Got last minute notice today that a segment that I taped for The Today Show was about to air. This is a piece that features a friend (and patient) named Leslie Adler.

Take a look at this interesting piece that explores honesty in relationships and how much information we exchange with our partners versus keeping some information personal. Here, Leslie takes a day to go shopping and get a little Botox. She takes the position (as many of us do) that there is nothing wrong with avoiding the days’ events when it comes to her spouse.

Here’s the clip. What do you think? In my line of work I see many couples who do not share their visits to my office with one another, and incidentally, those are “secrets” that stay in the confines of the Doctor/Patient relationship. As I state in the segment, there have been instances when I see one spouse in the morning and the other in the afternoon and both ask me to keep their visits in confidence….a favor I will of course honor without even being asked.

Certain subjects like cosmetic injections, plastic surgery and a day of shopping are ones that people view differently. Sneaking new clothing items into the house may be more difficult than smuggling in your newly injected  Juvederm.

As far as your visits to your favorite boutique, I will leave that to you, but you can rest assured….your visits to Schlessinger Eye & Face are a secret that is safe with me!

Oh, and for the record, I am an Ophthalmologist specializing in Oculoplastic & Aesthetic Eyelid Surgery, NOT a Dermatologist as stated in the segment.

If you are interested in learning more about the exciting cosmetic injectable procedures BOTOX Cosmetic® & Juvéderm™ or if you want to learn more about how to enhance your overall cosmetic appearance, then my November 11th Seminar is for you….

BOTOX Cosmetic®, Juvéderm™ performed in the office - LIVE.

You can schedule an appointment for same-day Botox/Juvederm (if available) at substantial savings of 25%!!

Please call 516-496-2122. Seminar hours are 10:00am - Noon and breakfast is on me!

Hope to see you there!

Here I’m featured in a segment for FOX5 (aired Wednesday, October 28, 2008) about the health hazards of wearing contact lenses without a prescription.

David A. Schlessinger, M.D. appears on Fox 5

Today there was a piece in the New York Post in the “Pulse” section all about Bunny Lines. I love when a new phrase is coined by the media in an effort to identify a supposed condition or malady.

What are Bunny Lines you ask? Great question. In lay terms, they are the fine lines that begin to form around the area between the top (bridge) of your nose and the inner corners of your eyes. They are, in truth - present in many women, regardless of their experience with cosmetic injectable use using products such as Botox or Restalyne.

The presence of Bunny Lines should not be alarming to you if you suspect you have them. They are common and so easy to treat, but as I always say - each patient is different so you should be seen by a qualified physician with experience in this particular area.

Here are a few examples of Bunny Lines as seen in some very familiar faces. They may or may not have been previously treated with fillers or Botox - of this we cannot be sure, and none of these women are my patients but I will make my educated guesses….in the cases of the two women below, I would think that they have had Botox in the past, the application of which can help to accentuate your Bunnies or to completely remove them (temporarily), depending upon the skill level of your Doctor.

Bunny lines - do you have them? Have you grown attached or would you like to see them as they hop off into the distance? Give my office a call and we can discuss options

Best,

Dr. Dave

When discussing your lashes, how to grow them and some possible reasons for loss in fullness and length, we cannot ignore the possibility (and hopefully eliminating) the fact that a patient may have a condition that could be a contributing factor.

Enter your Thyroid, a small, hormone-secreting gland located in the lower part of your neck. This gland delivers energy to all of the cells in your body, so if there exists any type of malfunction, many symptoms can manifest.

The association between Thyroid disease and eye disease is well known. We can all picture Don Knotts and his bulgy eyes as a condition associated with an overactive Thyroid. However, the Thyroid gland controls many functions of the body. When women have hair loss of their head or eyelashes, an underactive Thyroid may be to blame.

