Dr. Mark D. Epstein is a dual-board-certified plastic surgeon (American Board of Plastic Surgery,
American Board of Surgery) with additional qualifications in surgery of the hand, currently
practicing in Stony Brook, New York. Dr. Epstein also serves as the Chief of Plastic Surgery at
North Shore Surgi-Center and is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the State University of
New York Health Sciences Center at Stony Brook.
Dr. Mark D. Epstein is a dual-board-certified plastic surgeon (American Board of Plastic Surgery, American Board of Surgery) with additional qualifications in surgery of the hand, currently practicing in Stony Brook, New York. Dr. Epstein also serves as the Chief of Plastic Surgery at North Shore Surgi-Center and is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the State University of New York Health Sciences Center at Stony Brook.
Dr. Epstein received his medical degree from the State University of New York Health Sciences Center at Brooklyn (Downstate), and completed his internship and residency training in General Surgery at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he served as Chief Resident. He also completed a residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where he once again served as Chief Resident.
To advance his training even further, Dr. Epstein completed a series of clinicalRealself Top Doctor Badge - Dr. Epstein fellowships in: Reconstructive Microsurgery at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan; in Hand Surgery at the Raymond Curtis Hand Center in Baltimore; and in Microsurgery at the Brigham and Women’s/Children’s Hospital/Harvard in Boston. He also completed a research fellowship at the Shriner’s Burns Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Dr. Epstein has outstanding credentials: He is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, American Board of Surgery and holds a Certificate of Added Qualification in Surgery of the Hand (there are no boards in hand surgery). Dr. Epstein is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.
Also an innovator, Dr. Epstein is the inventor of many surgical instruments including the Epstein Breast Retractors, which are used during breast augmentation surgery to facilitate surgery in an atraumatic fashion; the Epstein Abdominoplasty Retractors, the Epstein-Deaver breast retractor as well as the developer of the Epstein Carpal Tunnel Knife Guide, an instrument used to improve the safety of carpal tunnel surgery.
Dr. Epstein is also on the forefront of surgical technology, recently adding the Vectra 3D, a computerized three dimensional surgical simulation system which allows patients to obtain additional insight as to how they might look following cosmetic surgery.
Born and raised in Manhattan, Dr. Adrienne S. Levy began her medical training in an accelerated B.S.-M.D. Program at the Sophie Davis School for Biomedical Education of the City University of New York. Next, she moved to Long Island and completed her medical training at SUNY Stony Brook. After an Internship in Internal Medicine at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, Dr. Levy was a resident in Anesthesiology at both SUNY Stony Brook and Nassau University Medical Center.
Dr. Levy commenced her medical career with a faculty appointment at SUNY Stony Brook in the Department of Anesthesiology, where she achieved such honors as "teacher of the year," and Chief of Anesthesia, VAMC, Northport, New York. To balance family and career, Dr. Levy now works at an the North Shore SurgiCenter since 1996, where her responsibilities have included Chief of Anesthesia and Medical Director. In addition, she has worked for Dr. Epstein providing anesthesia in his office since 2001.
Dr. Levy is Board Certified in Anesthesiology and has over twenty five years experience in this medical specialty.
Born and raised on Long Island, Dr. Brian Slepian graduated from Adelphi University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. He received his medical degree from The Medical College of Wisconsin. He completed his internship and Anesthesia residency on Long Island at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, where he was Chief Resident and Anesthesia resident of the year.
Dr. Slepian continued his medical career with a faculty appointment at SUNY Stony Brook in the Department of Anesthesiology, where he was a member of the Cardiac Anesthesia team. After several years he took on a position at the North Shore SurgiCenter in 1996, where his responsibilities include Chief of Anesthesia and Medical Director. In addition, he has worked for Dr. Epstein providing anesthesia care in his office since 2001.
Dr. Slepian is Board Certified in Anesthesiology and has over twenty five years experience in this medical specialty.
