Locations
Office
Joliet, IL
Phone
Practice website
Insurances accepted
Blue cross blue shield
About
Bio
Residency:
General Surgery: The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center - Harvard Medical School
Plastic Surgery: The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Hand Surgery: The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
Active Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Plastic Surgery
Hand Surgery
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
35 Answers
6 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Yes: Cocaine is a powerful vasoconstrictor. If enough is exposed to the nasal mucusa, vasoconstriction occurs and can, in extreme cases, cause the cartila... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Blepharoplasty: Depending on the severely of the lower eyelid bags, blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) is the best way to treat.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Yes, if it fails: Silicone implants last on average about 10 years. When the shape and size of your augmented breast change, you should have your surgeon check it. If... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Liposuction/tuck: Liposuction (or suction assisted lipectomy) or tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)/excision can effectively remove fat from the body.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 53-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Outpouching of joint: A ganglion cyst is an outpouching of the joint capsule with synovium fluid inside. Usually secondary to a weakness in the joint capsule (either conge... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
No: A tummy tuck without complications has no effect on one's bowel function.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Not recommended: Any surgery in the butt can potentially contaminate surgery elsewhere in the body. Breast augmentation requires absolute sterility as any infection o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
No: One has nothing to do with the other. Consult your ob/gyn regarding your vaginal bleeding.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
No: The scar usually fade and become less apparent, but it will not disappear.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
3-4 weeks: While pain is relative and everyone has different pain threshold, breast augmentation are painful usually in the first week. Afterwards, pain will su... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Yes: While liposuction can be done in just about everywhere in the body. It is recommended to be used only in targeted areas (ie: abdomen, hips, thighs, a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Yes: Although not widely done, there have been reports of successful breast augmentation and reconstruction using autologous (fat from self) fat injection.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
No: While pain is relative, most patients do not report significant pain when sutures are removed, only slight discomfort.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Yes: A tummy tuck will achieve these goals provided that the stretch marks and loose skin are mostly located below the belly button.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
6 weeks: While everyone recovers differently and scars can take up to 18 months to mature, most people will recover from facelift (where swelling and bruising ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Yes: However, while tubal ligation may be covered by insurance, a tummy tuck typically is not.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Appear bigger: Blepharoplasty does not change the size of the eyes. The folds can make the eyes seem bigger.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Depends: If a patient is thin but has very large breasts, a breast reduction will make the patient look thinner. However, an overweight patient may see less o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
No: Implants have an average life of approximately 10 years. These are based on old data. Newer implants may last longer, but that remains to be seen. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Yes: Ablative laser is effective in improving if not completely removing acne scars. However, ablative lasers (co2, erbium, fractional ablative) do have 7... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Most: Most healthy women with very large breasts causing back, neck, and shoulder pains are good candidates for breast reduction surgery.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
No: Cosmetic surgery are not typically done to affect the size of one's feet.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Yes: Gravity, and age-relate skin changes will usually emphasize the bags under the eyes as one ages. Blepharoplasty is a good solution to this problem.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Yes: However, it all depends on what size breasts you start with. If your breasts are small to begin with, then no.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
No: An uncomplicated blepharoplasty should not alter vision. However, when done for ptosis (droopy upper eyelids) it will increase the upper visual field... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
No: While diet, heredity affects ones skin tone. Non-surgical facelifts are gimmicks that do not work.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Depends: A nose can be reshaped by removing and/or adding cartilage material, silicone, bone, and suturing internal cartilaginous support to different shapes.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Not much pain: Blepharoplasty (eyelid) surgery using does not hurt much. Mostly are done under general anesthesia. Recovery usually are not associated with severe ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 27-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Yes: Usually revision surgery will be necessary in the future either as an implant exchange from failure (implants last about 10 years on average) or for o... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Happy: Most women after breast reduction surgery typically feel very happy for undergoing the operation. Their back, neck, and shoulder pains improve and th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Tummy tuck/body lift: Depending on the amount of excess skin. Typically a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) and or a fully body lift (in massive weight loss patients) will be ne... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Yes: An incisional or ventral hernia repair can be done at the same time as a tummy tuck. In some cases, some insurance company will actually cover the tu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Yes: Gaining weight has little or nothing to do with breast augmentation. Likewise a woman can lose weight after breast augmentation.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Yes: Many things can resemble a ganglion cyst. It's not uncommon for a surgeon to go operate on a "ganglion cyst" and found something entirely different.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Excising scar: Typically, the old unsightly scar is completely excised (surgically removed), the wound is then meticulously closed and at times, re-oriented and clos... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
3
Recommendations
67
Thank you notes
Mar 30, 2015
Great doctor. Consistently gives thoughtful, insightful and expert advice.
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Chen is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Chen is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thanks, this checklist made me feel good Thank you for your help :)
HealthTap member
This saved my life. Thank You!
Awards
HealthTap Founding Doctor
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
Answer emailed
in 24 hours or less