The following is a small excerpt from Ask.com

Signs and symptoms include:

Below is an excerpt taken from ask.com that gives a brief overall description of some common Thyroid-related Eye Disease symptoms:

* Pain in the eyes, pain when looking up, down or sideways
* Dryness, itching, dry eyes, difficulty wearing contact lenses
* Inflammation and swelling of the eye, and its surrounding tissues
* Swelling in the orbital tissues which causes the eye to be pushed forward — referred to as exophthalmos — which can make Thyroid Eye Disease sufferers appear to have a wide-eyed or bulging stare.
* Bloodshot appearance to eyes
* Double vision (doctors call it diplopia)
* Impaired vision

Thyroid Eye Disease is known to go through varying degrees of severity, and can go into periods of remission as well. When it has been inactive for a period of around a half a year, it’s less likely to recur. Treatments for Thyroid Eye Disease range from lubricating eyedrops and ointments to, in very rare cases, surgery”

What it doesn’t say here is that you could experience changes in your eyelashes and if indeed you are diagnosed, Latisse may not be the treatment for you.

I treat a myriad of thyroid-related eye disease in my practice in Woodbury, NY. If you think you may be experiencing any of these symptoms, make an appointment with your Endocrinologist or Internist to get a complete physical and thorough blood work up.

Treatment is available and your condition can be managed. And of course, any questions, just shoot me an email at info@schlessingereyeandface.com or give me a call in my office 516.496.2122.

Dr. Schlessinger

Dr. Schlessinger comments on Blepharitis your decision to use Latisse

I spoke in my last post about Latisse - a wonderful product for the right candidate. I also mentioned that there may be some underlying issues related to eyelash thinning and loss to take into consideration before obtaining this prescription medication to increase thickness and lash length.

For those of you who may not know me or who are not familiar with my Practice, I see all sorts of eye conditions, disease, trauma and the like. There’s never a shortage of conditions, but thankfully, there are treatments that I provide every day to my patients here in Woodbury & Hauppauge.

One such condition that would preclude a patient from benefiting from using Latisse is Blepharitis. This is a condition that is characterized by inflamation and redness in the margins of the eyelid. Symptoms can include one or more of the following: redness, itching, scaling and irritation of the eyelid. If you’ve ever had “Pink Eye” (conjunctivitis) you may notice that the symptoms are similar. It can also be mistaken for “dry eye” by patients due to the gritty sensation that may occur.

The clinical definition (as provided by the American Academy of Ophthalmology) is

“…a chronic condition that has periods of exacerbation and remission. Although onset
usually occurs in middle-aged adults, it can begin in childhood. …Severe staphylococcal blepharitis may eventually lead to eyelash loss…”

If you suspect that you have this condition, naturally come see me in the office for a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment, as this may be the cause of your thinning lashes.

I mentioned other conditions in the 6/15 post on Latisse, such as thyroid disease, eyelid skin cancers and trichelomania. Stay tuned to my blog for more info on these conditions and what to look for.

Dr. Dave

Dr. Schlessinger comments on Latisse

I’ve talked before about the benefits of Latisse. It’s a great product and has given many of my patients here in Woodbury some fantastic results. As a cosmetic eyelid surgeon here on the north shore of Long Island, I see many patients who have this concern and who would love to forego the application of false lashes when they get their makeup done for a special event.

Today I’d like to talk briefly about the small population of patients that this product may not be suitable for. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this product, it is put out by Allergan (also the makers of Botox) and is has been used recently to treat thinning eyelashes. In a period of 2-4 months, patients who use this prescription properly and under the care of an Ophthalmologist, can see fuller, darker and longer lashes. Truly a wonderful product for some of my patients who have been looking for a remedy for their thinning lashes!

However, all patients need to undergo an Ophthalmic Exam prior to going on the Latisse regimen. In certain cases, Latisse is not the answer. Have an ophthalmologist check to see if you have a problem that causes eyelash loss. Blepharitis, thyroid disease, eyelid skin cancers and trichelomania are some of the conditions I look for that would preclude a patient from beginning the Latisse Regimen.

For now, click here to take a look at the FAQ’s for this product. The link will take you directly to their website.

Check back to future posts where I will describe these conditions and treatments.

Dr. S

Botox vs. Reloxin

As expected, the FDA has recently approved Reloxin®, which is priced 15% lower than Botox®. How will it affect the industry? With the current economic situation and everyone on tight budget, Reloxin® - chemically the same as Botox® - may be a good alternative for people who want to maintain the results achieved via Botox®, but at a cheaper price point.

