Dr. Barry Handler
Plastic Surgery
San Diego, CA
34 years experience male
Locations
Office
San Diego, CA
Phone
Practice website
Insurances accepted
Aetna Life Insurance Company
Anthem BC Life & Health Insurance Company
Blue Cross of California
CIGNA Health Care
Cigna
Great-West Healthcare
Health Net
Health Net Of California
Pacificare Life & Health Insurance Company
SCAN Health Plan
UnitedHealthcare
About
Bio
I am a board-certified plastic surgeon in private practice in San Diego, California since 1999. I specialize in both cosmetic and reconstructive procedures.
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
Doctor Q&A
212 Answers
138 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Thorough?: I don't know how thorough i can be in 400 letters but as far as dangers go any laser can cause burns and scarring and that's about the only real dange... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Age is relative: The decision to get breast implants in a personal one and age is seldom a factor. Before making the decision a woman should be fully informed and gen... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Many: Deflation, contracture, loss of nipple sensation, malposition, drug reaction, infection, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, death, scarring, po... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Revision Rhinoplasty: Healing after rhinoplasty takes patience. I agree with giving it atleast 6 months and often closer to a year. As to whether you go back to the origi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Maybe: Mentoplasty can be done by inserting an implant on top of the chin bone under local or general anesthesia. It can also be done by cutting and advanci... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Laser hair removal?: It is more softly but it lasts longer and you won't see blisters afterward.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Caution: Exercise and a permanent change to a balanced diet are the safest and most assured way to lose weight and keep it off. Short term changes only lead t... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 19-year-old female asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Options: Depend on whether your breast simply hang or if they are also oversized and causing you pain. The difference between a lift and a reduction is whethe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Pressure relief: The best thing to do for an early pressure sore is to stay off it and keep it clean and moisturizer. If you think it is more advanced seek medical ca... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Symptoms: There are few symptoms of a basal cell carcinoma. Occasionally they may bleed but usually the hallmark of a basal cell carcinoma is a skin lesion wit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old female asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Neomycin?: I can't speak for the person who treated you but i tell my patients to use polysporin (bacitracin and polymyxin) (double antibiotic ointment) or Bacit... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Tips on scar care: In general with any scar that is immature (less than 18 mos old) one should minimize sun exposure and moisturizer the skin daily or more.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
One Revises: Scars are permanent sequelae from prior injury. They cannot be removed but instead revised to something less noticeable.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 53-year-old female asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Venous lakes: Most of the time these collections of blood vessels called venous lakes and can be treated with laser. If in doubt ask your primary care doctor. If ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Yes: To legally purchase tretinoin cream in the us you either need a prescription to buy it at a pharmacy or you can buy it from many physicians who carry ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old male asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Numb thumb: There too many possibilities to discuss in 400 characters. The nerve pathway goes from your brain through your neck and down your arm to your thumb. ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Yes: But they will be little ones.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Sort of: You can make the larger one smaller by removing excess skin and breast tissue but there will be scars on the side you reduced. Some folks are using f... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Good question: It really depends on the procedures and more importantly the health of the patient. In general the less anesthetic the better but cosmetic procedures... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Depends....: On what you mean by your question. Some people feel that using arnica montana and or bromelain before and after breast implant surgery will reduce br... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
4 hours or less: Studies have shown that laying in bed for as little as four hours on a bony area can lead to a full thickness pressure sore to the bone. Things like ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Sort of: Most women who seek breast implants do so to increase the size of the breasts, regardless of the nipple size. As previously stated nipple size does n... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Don't get older?: In youth human skin is naturally thin but full of elastin fibers that give it a nice tight appearance as a child grows up the deeper layer of skin thi... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