Kristi started with me in 2012. She has been an R.N. since 2002 and comes to us from the neonatal intensive care unit at Stony Brook University Medical Center. Her experience includes pre operative as well as post operative care of the newborn. Kristi has transitioned into pre and post operative care of the adult as well as intraoperative care as an operating room circulating nurse. Her nursing skills prepare her well for taking care of patients who have undergone some of our longer and more complicated procedures. She is an outstanding member of our team and both patients and staff alike love her. What I love most about Kristi is her sincerity; and she is truly an open person.
Christianne graduated in 2013 with her BSN from Stony Brook University School of Nursing. Upon graduation, Christianne spent a year in Stony Brook’s Burn Unit, and successfully completed her ICU fellowship there as well. Christianne currently works in the recovery room at Southside Hospital, and joined our team in 2015. She has a passion for spending time with her family and friends, traveling and the beach. Her extensive skill set has been a tremendous asset to our surgical team! Christianne is always happy and upbeat as well as a highly skilled recovery room nurse!
Briana is a Phi Theta Kappa graduate from SUNY Morrisville with her degree in Nursing. Upon graduating she has worked as an RN at Stony Brook University Hospital in the NICU for 24 years where she continues to do so and love. She also carries her 200hr-RYT (registered yoga teacher) and continues to advance her practice of yoga. Briana has recently joined our team in 2017 in the recovery room and is broadening her education in the operating room as well. She is a valued member of our team and we are so happy to have her!
Elena joined our staff in September of 2017. She has been an LPN for 16 years with various skills in geriatrics, adult care and private duty nursing. Elena found a particular interest in skin care and cosmetics as she went on to study aesthetics at the New York institute of Beauty in Islandia, NY.
One of the things she loves most about working here is the personal touch our staff give to our patients. She enjoys the combination of aesthetician and nursing as she applies both of these skills in her everyday practice. Patients love Elena soft spoken voice and gentle ways. She has developed quite a following for facial microneedling and CoolSculpting!
Jennifer joined us in 2010. She has an interesting background. Jennifer first entered the medical field as a Certified surgical technician, and then furthered her education by becoming a registered nurse (R.N.) in 2010. Jennifer is my right hand in the operating room, and has the uncanny ability to read my mind and have my next instrument ready to hand me before I ask for it. She can function equally well as a circulating nurse, or recovery room nurse. She is also the clinical supervisor and administrates all things clinical from making the schedules to ordering supplies to supervising the other nurses. Jennifer is one of the kindest and most compassionate people that I have ever had the pleasure to work with, and my patients absolutely love her!
Ruth has over thirty years experience managing medical practices. She joined my practice as Practice Adminstrator when I opened this practice in 1998. Ruth wholeheartedly shares my vision in creating a practice where the patient comes first, and all our staff share that vision. It is Ruth’s responsibility to make certain that all aspects of this organization run smoothly, efficiently and safely. She is responsible to supervise the accreditation and management of our office-based surgical facility.
Even though she keeps very busy managing our organization, Ruth very much enjoys direct patient contact and frequently enjoys taking patient telephone inquiries when Maryellen is with another patient. On consultation days Ruth is often found in the hallway greeting patients. Ruth is here to make sure that every aspect of your experience with this practice is an extremely positive and rewarding one. You may reach Ruth by email at rverspoor@epsteinplasticsurgery.com.
I have been Dr. Epstein Surgical Patient Coordinator since 2010. Having worked in the medical field for many years, I started out as a reception service specialist and was promoted to Surgical Patient Coordinator. As Surgical Patient Coordinator, I am the person who will be your host: greeting you during your initial telephone call or email inquiry, assisting you in scheduling a surgery date, guiding you through any tests or consultations you may require until your surgery day. I am available to you to answer your many questions and concerns, and serve as a liason between you and Dr. Epstein and the other staff members. If you live out of town, I will assist you in finding comfortable local accommodations and anything else that you may require while you are here. I believe in providing concierge service to our patients.
