Dark under-eye circles are an incredibly common concern that some might remember noticing in childhood. They seem to get worse in the 20s and 30s when we might be working harder, facing more stress, getting less sleep, and potentially eating less healthily. Sometimes, living better can improve, but not eliminate them. It can be frustrating, especially when under-eye puffiness appears. Makeup can hide some of this, but only partially—and some of us don't wear makeup...
Fortunately, W Cosmetic Surgery® offers several solutions for treating dark under-eye circles. Let’s look at the common causes, what works, and how we can help.
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Most of our clients have tried creams and facials without success and are ready to step it up and find treatments that might be more effective. Some have tried microneedling with PRP at a medspa-this is a procedure which has been described to work- and have been discouraged by the results. We have also been discouraged by this treatment. In a consult, we try to determine the cause(s) of the dark circles.
Well, it pretty much depends upon the cause(s). We usually start very conservatively with agents that either diminish skin pigmentation and/or thicken the skin. If it’s volume loss—and it can be from loss in the cheek or under the eyes, we can treat it with fillers—done in the office—or by adding fat as the filler. Nanofat, fat that is processed into small regenerative particles—may actually be more helpful than fillers. If it’s fillers that are causing the issue, a consult will allow us to identify and localize the filer using ultrasound and the filler can be removed. For darkness unresponsive to these treatments, we’ve found that light laser treatments with the Ultraclear Laser (we are one of two practices in the area with this laser!) work extraordinarily well. The treatment, called 3d Miracl® is painless and has a downtime around 4 days. If you’ve tried other treatments—including tea bags, cucumbers,and ineffective creams, consider calling us to organize a consult with our staff to see how we can help you conquer your dark circles.
Dark circle treatment with filler
The Ultraclear cold fiber laser
The Ultraclear laser in use - the 3d Miracl treatment
Ultraclear laser results on dark circles
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What first sparked your interest in this business?I left academic medicine as chief of oculoplastic surgery at Scheie Eye Institute and the University of Pennsylvania more than two decades ago. I was convinced that patients could have a more personal customized and compassionate experience not in an institutional setting but in a solo practice where a single physician bore responsibility for the patient experience. While at Penn, and as part of my training, I was extremely interested in aesthetics—nonsurgical and surgical treatments to make us all look younger. I was the first in the Philadelphia area to present and publish on the use of what is now called Botox for cosmetic purposes. At the time, it was considered heretical. I imagined an office where you could come in and have mini treatments to look better, to look younger. And because of it, feel better. A little Botox, potentially a little filler or a skin treatment. No one, I repeat, no one, was doing it. Now these services exist everywhere and elsewhere-- even in shopping centers. Proof that this idea had chops and satisfies the need for mini tweaks that rejuvenate and refine. Now we offer these services along with the latest technologies in-office aesthetic treatments.
Our practice utilizes invisible incision endoscopic approaches—some which we’ve described-- to rejuvenate the eyes and face with natural and long lasting outcomes. We are focused on the patient experience, from the first meeting through to the final result, including speeding the journey to healing using advanced modalities.
I am very interested in art and come from two generations of artists. My day- to-day inspiration comes from using skills derived both from art and my experience as a microsurgeon and surgery in general to envision and then recreate patients’ personal transformations and then witness the positive changes in their look-- and in their confidence.
Helping people—one person at a time—look and feel younger and more beautiful. This can be with just a conversation or with an intervention.
We developed a device which makes facelifts easier and less invasive and that quickens the recovery. I enjoy solving problems and simplifying techniques. We’ve submitted an additional set of international patents for other techniques, technologies and devices that we’ve invented. Additonally, I’ve co-edited Volume VII of the Elsevier Advances in Cosmetic Surgery book and have had a chance to get up to the minute knowledge from some of the greatest cosmetic surgery innovators in the world. I wrote a chapter in this book on our Midface Lift procedure and our long term experience with it. I am currently editing Volume VIII with dermatologists and other plastic surgery colleagues. Lastly, I’ve helped train some of the most successful cosmetic plastic surgeons in the United States and appreciate that I have a continued interaction with them. They remain friends and colleagues and I can continue to profit by learning from them.
Everyone—all my staff-- doing their best work and going out of our way to provide exceptional care—one client--one patient- at a time. We recognize the courage it takes to even show up in an office to discuss flaws that might be troublesome and we are sensitive to that and do our best to find solutions that are the least aggressive and the most effective. When necessary, we are confident that we have the skills to provide surgical solutions. I am proud that my staff—nurse practioners, nurses, medical aestheticians and even the medical assistants have up to date knowledge and technology and are compassionate and professional. Our practice is a well kept secret. Some of our patrients say we are the best kept secret in the Philadelphia area. We are exclusive and “high end” in the sense that we’ve been happy to rely on word of mouth referrals for years to keep busy and still feel that other happy patients referring friends and family are our largest form of exponential practice growth. We value not only the results we get, but the long term relationships we develop with our clients, some of whom have been with us for 20 years or more. Many of our clients who’ve moved outside the area still return to us for their treatments—surgical and otherwise—we’ve earned their trust. And they refer patients who come in –also from outside the area. We also take care of patients who have had previous unsuccessful or botched surgery-- and are interested in the challenges that are posed and in working with them to get things right.
A long history of good results (in practice since 1996) and pioneering techniques and technologies—publishing our results so we don’t stay quiet about our successes. One of the first practices in this area that did Botox—6 papers multiple presentations. We were also the first in the area to have microdermabrasion and nurse aesthetician at the time wrote a book on it and helped develop a better machine. One of the first practices in the area that did hyaluronic acid fillers and published on them. One of the first to perform intense pulsed light treatments. The first to pioneer the use of subcutaneous radiofrequency for the treatment of festoons—under eye bags on bags. And we first in the area to utilize deep laser and radiofrequency microneedling (Intracel, then Morpheus8) to treat festoons.
Philly Mag--Best of Philly since 1996
Castle Connelly Best Doctors Award since 1996
Marvin Quickert Award from the American Society of Oculoplastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
Innovator’s Circle Award, Abington Memorial Hospital
Henry Baylis Award from the American Society of Oculoplastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
Golden Apple Resident Teaching Award, University of Pennsylvania.
American Academy of Ophthalmology Junior Honor Award
American Academy of Ophthalmology Senior Honor Award
Diplomate, American Board of Ophthalmology
Diplomate, American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Diplomate, American Board of Physician Specialties, Plastic Surgery
BUSINESS PHONE NUMBER: 610-314-4919
WEBSITE: WCosmeticsurgery.com
BUSINESS ADDRESS: 610 W. Germantown Pike, Suite 161 Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
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