You may have seen or read a lot more about Botox® recently. Rumor has it that Allergan has been ramping up their PR efforts online in order to prepare for their inevitable competition. So what’s the difference between the two?

Botox® VS Reloxin®
There are small differences between the two, but the essentially work the same way. Both relax the muscles, which in turn causes wrinkles to diminish. The effects of Botox® typically last anywhere between 3-6 months, and the makers of Reloxin® are claiming that results last a little longer with little or no side effects. Another plus of Reloxin® being FDA approved is that the lower price point may in turn drive down the cost of Botox®, which will certainly be beneficial for everyone.

It is still too early though. Botox has a 20 year proven track record, so it may not be prudent to change in order to save a few dollars. We will have to wait between six to 12 months to see how good it is. One thing for sure is that Reloxin® - the new kid on the block - is getting a lot of attention and the makers of Botox® will definitely be looking over their shoulder the next few months.

Photo source: http://kosmetologia.com.pl/zdjecia/wiadomosci/marzec2009/1028452_syringes_and_vial.jpg

Spa Week comes to Woodbury 4/13-4/20 2009

I’m excited to once again be participating in Spa Week during the month of April. Interested? The MediSpa at Schlessinger Eye & Face is participating in Spa Week on Long Island April 13th-20th. This is an opportunity to experience the spa lifestyle at a reduced price. We are offering our guests three fabulous full service treatments to choose from for only $50 each.

This is a way for you to try out our MediSpa, or if you’re already a loyal patient try out a new treatment! You can start booking appointments March 16th when the Spa Week website (www.spaweek.org) will go live with the spring treatments we are offering. Tell your best friend, your sister, your brother, your mother; they are all welcome. Plan a day to relax and enjoy one, two or indulge in all three. We look forward to seeing you!


Click here for Spring Spa Week info beginning on March 16th

With summer finally approaching, many of us are planning our much anticipated getaway. And thanks to a new shift in the tourism industry, many Americans now have the option of visiting an exotic location, enjoying some fun in the sun, and while abroad, get a cosmetic treatment.

Medical tourism is expanding as the popularity of treatments such as face/neck lifts, eyelid surgery, injectables and so on, continues to rise. Medical spas and facilities in countries like Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Thailand, to name a few, market their low-cost, all-inclusive packages that often feature “combined procedure specials” - two or more procedures that cost less than a single one performed in the United States.

The reduced expense of many foreign surgical vacation packages often equates to surgical and vacation costs that are less than the price of the actual surgery in the United States. Throw in the glamorous beaches and the “fun in the sun,” and you seem to have a real winner. However (as is usually the case), there’s a catch.

One of my patients recently came back from having blepharoplasty in South Africa. His operation resulted in drooping eyelids which required multiple corrective procedures that, in the end, cost more than the initial procedure. This is not an isolated case though.

Lack of appropriate medical care in case of an emergency is one disadvantage traveling patients have. Should any problems arise, patients may not have the means to have reconstructive or repair treatments as needed. Additionally, one of the most important and significant aspects of the cosmetic treatment is the face-to-face consultation each patient should receive with his/her physician. While very promising, most overseas practices do not provide this, as the initial consultation is often performed from home via the facilities’ website. Traveling patients also miss the advantages of the evaluation that a visit to the doctor during recovery offers. In the U.S. there are accrediting agencies that certify medical facilities and medical providers which is not necessarily the case abroad where many of the facilities are privately owned and operated and as such, not necessarily subject to a certification process. Furthermore, most people do not have medical coverage abroad, so any complication that arises may costs thousands in extra dollars in the foreign country.

The risks associated with an overseas medical procedure could by far outweigh the advantageous savings. Patients should realize that uncertainty in medical skill and expertise means uncertainty of the outcome and the initial financial benefits incurred will be less significant than the cost of any future reconstructive procedures. The key message here is to stay home, find an accredited physician by doing your homework first, and get it right the first time.