It is my job to be there for the patient as often as is needed. I will listen carefully and provide you with specific educational materials that will help you make an informed decision. Once you make the decision to go ahead with the surgery, I am there to guide you through the process both before and after surgery. It is always my pleasure to assist each and every one of our patients in anyway possible to make every cosmetic journey a memorable one. Please feel free at anytime to contact me at mponzini@epsteinplasticsurgery.com.
Donna joined us in 2001. A former police officer at Brookhaven National Laboratories, she is an expert marksman (score 398 our of 400 on the “bulls eye”). She had no experience in aesthetic surgery or medicine when she came to us but was eager to learn and is now quite knowledgeable, expecially when it comes to skin care. She is always willing to go the extra mile for our patients and do whatever she can to aaccommodate their needs. She manages a staff of five reception service specialists.
Rhea joined us in 2003. Rhea is high-spirited, admirable, and has been such a valuble employee for over nine years and always makes time for her work. She is a mother of three, enjoys going on the boat, and always presents our patients and office with a smile everyday!
Debra joined our team in 2012. She has extensive experience as a reception service experience from other medical practices, but also manages an entertainment company with her husband, supplying celebrity lookalikes to parties and events (her husband is John Travolta’s “alter-ego). She is never without a big smile on her face! It is an absolute pleasure to have Debra on our team!
Whenever we use the muscles of our face to give expression to our emotions (smile, laugh, and frowning), we develop lines, furrows and wrinkles in our skin. This is most noticeable around the eyes, the mouth, the forehead and especially between the eyebrows. As these lines and wrinkles worsen, we begin to look sad, angry, tired or old. BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments can not only prevent you from deepening these lines during natural facial movements, they can also help reverse these marks of aging, leaving you looking younger and more refreshed.
Juvederm
Juvéderm®, like Restylane®, is an injectable gel that gently reverses many of the signs of facial aging, such as wrinkles, crow’s feet, fine lines, thinning lips and loosening skin. By adding volume, it will sculpt the cheeks, “plump up” the lips, and restore a youthful oval shape to the face. It is made with hyaluronic acid, a natural substance found in the body that works with collagen and elastin to give volume and support to the skin. Because it is highly biocompatible and non-animal-based, no pre-treatment skin testing is needed. Juvéderm® is supplied in three formulas optimized for the depth of the area being treated. Results last about nine to twelve months*.
Belotero
Belotero is the newest addition to our armamentarium of injectable facial fillers. Like all injectable fillers, it will integrate with the tissues of your skin, providing added volume and a more youthful facial contour. Belotero is a “hyaluronic acid” (HA) type filler, just like Restylane, Juvederm, and Perlane. What is unique to Belotero is the softness of the gel and the ability to inject it very superficially, essentially right under the epidermis of the skin!
Sculptra
Sculptra® is a different sort of filler. Unlike Restylane, Juvederm and Radiesse, what you are injecting is essentially the filler itself, Sculptra is best thought of as a catalyst. In other words, what you are injecting is not the actual “plumping” material. Rather, Sculptra acts by stimulating the facial tissues to gradually create and lay down extra collagen, which is the bodies natural filler. Sculptra was originally developed and got its initial FDA clearance for treating facial atrophy caused by the antiviral agents that those stricken with HIV suffer. These patients sustain significant degrees of facial atrophy and Sculptra has done a remarkable job at correcting this.
Laser Hair Removal
Hair removal is a constant worry for many men and women alike. For patients who are sick of the hassle associated with shaving, waxing and other temporary hair removal techniques, laser hair removal may be the solution for you. Laser hair removal exposes specific areas of the body to beams of laser light that disable active hair follicles and delay or prevent re-growth.
Laser hair removal is ideal for patients with dark hair and light skin, although nearly anyone with unwanted facial or body hair can benefit from this procedure. This procedure can be performed on the lip, chin, neck, back, arms, legs, bikini area and more.
