We offer two options for establishing new patient contact: an in-office face-to-face consultation or, for certain conditions, a secure online screening iConsultation. Please note that we only accept patients in good health between the ages of 18 and 60 (age limit 18 to 45 for Asian double eyelid surgery).
A face-to-face consultation is our preferred method of contact. Not only will you be examined by Dr. Meronk, but he will then present a highly-individualized analysis of your condition and offer a specific plan of action. A personal visit allows for a give-and-take discussion that can be extremely helpful in understanding your options.
The cost for a face-to-face consultation is $200, payable at the time of scheduling. Consultations generally last about 45 minutes.
If you later decide to undergo first-time cosmetic surgery in our office within six months, this consultation fee is deducted from your total charges.
In the case of revisional problems related to prior eyelid surgery, the consultation fee is not deducted from future charges.
To schedule a face-to-face consultation with Dr. Meronk, call us at
805-983-2455.
If you live some distance from our office but are considering seeking care with us, you may request a preliminary no-cost screening review through our iConsultation program.
Via an encrypted secure form, you may fill out a questionnaire and submit up to four photos for Dr. Meronk to review over the Internet. A member of our staff will then relay any comments and provide you with pertinent online written and audiovisual explanations and a tentative price quote.
If your prefer to submit your inquiry by postal mail rather than over the Internet, you may do so by following the special instructions found in the top section of the iConsultation form.
Please note that this service is only offered for certain conditions or problems. If your concern is not specifically addressed by one of the available forms, that means we are unable to accept an iConsultation from you no matter where you live.
iConsultation Forms and Instructions
Our response will, obviously, be based upon limited and incomplete input with no opportunity for a hands-on examination or give-and-take discussion. Until you are actually examined by Dr. Meronk in our office, our response should thus be viewed only as directed general information but not specific medical advice.
If you feel comfortable with this level of feedback, you may then elect to schedule an actual consultation and your surgery to take place on a single trip. We will provide you with samples of necessary pre-operative forms, consents, and instructions for your review prior to your arrival.
It will still be necessary for you to be examined face-to-face by Dr. Meronk prior to any treatment to establish a firm diagnosis and finalize a specific plan of action. There is, of course, a possibility that you or the doctor may feel differently about your condition or treatment options following this evaluation.
Your office-based outpatient surgery will be performed later that same day or on the following morning.
There is no charge to submit an iConsultation, but be sure to read the Terms of Use and all Disclaimers noted on the form.
Q: Are the iConsultations reviewed by the doctor?
A: Yes. Once your submission is complete and has been screened for appropriateness, Dr. Meronk will personally review your form and photos along with one of our staff.
Q: What if I'm reluctant to send personal information over the Internet?
A: You should be. Regular Internet and email transmissions are not considered secure because they are subject to easy interception. Our iConsultation program employs advanced encryption technology to protect the privacy of both your correspondence and our reply.
Q: How long does it take to receive a response?
A: Online inquiries are evaluated as time permits. Response time can thus vary from several days to two weeks.
Q: What if I receive a favorable iConsultation response but still want to meet with the doctor to discuss my proposed care further or make sure he doesn't have three eyes and a tremor?
A: You may, of course, schedule an in-office face-to-face consultation with Dr. Meronk before making a decision. Fees and payment policies are the same as noted above. If you then elect to undergo surgery, your operation will need to be scheduled for a later date.
Q: I have a non-cosmetic eyelid problem. Will the doctor review my case and offer an opinion?
A: No. Ours is a highly specialized practice fully devoted to cosmetic eyelid surgery.
Q: Will Dr. Meronk talk to me by phone after an iConsultation?
A: No. The only way to speak directly with the doctor is in conjunction with a comprehensive face-to-face examination and analysis. Until then, you are not considered a regular patient in our practice.
Q: I had blepharoplasty elsewhere and experienced a complication. Will the doctor review my case in consideration for revision?
A: The only post-blepharoplasty problem that qualifies for our iConsultation program is upper or lower eyelid hollowness.
If you have additional questions regarding these options, please call our office at 805-983-2455.
