months after the first surgery to heal before another operation can be performed.

30. Where is the surgery performed?

The surgery is at our offices or at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, at 2^nd Avenue and 14^th St. in Manhattan.

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31. How much is the surgery? What kind of payment is expected?

Surgery is between $2000 and $3000 including the operating room fee, depending on what needs to be done. For most patients the charge is about $2500 complete. Payment can be by check, cash, or credit card, and a finance plan is also available.

32. Will Dr. Schiller do the surgery?

Yes. Dr. Schiller will meet with you, examine you, discuss where you want the crease, show you how you might look after surgery, discuss all the possible complications, answer all of your questions, and perform the surgery.

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