Laser Wrinkle Reduction
The appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the skin is considered an inevitable part of the aging process for most people, resulting in creases, folds and hanging skin, on the face, neck, hands and other areas of the body. These changes in the skin often make you older, sad, angry or tired, and may not reflect the energy and youthfulness you still feel.
Many people are bothered by the appearance of wrinkles and seek treatment to rejuvenate the skin and restore a younger-looking appearance. Fortunately, there are countless treatment options available to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, including creams, dermal fillers, peels, laser treatments and surgery. The best procedure for each patient depends on the patient's individual skin condition and amount of correction desired.
CoolSculpting
The idea that cold can selectively affect fat led to the innovative cooling process developed by scientists at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. CoolSculpting technology safely delivers precisely controlled cooling to gently and effectively target the fat cells underneath the skin. The treated fat cells are crystallized (frozen), then die. Over time, your body naturally processes the fat, leaving a more sculpted you.
Breast Augmentation (Implants)
Breast augmentation is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedures, allowing women with smaller breasts to enjoy a fuller, better-proportioned appearance. Many women choose to undergo breast augmentation after losing breast volume from pregnancy or if they are born with naturally uneven breasts. Breast augmentation can improve self-confidence and help you achieve the shapely appearance you have always desired.
This procedure involves the placement of silicone or saline implants into the breast to increase the size of the breast by one or more cup sizes. Patients can customize their procedure by choosing the size, shape, texture and placement of the implants. The breast augmentation procedure is performed under general anesthesia and takes less than an hour. It can also be combined with other procedures, such as a breast lift, to maximize results.
Modern surgical technology makes it possible to construct a natural-looking breast after mastectomy (breast removal) for cancer or other diseases. The procedure is commonly begun and sometimes completed immediately following mastectomy, so that the patient wakes with a new breast mound. Alternatively, reconstruction may begin years after mastectomy. There are several ways to reconstruct the breast, both with and without implants; your surgeon(s) should work together with you in deciding which is the best for you. Breast reconstruction does not affect the recurrence of cancer, does not cause any other diseases, and does not affect chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
The overdevelopment of male breasts, also known as gynecomastia, affects an estimated 40 to 60 percent of men. This condition may be caused by a hormonal imbalance, side effects from drugs, or may occur for no particular reason at all. But despite the cause, the condition is significant and may pose a serious problem in a man's life.
Men with large or sagging breasts can be both physically and emotionally uncomfortable, often restricting themselves from certain activities because they feel self-conscious about their breast size. Male breast reduction is an excellent way to decrease the size of a man's breast, helping him feel more comfortable and confident.
What is a Breast Lift (Mastopexy)?
A woman’s breasts may sag, or droop as a result of the natural effects of pregnancy, breastfeeding, aging, gravity, weight loss and heredity. A mastopexy, or breast lift, is performed to return youthful shape and lift to breasts that have sagged or lost volume and firmness.
Breast lifts rejuvenate the breasts by trimming excess skin and tightening supporting tissues to achieve an uplifted, youthful contour. After a mastopexy, the breasts are higher on the chest and firmer to the touch. Breast lifts can also reposition and reduce the size of the areola—the dark skin surrounding the nipple—which may have stretched or drooped. Breast size does not change after a breast lift, nor does the fullness or roundness in the upper part of the breasts. Women who desire larger, smaller or more rounded breasts may want to consider a breast augmentation or breast reduction together with a breast lift.
Large breasts can cause neck and back pain, improper posture, rashes, breathing problems, skeletal deformities, and lower self-esteem. Breast reduction surgery is usually done to provide relief from these symptoms. Performed under general anesthesia, the two to three hour procedure removes fat and glandular tissue and tightens skin to produce smaller, lighter breasts that are in a healthier proportion to the rest of the body. The breast is also lifted as part of the procedure.
