Welcome to my blog!

Welcome to my blog! My goal here is to get more personal – and simply share stuff with my friends, family, and patients!  You can expect some posts on the latest advances in cosmetic surgery (although it seems like there’ll be a fair amount of music-related posts – they’re too much fun to make!) I also expect that we’ll have more contests and free stuff, special events and even very special guests!

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How soon can I travel after eyelid surgery?

December 4, 2022

Flying after eyelid surgery is usually all right as long as it’s not immediately following the blepharoplasty procedure. We will help with understanding the best way to approach this topic and then provide a few answers to other common questions patients have following eyelid surgery. Can I Travel After Eyelid Surgery? The reality of the situation is that some patients travel to see their surgeon of choice. Local patients often have busy personal and work schedules that must be adhered to after surgery. In either case, there are important points to consider before getting on a plane.  In most cases, it’s probably all right to fly two weeks after eyelid surgery. By this time, the sutures have been removed and bruising or discoloration has lessened. The sutures are usually out within a week and most patients notice less discoloration within the first 10 days. Since the eyelid might still be swollen a bit after 2 weeks, it’s wise to fly only if the flight is on the shorter side. A longer flight leaves the patient open to dry eyes. Whether the flight is short or long, bring along an artificial tear treatment.  Of course, it’s always better if the patient [...]

How long after eyelid surgery can I resume exercising?

December 4, 2022

One of the common questions asked about eyelid surgery  is when can I exercise again?  Some patients use a more rigorous regime and wonder about the best waiting period.  With the doctor's guidance,  a patient’s workout schedule can be resumed in phases. Pre-Operative Steps Before scheduling blepharoplasty, it’s important to meet with the chosen surgeon to go over: Medical history: The surgeon will ask questions about previous surgical treatments and present or past conditions, such as dry eyes, glaucoma, allergic reactions, circulatory issues, thyroid issues and diabetes. The physician will likewise ask about any use of medications, vitamins, organic supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drugs. Our expectations: A truthful conversation about surgical treatment will help set the stage for a satisfactory outcome. The surgeon will talk about whether the treatment is most likely to work well or not. Before our eyelid surgical treatment, we'll undergo: A physical examination: Our cosmetic surgeon will conduct a physical exam. This exam might include checking our tear production and measuring parts of our eyelids. A vision examination: Our eye doctor will analyze our eyes and evaluate our vision, including our peripheral vision. This is needed to support an insurance claim. Eyelid photography: Our eyes will [...]

Is it safe to wear contact lenses after eyelid surgery?

December 4, 2022

How Long Does it Usually Take? After blepharoplasty, we need to wait a few weeks before using contacts again. The majority of plastic surgeons advise waiting 3-4 weeks. However, everything depends upon several elements.   The best decision is to wait until our eyes are totally recovered. This, of course, will differ from patient to patient. Some medical professionals tell clients that it’s okay to start wearing them as soon as 10 days after eyelid surgery. When you are able to return to wearing contact lenses, it’s best to pull up on the upper eyelid rather than pulling down on the lower one. The doctor will show the patient exactly how to do it. Using care and placing the contact lens properly is one small preventative measure that should be made to make sure recovery continues properly. Other Preventative Measures It might make it more difficult to put in contact lenses if the patient experiences more than normal swelling after the blepharoplasty procedure. The swelling might make it challenging and unpleasant. If this is the case, hold off on using the contacts until the swelling goes down further. There’s no reason to rush this issue and cause any complications. Another thing [...]

How Long Does Eyelid Surgery Take?

March 4, 2020

When we ask how long does blepharoplasty surgery take, we should think about not only the time-frame for the actual surgery, but also the recovery process. Many eyelid surgeons agree that a normal procedure takes somewhere in the area of 1 - 3 hours to complete. depending on the specific procedure.  However, the speed of the surgical procedure isn’t the only consideration when choosing a surgeon. The aspect that’s most important is doing careful work and not having such a crowded surgical schedule that care is compromised. This is an aspect of the selection process all patients should think through when choosing a blepharoplasty surgeon. It’s far better to find a surgeon who concentrates on quality work and not on the clock and the next procedure on the schedule. When choosing a surgeon, patients need to find one that doesn’t think eyelid surgery is simply a matter of cutting out fat and skin. Some doctors are excellent overall cosmetic surgeons but not experts in eyelid surgery. Tiny details are important to consider. An example is when it must be determined whether to remove only the skin or the underlying muscle and the skin when performing a skin incision. If a [...]
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Eyelid Surgery: Is it for You? – Medical Minute

August 2, 2019

Do you have heavy eyelids or bags under your eyes that don't go away? Listen to Dr. Weiss in this Eyelid Surgery Medical Minute as he explains if you are a good candidate for eyelid surgery!   Related Posts: A Complete Look at Upper Eyelid Surgery (Blepharoplasty) Ask Dr. Weiss: Local vs. General Anesthesia Before you get eyelid surgery, get tested for dry eyes! New Music Post: Boogie Woogie on St. Louis Blues
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The Gift of Sight

May 13, 2019

The Gift of Sight Written by Richard Weiss, M.D. for the “Chicken Soup” series, “Chicken Soup for the Traveler’s Soul” I will never forget the look on Stevie Wonder’s face.  In appreciation of Stevie lending his name to our One World Sight Project, an effort to cure world blindness, I was giving him a small token of our thanks.  There is a blind sculpture garden in the Picasso museum in the south of France that publishes a book that recreates some of Picasso greatest works in relief for the vision impaired.  The book is stark white, resembling the Beatles’ white album, and after several pages in Braille, there followed 15-20 embossed Picasso artworks. Because Stevie had always been blind, I was not sure that he would be able to recognize and appreciate drawings and symbols, a skill sometimes absent in people visually impaired from birth.  I held my breath as I placed his hands on the book and he began to turn the pages, closely examining each one. “Wait a minute, let’s go back a few pages,” he exclaimed. The expression on his face at the sudden recognition of one of the previous pages was to me worth all of [...]