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Dr. Gerald A. Acker

Plastic Surgeon

Dr. Gerald Acker is a cosmetic medicine and surgery specialist practicing in Roslyn Heights, New York. Dr. Acker specializes in the enhancement of appearance. Improving aesthetic, symmetry and proportion are key goals in cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic medicine has nothing to do with these specific areas not functioning properly; therefore, this elective field solely focuses on aesthetics and anti-aging.
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Dr. Gerald A. Acker
  • Roslyn Heights, New York
  • Johns Hopkins Medical School
  • Accepting new patients

Is dermabrasion painful?

Hello, Dermabrasion is not painful. It is done in a hospital setting as an outpatient procedure. You will be swollen and red for about 7 - 10 days. Regards, Gerald A. READ MORE
Hello,

Dermabrasion is not painful. It is done in a hospital setting as an outpatient procedure. You will be swollen and red for about 7 - 10 days.

Regards,

Gerald A. Acker, MD

How long does eye bag surgery last?

When lower lid bags are removed and done properly, they should never return. However, this requires opening the lid under direct vision to be assured of accurate and total removal. READ MORE
When lower lid bags are removed and done properly, they should never return. However, this requires opening the lid under direct vision to be assured of accurate and total removal. More to the point, there is often a hollow at the junction of the lid and cheek. This requires using the fat as a living flap (not an unpredictable graft). I have never had a redo in 30 years.

How many times can you get a face lift?

I try to do an expanded, initial procedure wherein my patients have not returned for 15 to 20 years. The basis of the longevity is that there is NO tension whatsoever on the skin. READ MORE
I try to do an expanded, initial procedure wherein my patients have not returned for 15 to 20 years. The basis of the longevity is that there is NO tension whatsoever on the skin. THIS produces an extremely natural look to the face and neck, even when the head is down. As a young woman, you must have no elevation of your hairline and address all your salient problems.

Does plastic surgery of the hands make you look younger?

Thank you for your interesting question. The hands are one of the characteristic signs of aging. The first concern is addressing the thickness, turgor, elasticity, and texture READ MORE
Thank you for your interesting question. The hands are one of the characteristic signs of aging. The first concern is addressing the thickness, turgor, elasticity, and texture of the skin. Next, overly prominent blood vessels can be sealed. Lastly, fat can be used as a filler to add volume or, alternatively, a biological filler.

What is a mini face lift?

A minilift is an attempt to lift the face by removing a small amount of skin or by minimal undermining of the skin. All instances,I have never seen a meaningful, long lasting READ MORE
A minilift is an attempt to lift the face by removing a small amount of skin or by minimal undermining of the skin. All instances,I have never seen a meaningful, long lasting result. Either there is no result or the face is transiently overpulled. Simply put, to correct sagging, drooping or any facial defect, surgery must reach beyond that point to allow correct repositioning.

Can you drink coffee after breast augmentation?

There as been a complicit relationship between coffee and post op breast firmness. I have not restricted my patients from coffee, nor have I bandaged my patients and restricted READ MORE
There as been a complicit relationship between coffee and post op breast firmness. I have not restricted my patients from coffee, nor have I bandaged my patients and restricted activities beyond one wee, There are many modalities to keeping the breast which are both surgical and medical. These have worked, fortunately, in difficult cases. Enjoy your coffee!

How do they put cheek implants in?

Cheek implants are tradionally placed through incisions inside the upper mouth.They can also be placed through the lower lid or via a face lift incission.More recently, I have READ MORE
Cheek implants are tradionally placed through incisions inside the upper mouth.They can also be placed through the lower lid or via a face lift incission.More recently, I have opted to not use foreign materials, and instead reconstitute the cheek from its underlying muscle and fat. Please remember that the implant may move, be assymtric and cause nerve problems.

How is a cheek lift done?

The cheek lift was done through a lower lid incission ,extending laterally beyond the corner of the lid. I have abandoned this technique as the heavy cheek is being poorly supported READ MORE
The cheek lift was done through a lower lid incission ,extending laterally beyond the corner of the lid. I have abandoned this technique as the heavy cheek is being poorly supported by the thin lid. I operate at the lowermost lateral hairline, extending into the ear. This allows accurate sculpting of all of the tissues beneath the cheekbone in both volume and direction

What is the fastest way to recover from eyelid surgery?

The fastest way to recover is to have a gentle eyelid surgeon. I find ice compresses help modestly and only for the first day. The upper lid should never be bruised , but does READ MORE
The fastest way to recover is to have a gentle eyelid surgeon. I find ice compresses help modestly and only for the first day. The upper lid should never be bruised , but does remain puffy for approximately 1 week. Blinking helps with swelling. Lower lid, almost never swell. No matter how bloodless I operate, there is almost modest bruising at the cheeks,coverable with makeup.