BOTOX: Botox and other botulinum products aren't really "in the system" per say. They are injected directly where the nerve meets the muscle and stick to th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Natural asymmetry: People are naturally asymmetrical. With that said, if this is new then as previously mentioned it should be evaluated by a physician familiar with br... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Cleft lip: Look at a rabbit or hare and notice the cleft between the two sides of the upper lip. While human cleft lip can occur in the midline it is far more c... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Dog bite: If the dog has been with you since purchase from the breeder and it doesn't roam outdoors it probably is low risk for rabies. You can call the local ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Indications: A tummy tuck will tighten the abdomen. The body lift extends the tightening to the thighs and buttocks too. While this is attractive the amount of w... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 50-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Perhaps: A number of feelings may accompany a tummy tuck, with or without liposuction. Most people feel tight and have incisional soreness. The tightness is ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Not really: But it is not a bad idea to have your vision checked on a regular basis. Frequency can be determined based on subjective ability to see, associated s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Laser Lipolysis: Smartlipo is a trade name for a type of liposuction where the fat is melted with a laser through a 2mm wide wand inserted in the subcutaneous fat. Th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Not much: There is inherent danger in everything we do. That is why one should choose their surgeon wisely. Look for someone with the proper training who has ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Options: Superficial basal cell can be treated with radiation, topical creams Aldara (imiquimod) and effudex, burning and scraping or surgical excision. Deepe... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Yes: Lasik is very effective but not for everyone. See a board-certified ophthalmologist for an exam and recommendations.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Not likely: Spanx are compression garments that may give the illusion of a slimmer figure when worn but there is no reason to think they will actually reduce the ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Varies: The cost of smartlipo will vary from individual to individual. Be careful though because there are three generations of smartlipo and the technology ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Hard to say: It really depends on your situation but it is advisable to finish having kids before a tummy tuck and your general health should be good. These are e... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Save: Even with insurance there is no guarantee of coverage. Often what the patient feels is medically necessary and what insurance companies feel differ a... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Unknown: Since there will probably never be a study of Botox and fillers in pregnancy the answer will never be known with certainty. Anecdotal experience sugg... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
No(se job): It would only be recommended to operate on a nose after trauma if one was unable to breathe properly, has uncontrollable bleeding or if the appearance... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Probably: Theere are different types of steroids and all have risks and benefits. Anabolic steroids like the performance enhancing ones used by athletes actual... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
See the doctor: If there is a large pore and you can express the contents then you can put off the inevitable but generally these do not go away without being removed... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Yes: Sometimes it takes patience and you may have to switch lasers. It can be more difficult in women with poly cystic ovarian syndrome or those on testos... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 30-year-old male asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
If it hurts...: Get it checked out. Rugby is a violent sport and bones can get broken, ligaments can get stretched. If it bothers you go and see a doctor.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Hard to say...: Maybe you didn't hear. Maybe the doctor didn't say. Maybe we didn't know to tell. In spite of all the hassles, most women i see who come in with ag... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
How much sag?: Options depend on how much sagging skin there is. For small amounts there are various noninvasive treatments like thermage and titan. They are not v... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
See plastic surgeon: You sound like you may be an excellent candidate for a tummy tuck. This would remove all the loose skin and leave you with a scar that you can concea... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Body Contouring: Initially the weight may go up after surgery because of the IV fluid given in surgery and inflammation associated with normal healing. In general nei... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 39-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Maybe: Certain esophageal motility disorders such as esophageal spasm have been successfully treated with botox. See a qualified gastroenterologist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Barry Handleranswered
Plastic Surgery 34 years experience
Get it checked out: By a qualified practitioner.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k 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.
2
Recommendations
272
Thank you notes
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Handler is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Handler is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Although I take shower every day, and use deodorant, and everything, but nothing helped! Thank you so much doctor I appreciate your time.
HealthTap member
I think that having faith is so important. so many good doctors.
HealthTap member
That was a perfecfly clear answer! The best! Thanks!
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Saint Louis University School of Medicine, MO
Graduated 1989MD
Awards
HealthTap Founding Doctor
Affiliations
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
American College of Surgeons
California Medical Association
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