AboutAlan M. Engler, MD, FACS Expertise Dr. Engler has answered over 2800 plastic surgery questions for Allexperts. His expertise is in cosmetic plastic surgery including breast surgery (breast enlargement with implants, breast reduction, breast lifts), liposuction, eyelid surgery, tummy tucks, facelifts etc.
Dr. Engler has been listed as one New York`s Top Doctors, and as "One of the World's Most Famous Aesthetic Surgeons" (Aesthetic Surgery, TASCHEN Books, Angelika Taschen, Editor). He is the author of 4 books, including "BodySculpture" (a best-selling plastic surgery book on breast surgery, liposuction and tummy tucks), "EyeScapes" (Plastic Surgery of the Eyelids), "Restylane," and "The Slim Book of Liposuction."
Dr. Engler has two US Patents for surgical instruments that he's designed, and has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Tyra Banks Show, The Ricki Lake Show (four times), and the Dr. Keith Ablow Show. Videos of his appearances are available on YouTube (SEARCH FOR "DR. ENGLER"). His website is www.bodysculpture.com.
Experience Dr. Alan Engler is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York and the author of BodySculpture - Plastic Surgery of the Body for Men and Women (ISBN 0966382749) one of the top-selling plastic surgery books on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, etc.
Education/Credentials Dr. Engler graduated from Yale University (undergraduate) and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University (medical school). He did his residency training in General Surgery and, after that, Plastic Surgery, at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York. He is on the faculty of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.
Question I had 2 moles removed from my face in my mid 20's. I am now 34. One of the moles has returned while I was pregnant and I had it checked out by a dermatologist who told me it looked safe. My problem is that the removal of these moles left unsightly scars on my chin and by my nose. One is almost an inch long and very jagged.
Is there anything I can do to #1 remove the new mole without adding another scar and #2 and most important to me, get these scars removed from my face. I can email you a picture. Thank you for your help.
Answer Dear Angelle,
Thanks for writing to me.
It can be very difficult to "remove" scars to one's satisfaction. The only way, in general, is to remove (excise) the existing scar, and then put the edges of the tissue back together under the best possible circumstances. That means minimal tension, and using favorable techniques (small sutures, lots of them, etc.). These are techniques that plastic surgeons use in general
The same applies for removing a mole. It is generally done as carefully as possible, although there's no guarantee of the scarring.
Some parts of the body are easier to work on than others; even with that there are differences (the upper nose has looser skin than the lower and therefore typically heals better). You can find a plastic surgeon near you by going to the About This Website page of my site, www.bodysculpture.com, and going to see a few surgeons in your area. It's not a bad idea to go for a few consults just to make sure that you have all the information you can get before making a decision.