How do you know if a breast implant is leaking?

Excellent question. With the newer silicone gel cohesive implants,you require an mri in my opinion, to see the disruption of the shell and leakage of material.With saline implants, READ MORE
Excellent question. With the newer silicone gel cohesive implants,you require an mri in my opinion, to see the disruption of the shell and leakage of material.With saline implants, there is a sudden decrease in size of one breast which is extremely disturbing to patients but poses absolutely no danger/

How long is recovery from a face lift?

My uncomplicated face lift patients,without eyelid work, can wear makeup and out to diner in 2 to 3 days. I have no bandages and use drains and also double exam each side. Rest READ MORE
My uncomplicated face lift patients,without eyelid work, can wear makeup and out to diner in 2 to 3 days. I have no bandages and use drains and also double exam each side. Rest assured that even though they look reasonably well, with little to no bruising and swelling,they are not healed. Healing requires 2 to 3 months , but exercise can begin at 2 o 3 weeks.

Can a nose job improve breathing?

Sadly, nasal surgery (nose job) can make breathing worse. In most instances, the nose is being made more shapely by reducing height, width, and length. If there are preexisting READ MORE
Sadly, nasal surgery (nose job) can make breathing worse. In most instances, the nose is being made more shapely by reducing height, width, and length. If there are preexisting anatomic factors (multiple), breathing will be worse. I personally had to return to Johns Hopkins to learn functional airway surgery so that I could improve breathing and appearance simultaneously.



Can under eye bags be removed?

Yes. Lower lid bags can be removed forever if done correctlly. However, the fat bag can be used as a living implant to fill out the lower lid hollow or to highlight the checkbone. READ MORE
Yes. Lower lid bags can be removed forever if done correctlly. However, the fat bag can be used as a living implant to fill out the lower lid hollow or to highlight the checkbone.

Can plastic surgery remove burn scars?

Sadly burn scars are forever. There has been improvement as noted by fat grafting because of the stem cells present. There also oral and topical scar drugs which alter the chemistry READ MORE
Sadly burn scars are forever. There has been improvement as noted by fat grafting because of the stem cells present. There also oral and topical scar drugs which alter the chemistry of the scar and cause softening.

Can you get plastic surgery on your lips?

Lips can be filled with either fat or a variety of injectables. Also the upper lip can be raised and filled with allografts or by an incission under the nostrils

Will an otoplasty affect my ability to hear?

Otoplasty should never affect hearing. In fact, I have never heard of this as a complication. The difficulty is creating symmetry and avoiding an ear that looks like an old telephone READ MORE
Otoplasty should never affect hearing. In fact, I have never heard of this as a complication. The difficulty is creating symmetry and avoiding an ear that looks like an old telephone handset.

How long does a facelift last?

The length of success absolutely depends on the extent of surgery. Small surgery produces poor, short-lived results. Over the years, to increase longevity, I have expanded the READ MORE
The length of success absolutely depends on the extent of surgery. Small surgery produces poor, short-lived results. Over the years, to increase longevity, I have expanded the procedure in the face and neck to rely exclusively on revamping all the deep collapsed and fallen tissues beneath the skin. This has been durable for approximately ten to 15 years (more in young patients).

Can plastic surgery remove facial scars?

Only god can remove a scar totally. However, scars can be drastically improved on the face which traditionally heals well. The single most important issue is the direction of the READ MORE
Only god can remove a scar totally. However, scars can be drastically improved on the face which traditionally heals well. The single most important issue is the direction of the scar and does it parallel the normal lines of expression. If the scar does not, there are a variety of surgical techniques tp soften and alter the tightness of the scar, as well as appearance.

Do plastic surgeons treat burns?

Yes. This was actually the basis of the speciality after the second world war. Burns can be improved by migrating similar nearby tissue into the burn defect. Occasionally, grafts READ MORE
Yes. This was actually the basis of the speciality after the second world war. Burns can be improved by migrating similar nearby tissue into the burn defect. Occasionally, grafts may be required. Also, tissue can be moved from a more distant area in a series of procedures.

How long does scar revision surgery take?

It depends on the size, position, and location of the scar. Traditionally, revision is attempted in one procedure if possible. Surgery can require anywhere from 30 minutes to hours READ MORE
It depends on the size, position, and location of the scar. Traditionally, revision is attempted in one procedure if possible. Surgery can require anywhere from 30 minutes to hours in highly complex scars from serious wounds. Please note that a scar is the result of the body trying to heal itself.