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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHEN SHOULD I CONSIDER A BLEPHAROPLASTY?
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN OCULOFACIAL PLASTIC SURGEON AND A GENERAL PLASTIC SURGEON?
WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE DR. STOUT?
WHY CHOOSE DR. STOUT, A CAUCASIAN DOCTOR, FOR ASIAN SPECIFIC PROCEDURES?
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT DURING MY CONSULTATION?
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT ON THE DAY OF MY LASER EYELID SURGERY?
WHAT KIND OF ANESTHESIA WILL BE ADMINISTERED FOR LASER EYELID REJUVENATION?
WHAT WILL RECOVERY FROM LASER EYELID SURGERY BE LIKE?
WHAT IS MY VISION LIKE AFTER THE PROCEDURE?
WHAT IS BLEPHAROPLASTY?
As we age many of us develop an older, sad, tired appearance. A blepharoplasty is a minor cosmetic outpatient procedure that is designed to restore the eyes to a more youthful, rested, happier, and engaged look. The eyes are the most expressive part of one’s face and a blepharoplasty can improve how you look and therefore how people perceive you.
WHEN SHOULD I CONSIDER A BLEPHAROPLASTY?
Our typical patients have been 50, plus or minus, 10 years of age. However, that range is extending out further as people live longer and are healthier. We are also finding increasingly younger patients as they suffer from inherited traits that, at an earlier age, make them look prematurely old. Some of these younger patients simply want to have bigger, more captivating eyes. We are now seeing patients in their 20s as well as in their 80s. The time to have a blepharoplasty is when a person begins to develop a sleepy, sad, tired appearance that doesn’t reflect how they feel and they still take pride in their appearance.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN OCULOFACIAL PLASTIC SURGEON AND A GENERAL PLASTIC SURGEON?
A General Plastic Surgeon spends their training studying surgical techniques for the entire body from head to toe. Oculofacial Surgeons focus all of their training studying the eyelids and the structures surrounding them. An Oculofacial Plastic Surgeon is a specialist plastic surgeon in the area of the eyes as opposed to a general plastic surgeon who does some of everything. We are fortunate to live in an age of specialization.
WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE DR. STOUT?
Factors to consider when choosing your doctor are training, experience, and talent. Dr. Stout received his Oculofacial Plastic Surgery Fellowship at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami. This has been ranked consistently by U.S. News & World Report as the number one training program in America.
Dr. Stout has performed over 15,000 eyelid procedures since his fellowship in 1985. He is on the teaching faculty as a full Adjunct Clinical Professor at the USC Keck School of Medicine. In terms of judging talent, you need to evaluate our “Before and After Gallery” to find people similar to you and look to see the results of their procedures. You will find that all of Dr. Stout’s patients have lost their sleepy, sad, tired appearance and that their “After Pictures” look rested, alert, and engaged. At the same time, if you cover the “Before Pictures” and looked only at the “After Pictures” even though there is a remarkable change, you would never guess that they had ever had a procedure because it looks so natural.
WHY CHOOSE DR. STOUT, A CAUCASIAN DOCTOR, FOR ASIAN SPECIFIC PROCEDURES?
Dr. Stout is an American trained Oculofacial plastic surgeon. While he has the best training in the world, many Asian patients might ask, how skilled is he at Asian anatomy and surgery?
Dr. Stout has practiced for over 30 years in the heart of one of the largest Asian communities in the United States. He has had several thousands of happy patients from around Los Angeles, including San Marino, Arcadia, Pasadena, Rowland Heights, Monterey Park, and the rest of California. People come from around the world because of his experience and artistic skills. He has patients coming from South Korea, China, Japan, Taipei, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia.
Dr. Stout has also traveled as a teaching professor in Seoul (considered as the plastic surgery capital of the world), Beijing, and Bangkok. He combines his 30 years of experience in Asian cosmetic surgery with meticulous technique and American laser technology to provide exceptional results. He understands not just anatomy and procedures but more importantly, the difference in ideas of beauty between different Asian ethnicities and cultures.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT DURING MY CONSULTATION?
At your consultation, Dr. Stout will listen to what the patient’s particular goals are. He will explain the anatomic features that have begun to make patients look sleepy, sad, and tired, and explain the different techniques that are available for helping with these issues. Dr. Stout views the consultation as an opportunity to educate his patients so when they leave, they have honest information to reflect upon, discuss with family and friends, and then make thoughtful informed decisions.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT ON THE DAY OF MY LASER EYELID SURGERY?
On the day of your procedure, expect to spend approximately two hours at our private, fully licensed, and comfortable ambulatory (outpatient) surgery center in Pasadena. Our surgery center is accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF).
WHAT KIND OF ANESTHESIA WILL BE ADMINISTERED FOR LASER EYELID REJUVENATION?
When performing laser eyelid surgery, Dr. Stout does not use general anesthesia. Rather, he uses local anesthesia with an intravenous sedation, placing patients in a twilight sleep. Patients are given just enough anesthesia to be comfortable and have a pleasant experience, but are not overly sedated.
During all blepharoplasty procedures, an anesthesiologist certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology administers sedation and monitors the patient carefully.
WHAT WILL RECOVERY FROM LASER EYELID SURGERY BE LIKE?
The recovery following laser blepharoplasty typically involves little or no pain.
In many cases, patients do not even need to take Tylenol as they recover from the procedure. After undergoing the procedure, it is recommended for patients to be a “couch potato” for the first week and telecommute if necessary. After the first week, patients may resume walking on a treadmill and equivalent exercises. After two weeks, most people return to routine exercises and activities.
The most common complaint during this phase is boredom. Its best to work on projects at your desk to pass the time. People take their post operative time at home to plan their next vacation or catch up on projects that they haven’t had the time for before. Many patients have fond this time to be quite productive.
WHAT IS MY VISION LIKE AFTER THE PROCEDURE?
Initially your vision is somewhat blurry from the swelling and use of antibiotic ointment. Soon your vision will improve and you should be able to read, watch television, and work on the computer.
WHEN CAN I TRAVEL AFTER THE SURGERY?
During the first week after surgery, we ask patients to refrain from traveling and stay within an appropriate driving distance from our clinic. Following that week, they are welcome to travel whether by car, airplane, or any other mode of transportation.
WILL DIETING AFFECT THE RESULTS OF MY SURGERY?
Bags are typically unaffected by weight gain or loss. You can’t diet bags away nor can you make them worse by overeating. Future weight loss or gain won’t affect the outcome of surgery.