Dr. Mark Epstein performs tummy tuck surgery at his plastic surgery office in Long Island. Tummy tuck surgery helps to flatten and shape the abdomen and waist by removing excess skin and fat while also tightening the abdominal muscles. This is in contradistinction to liposuction, which is removal of fat alone without the removal of skin*. The best candidate for this procedure has excess skin without too much excess fat. The procedure can also be useful for women with stretched skin and lax abdominal muscles from pregnancy.
4D-Vaser Lipo-Abdominoplasty
As if things have not been complicated enough to understand, I am throwing out another option to consider. To make things a little easier to understand from the outset, 4D-VASER Lipo-abdominoplasty is simply VASER liposuction simultaneously coupled with an abdominoplasty. Therefore, all the previously described techniques of standard and mini-abdominoplasty apply, with the addition that VASER liposuction is performed first.
VASER Liposuction
In the next decade, a new concept for the application of high energy internal ultrasound (VASER) was created. This is an alternative to the traditional, more physically traumatic technique of traditional liposuction. The VASER procedure is now performed in three steps instead of two. The first step is the same as before – infiltrating the fat with saline solution + epinephrine. The new step is the second step. A thin, solid titanium probe with one or more “rings” at the tip is inserted into the skin. The handle of the probe transmits high energy ultrasound which, due to the ringed design of the tip of probe, is concentrated and emitted from the tip of the probe. The probe is now directed by the surgeon into the unwanted fat. Ultrasound energy is “tissue specific” for fat, in other words, targets the fat only, leaving the nerves, blood vessels and muscle alone. Without damage to these other tissues, patients experience less discomfort and achieve much smoother results than with traditional lipo*. The heat generated by the ultrasound does give some tissue tightening, which is a desirable benefit. When the ultrasound contacts the fat, it emulsifies, or liquefies, and separates from the rest of the fat. In the third step, a cannula is inserted under the skin through the same incision and the liquid fat can be easily, and far less traumatically removed. Think of it as a "gentler, more efficient" form of liposuction. The many advantages of this technology will be discussed further down.
VASER Fat Transfer
Fat transfer, also known as autologous (meaning from the patient’s own body) fat grafting is a procedure where fat is removed from one part of the body and placed into another. The fat may be fat that would otherwise be discarded as a byproduct of liposuction to reduce the fat in one area of the body, or it may be fat that is harvested specifically for the purpose of transferring into another body area. It is really irrelevant why the fat was removed.
Labioplasty
One of the concerns that some of my patients have regards their genitalia, specifically the size of the labia minora. There are two sets of female genital “lips”. The outer lips. or labia majora are thick skin folds that comprise the outer border of the female genitalia. They are of variable length, but even when on the longer side, they still only measure no more than 2 cm or so. The labia majora are thick, and as such, are not very movable. The inner lips, or labia minora, are much thinner than the outer lips. They lie on either side of the border of the vaginal opening. The outer layer of the labia minora is comprised of skin. The inner layer is comprised of vaginal mucosa transitioning to skin as you move away from the vaginal opening towards the thigh. The intervening tissue between these layers is only a couple of millimeters thick. The length of the labia minora, from vaginal opening towards the thigh is very variable. Sometimes the length can be up to 4 or 5 centimeters (about 2 inches), occasionally even longer.
Brazilian Butt Lift
If you want to enlarge or reshape your buttocks and/or hips and have discovered that they do not respond to diet or exercise, buttock/hip augmentation may be the solution you've been looking for. A buttock augmentation (butt augmentation) or buttock lift (butt lift) contours the buttocks and compensates for low amounts of fat in the area*. Women and men who enlarge their bottoms can enjoy a more voluptuous and perky profile. Augmentation may be achieved through injections of the patient's own body fat or with silicone implants. Augmentation of the hips rounds out the appearance of the buttocks when viewed from behind.
