LOOKING YOUR BEST: “It’s important to have the right treatment for the right issue. Each patient is an individual with unique needs and circumstances. My job is to put together a treatment plan that is appropriate for that patient’s individual situation.” Cosmetic facial plastic surgeon Eugenie Brunner, M.D., FACS, practicing in Princeton, also offers non-surgical procedures, including a skin rejuvenation laser center.

By Jean Stratton

Now that many of us are emerging from under masks, certain “imperfections” previously hidden are now seeing the bright light of day.

Is there a slight “softening” of the chin line? Are those telltale lines and wrinkles more prominent than before? Even worse, is the unwelcome, yet ultimately inevitable, gravity-induced sag now part of the equation?

If some of these concerns are yours, not to worry! Help is at hand.

If, indeed, it is time for a bit of “nip and tuck” or even something more substantial, Dr. Eugenie Brunner, M.D., FACS, is ready to help. A specialist in cosmetic facial plastic surgery and skin rejuvenation, she has been practicing for 25 years at the Woodlands Building, 256 Bunn Drive. She offers comprehensive care and treatment for a myriad of conditions.

Expert Credentials

“A good candidate for these treatments, surgical and non-surgical, is motivated, willing to talk about the whole procedure, realistic about expectations and risks, and able to establish a good rapport with the doctor,” explains Brunner. “It is crucial that the patient feels comfortable with the doctor.”

The needs of her patients and a positive result for them have always been uppermost in Brunner’s practice. Her years of experience and expert credentials have resulted in her receiving many awards and honors, including recognition as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor N.J./N.Y. in cosmetic facial plastic surgery for many years.

Double board-certified in facial and reconstructive plastic surgery and otolaryngology head and neck surgery, she now focuses exclusively on cosmetic facial plastic surgery.

A Princeton native, Brunner graduated from Princeton High School, Rutgers University, and with honors from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School-The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

She continued training at New York University Medical Center in an otolaryngology, head and neck surgery residency program. She then pursued advanced studies in facial plastic surgery at the University of Toronto under the auspices of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, where she trained with the president of that organization.

Brunner is affiliated with Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, where she performs surgery. She is also a Fellow, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and a Fellow, American College of Surgeons. During her career. she has performed thousands of cosmetic facial plastic surgery procedures.

Painting and Drawing

In addition to her skill and years of cosmetic facial plastic surgery experience, Brunner is distinguished by her long-standing interest in art. From a young age, she loved painting and drawing, studied at the Parsons School of Design in the summer, and at one point, contemplated a career as an artist.

Her interest and ability in science was evident too, and by the 10th grade, she was determined to become a doctor.

Her love of art, however, remains strong, and is a factor in the creative aspects of cosmetic facial surgery. She definitely believes her talent for art is linked with her love of plastic surgery.

“There is a tie-in. You have to have a good eye in the operating room for proportion and detail,” she points out. “The combination of surgery and art has enabled me to augment and define my facial plastic surgery techniques, both cosmetic and reconstructive, with aesthetic and surgical artistry.”

Brunner’s practice has evolved over the years, and consists of three main components: surgery, skin rejuvenation laser treatments, and non-surgical procedures, including fillers and injections.

Depending on the patient’s condition, one or all of these can be incorporated into a treatment plan.

Laser Resurfacing

“The interaction between the results of these types of facial procedures is exponential and will have tremendous impact in heightening your overall rejuvenation experience and outcome,” she explains. “For example, the results obtained from a facelift will be significantly improved and augmented with laser resurfacing of the skin to lessen sun damage and brown spots.”

Surgical facelifts include an array of options: full or mini facelifts; neck lifts; eyelid, brow, and forehead lifts; rhinoplasty (nose); chin and cheek augmentation; and many more possibilities.     

“Cosmetic facial plastic surgery involves reshaping, contouring, and lifting,” observes Brunner. “Whether having a facelift to remove jowls and a double chin or rhinoplasty to reshape your nose, it is important to ensure that your results are natural in appearance and well-balanced to suit the proportion of your facial features.”

The goal of most patients is to have a natural look, she adds. Realistic expectations are also very important, and these are emphasized in her initial consultation with a patient, when she also takes a full medical history.

Harmony and Balance

“Facial plastic surgery cannot make you look like someone else. It cannot guarantee you success in your job, improve your social life, nor make people like you,” points out Brunner. “What it can do is improve the harmony and balance of your facial features, reverse some of the signs of aging, and help you look your best. After the lifting process, the patient should look better and refreshed, but not different.”

For those who want to improve their look but who may not be ready for surgery, Brunner offers a wide range of non-surgical treatments. She established the Skin Rejuvenation Laser Center, which includes the most progressive, innovative techniques available. Her state-of-the-art facility offers 10 different laser treatments, utilizing the most advanced equipment and machines.

“These procedures are designed to refresh and tone your skin,” she explains. “Whether you are 60 years old and require fractional C02 laser resurfacing to remove wrinkles and sun damage or 30 years old and would like less invasive procedures to reinvigorate and stimulate your skin, we can offer the correct laser treatment for your needs.”

Among the laser procedures are SmartLipo Triplex for face and neck contouring; Fraxel Repair laser for wrinkle removal; Fraxel Dual laser for brown pigmentation and scar removal; and MicroLaser Peel for fine lines and sun damage. Many others are also available.

Brunner performs numerous filler and Botox injections to contour and redefine facial features, as well as to smooth and soften wrinkles. Botox, Restylane, Juvederm, and lip augmentation procedures are just some of the possibilities.

“These are very refined and intricate procedures that require the artistic skill and precision to render a very meticulous painting and the three dimensional aptitude to execute a finely formed sculpture,” she reports, again referring to the importance of art in her practice.

Recovery Time

An important aspect of the laser and non-surgical treatments is their quicker recovery time. Whereas surgery would include a two-week or more recovery period, laser, fillers, and injections require very little time away from normal activities.

Time, gravity, genetics, and years of exposure to the elements are factors in the aging process, and individuals differ considerably in their need or desire for any of these procedures, surgical or non-surgical. Wherever her patients are in the spectrum, Brunner will determine which of the treatments would be most effective for that person’s condition.

She sees patients from all over the Princeton area and beyond. Typically, they are 40 to 70 years old and in good health. Certain conditions, including smoking, preclude patients from receiving treatment.

For others, though, it can make a difference in their life. As the saying goes, when you look good, you feel good. And indeed, it is not just vanity. Outward appearance can affect inner feelings, and build self-esteem and confidence.

Brunner is pleased to be able to make a positive difference in people’s lives. As she says, “It is so satisfying to me when patients are happy with the results and feel better about themselves. What I most enjoy is making people happy. I look forward to coming to work every day. It’s a new day. A new opportunity. A new patient to help!”

The office is open Monday through Friday. Call (609) 921-9497 for an appointment. Website: drbrunnermd.com.