Local Surgeon Published In Plastic Surgery Textbook

(Newswire.net — August 13, 2015) Colorado Springs, CO — Dr. John Burroughs is an oculofacial plastic surgeon subspecializing in a form of plastic surgery and ophthalmology treating cosmetic and reconstructive concerns of the eyelids, orbits, and face. He is an accredited fellow of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Years ago, he was invited to write for a unique plastic surgery textbook called Pearls and Pitfalls in Oculoplastic Surgery, covering cosmetic surgical and treatment pearls for providing safe and highly effective results while avoiding pitfalls that could lead to poor outcomes or patient harm. This first edition was very popular amongst surgeons in training as well as seasoned master surgeons, and therefore Dr. Burroughs was invited to write for the second edition. His first contributions were well received, and so he was asked to write many additional chapters.

Dr. John Burroughs wrote chapters covering many topics: 1) office-based anesthesia and surgery; 2) dermal fillers; and 3) botulinum toxins. Eyelid lifts are one of the most commonly performed plastic surgeries. The procedure provides outstanding results often helping patients look younger and more refreshed in addition to sometimes resulting in improved vision. Dr. Burroughs covered chapters on how to perform local injections around the eyes more safely and comfortably by utilizing distraction techniques and customized anesthetic solutions.  

 

Dr. Burroughs has been performing advanced dermal filler techniques for over 10 years, and shared tips to perform these injections more safely with blunt-tip cannulas rather than sharp needles, which can sometimes accidentally eject off the syringe in an unpredictable manner. The blunt-tip cannulas also provide more comfortable injections for the patients and with less bruising for quicker recovery, thereby increasing patient satisfaction. Dermal fillers are well known for helping with the “parentheses” folds around the mouth, for lip rejuvenation, but Dr. Burroughs discussed other novel uses. These include volumizing areas of the face from aging processes as well as from trauma. He and his colleagues have helped patients with sunken eyes from severe eye trauma by injecting fillers behind prosthetic eyes.  

 

Dr. Burroughs also shared his technique for lower eyelid rejuvenation (which he has coined “filler blepharoplasty”) of puffy, baggy eyes by injecting dermal fillers into the trough deformities below the eyes between the puffy lower eyelid fat and the cheek tissues. This can avoid surgery for some patients and there is literally no down time. Dr. Burroughs recently published a letter to the editor of Ophthalmic Plastic Reconstructive Surgery Journal strongly advocating for Belotero Balance® dermal filler for the lower eyelids, as it is reversible, contourable, and avoids discolored skin that is commonly seen with other types of hyaluronic acid fillers.

Dr. Burroughs wrote about problems repairing droopy upper eyelids from blepharoptosis that have plagued many eyelid plastic surgeons for years because of the use of propofol for intravenous sedation. Until recently it was not known that propofol may cause an apraxia of eyelid opening (ALO), which is essentially a patient’s inability to open their eyelids properly. This apraxia of the eyelid opening caused problems for the operating surgeons to know how much of the tendon that opens the eye to resect or advance. This leads to longer operating times, increased patient discomfort, and frustrating results. Dr. Burroughs advocates avoiding propofol for blepharoptosis surgeries that require patient cooperation and advises the use of other intravenous agents to relax and provide pain relief during surgery.

Another popular and important topic Dr. Burroughs wrote about was optimizing surgical procedures for the upper eyelids and forehead tissues. A frequent error in upper blepharoplasty surgery is not addressing the eyebrows and forehead. This can result in the retention of unsightly forehead wrinkles and actually dropping the eyebrows. This can also masculinize female patients and frustrate even male patients when their eyebrows get pulled downward towards their eyelashes. Dr. Burroughs shared his techniques of releasing an eyebrow retaining ligament and removal of redundant fat and eyelid muscle tissue, which helps stabilize and even lift the eyebrows from their preoperative positions. Furthermore, he wrote a new chapter covering an in-office forehead lift that can often be done through small incisions, which not only addresses horizontal forehead wrinkles, but also can reshape and elevate the brow tissues depending upon a patient’s desired goals for rejuvenation. This surgery can be done in the office under just oral sedation, saving on operating room costs to the patient.

Dr. John Burroughs practices in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Additional information about his practice may be obtained at www.drjohnburroughs.com