Mommy Makeover
Since motherhood significantly alters two important areas of your body, your breasts and your abdomen, most people think of a "mommy makeover" as a breast augmentation and/or lift, and a tummy tuck. The fact is, pregnancy induces so many changes all over a woman's body, and these changes vary considerably from one woman to another. My definition for the term "mommy makeover" is "any procedure or combination of procedures that will either give you back the body you had prior to having children or give you the body that you always wanted and dreamed of, but never had". I think you can even expand this to any woman, not just those who have borne children. Why discriminate??
Facelift
A Facelift, or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure to address these issues by tightening skin and muscles, and removing fat, thus giving your face a youthful, fresher look. After surgery, some patients appear ten to fifteen years younger. As the face ages, we develop lines due to muscle pull, lines due to atrophy of the deeper layers of our skin (loss of volume), wear and tear on the surface of the skin, sagging of facial structures, and stretched, excess skin. A facelift helps mainly with the last two on the list: sagging of skin and excess skin.
Facelift surgery can also restore volume to portions of the face, not changing the thickness of our skin, but rather by repositioning structures on the face. Fine lines and wrinkles due to muscle pull are best treated by Botox and lines due to loss of volume may be treated by injectable fillers and/or surgery.
Blepharoplasty
Eyelid surgery, also known as an eye lift or blepharoplasty, can rejuvenate puffy, sagging or tired-looking eyes by removing excess fat, skin and muscle from the upper and lower eyelids. It is ideal for the correction of multiple issues with the eyelids. Loose, sagging and/or folded upper eyelids that may limit vision can be corrected by removing the excess skin. Puffiness, which is actually due to excess fat from around the eye may be removed to give a more youthful, refreshed appearance. Sometimes the fat removed is then replaced in other nearby areas where there has been facial atrophy with aging, thus evening the facial contours.
Browlift/Forehead Lift
Browlifts can revitalize drooping or lined foreheads, helping you to look less angry, sad or tired. Using either minimally invasive (endoscopic) or traditional open technique methods, the muscles above the eyes are altered to smooth lines and raise the eyebrows for a more youthful appearance. The procedure is often combined with other operations such as facelifts and blepharoplasty to improve the look of the eyes and other areas of the face.
Rhinoplasty
One of Long Island's most common plastic surgery procedures, rhinoplasty is performed to reshape, recontour and define the nose. This surgery may reduce or augment a person’s nose, remove a hump, narrow nostril width, change the angle between the nose and the mouth, or correct injury, birth defects, or other problems that affect breathing. Rhinoplasty is usually an outpatient procedure performed under either local or general anesthesia and lasts one to two hours, or occasionally longer for more complex deformities.
Otoplasty
Ear surgery, or otoplasty, is a cosmetic procedure to improve the appearance of a person’s ears. Although otoplasty does not affect hearing, it can provide great psychological benefits to anyone who has been teased about the size or shape of their ears, has had a serious ear injury, or simply wants to improve their appearance. Ear surgery for children or adults can set prominent ears back closer to the head and reduce the size of large ears. Surgery may also be helpful for “lop ear,” “cupped ear” and “shell ear,” large or stretched earlobes, and lobes with creases and wrinkles. The procedure lasts from two to three hours and may be performed in a hospital, office-based facility or an outpatient surgery center under general or local anesthesia.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
As we age, our skin begins to change as a result of several different life factors. The natural collagen within the skin begins to diminish and skin may sag and droop. Smoking, alcohol consumption, sun exposure, nutrition and more can also lead to the development of wrinkles and fine lines within the skin. Other skin conditions such as acne, brown spots and chicken pox can leave unattractive blemishes on the skin.
Laser skin resurfacing is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and other skin irregularities. It offers patients many advantages over traditional resurfacing procedures such as chemical peels and microdermabrasion, as it practically eliminates side effects such as discomfort, bleeding and bruising.
Scar Revision
Scar revision is performed to reduce the appearance of scars caused by injury or previous surgery. Scars are by definition permanent, but surgery can narrow, fade and otherwise reduce the appearance of severe or unattractive scarring, which is especially helpful in areas of cosmetic importance such as the face and hands.
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