Ask the Facial Cosmetic Surgeon

Dr. Amiya Prasad is a renowned board-certified Oculofacial Plastic Surgeon practicing in Manhattan's Upper East Side and in Garden City, Long Island.  For the past 15 years, Dr. Prasad has been helping his patients achieve beautiful, natural-looking results with quick, virtually painless recoveries.   Dr. Prasad is a fellow of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and Chief of Oculoplastic Surgery at Winthrop University Hospital on Long Island.  He is often sought after by the media for his expertise in cosmetic surgery and has been featured in The New York Times, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, on News12, and in many other media.

We are proud to introduce Dr. Prasad's new bi-weekly column on facial cosmetic surgery.  Dr. Prasad will share with our readers the answers to the many e-mail inquiries he receives. If you have a question for Dr. Prasad, please contact him here. You can also call Dr. Prasad to schedule a complimentary consultation in either his Garden City, Long Island or Upper East Side Manhattan locations. 516.742.4636 or 212.265.8877

A personal note from Dr. Prasad: It's an amazing statistic, butanalysts are already predicting that over 55 million cosmetic surgical procedures will be performed by 2015, and almost four times the number of procedures are predicted for 2008 than were performed in 2005! As the world of cosmetic surgery continues to grow, I believe that there are a few basic fundamentals that will distinguish some practices from others.  First, a surgeon should never sacrifice quality for quantity.  You as the consumer, have the right to know, that on the day of your surgery, there is no-one in the world more important to the surgeon than you, and nothing more important than your result!  You need to feel extremely comfortable with you surgeon.  Realize that you are making a commitment that can and should change your life forever for the better.  So choose wisely, choose carefully, and reap the rewards of a rejuvenated new you.

Question from Karen in Seaford, NY:   My 26 year old son has thinning hair and he's self-conscious about it and concerned that by the time he's 40, he'll be bald.  However, he is afraid of getting hair restoration surgery.  Is there anything else he can do for his thinning hair?

Dr. Prasad:  Yes, there is a treatment that is very effective for men and women who are not bald, but have thinning hair.  The Sunetics 3L Therapy is the most advanced non-surgical solution for stimulating hair growth.  Simply by sitting under a device that looks somewhat like an old-fashioned hair dryer for about 20 minutes per week, my patients with thinning hair have noticed a huge improvement in the thickness, shine and length of their hair within a few months.  The first thing they notice is they have to get their hair cut more frequently!  I think the Sunetics 3L is one of the most exciting tools being added to the lineup of options in fighting hair loss.  It is perfect for a younger man, or for many women, who have thinning hair (but who are not bald).  Used regularly, it can also prevent future baldness.

Question from Sara in Brookville NY:  I want to look ten years younger before Thanksgiving, and it's my eyes that make me look old! They are a bit puffy, circles are getting darker, and my upper lids seem to be falling by the day.  When I was younger, I was always complimented on my eyes.  I would love to see my family this year and hear how young and good I look.  Please let me know what I should do. 

Dr. Prasad:  This is a common concern among many of my patients.   Most of us have an image in our mind's eye that, as we age, is not always reflected in the mirror.  Gravity, loose tissue, or fat deposits under the skin are the culprits behind tired eyes that can make you look perpetually bored, or worse, much older than you feel.  Fortunately, it is quite easy to get your beautiful eyes back.  You can rejuvenate your eyelids with a minimally invasive upper and lower eyelid procedure (called blepharoplasty).  I recommend that you have the procedure done sometime between now and mid-October in order to look perfect by Thanksgiving. You will see a dramatic improvement in your eyes, which will last for years.

Believe it or not, much of the darkness under your eyes may be caused by shadows cast from your under eye puffiness. A lower lid procedure can remove the fat under your skin that causes the puffiness. The darkness that can appear under the eyes is also caused by blood circulation underneath the skin. This condition can be exacerbated by exhaustion, illness, poor nutrition, irritation, and other factors. 

In addition to reducing puffiness, we can smooth out the fine lines under your skin.  The procedure is quick and easy to recover from and is done without general anesthesia.  It can take years off your appearance. 

Upper lids are generally treated with an upper lid procedure that removes the excess skin that is causing your lids to look droopy.  Incisions are hidden within the crease of the skin, fade away, and are not visible.

Question from Bea in Smithtown, NY:  I just got divorced and am interested in looking younger.  I'm 50 years old and my jowls are starting to fall.  But I am confused and nervous about what I should get done.  I've heard about your SmartLift procedure, the LifeStyle Lift, Face Lift, Thread Lift.  What's the difference?  What's the best?

Dr. Prasad:  You are quite right that there are many choices today and it can be confusing.  I believe that after a certain age, quick fixes like the Threadlift or the LifeStyle Lift, won't work.  In my opinion, the Smart Lift facelift or a traditional facelift are the only choices for men and women who are over 45 years old looking to get rid of their jowls and sagging neck.  My SmartLift Quick Recovery FaceLift has given countless patients a smooth neck, and an uplifted jaw line that is completely natural, without many of the potentially negative aspects of the traditional facelift.  The SmartLift is an actual facelift with some outstanding differences including local anesthesia with sedation (avoids the risks of general anesthesia), much smaller incisions, no need for drains,  and a one to two week healing period versus a four week period. 

Dr. Amiya Prasad is a renowned board-certified Oculofacial Plastic Surgeon practicing in Manhattan's Upper East Side and in Garden City, Long Island.  For the past 15 years, Dr. Prasad has been helping his patients achieve beautiful, natural-looking results with quick, virtually painless recoveries.   Dr. Prasad is a fellow of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and The American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and Chief of Oculoplastic & Reconstructive Surgery at Winthrop University Hospital on Long Island.  He is often sought after by the media for his expertise in cosmetic surgery and has been featured in The New York Times, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, on News12,CBS  and in many other media. Please contact Dr. Prasad, with any questions.  You can also call Dr. Prasad to schedule a complimentary consultation in either his Garden City, Long Island or Upper East Side Manhattan locations. 516.742.4636 or 212.265.8877.