Could your career and income potential get a positive boost via cosmetic surgery? Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute remains busy even as the downturn in the economy has many struggling financially. In fact, plastic surgeons in Jacksonville and beyond report that even as patients look for ways to cut costs at home, they’re financing body and facial plastic surgery.

Research shows that beauty and confidence can help boost your career competitiveness and income potential.

Jacksonville women – and men – are landing financing rates as low as four percent and credit limits as high as $10,000 to fund cosmetic procedures that will improve their looks, thereby improving their career and earning potential. Why? Because as anyone in the advertisement or entertainment fields can tell you, youth and beauty sells – and not just on TV. The same adage goes for corporate offices across the country.

When it comes to competing for that new job, first impressions are important – and bankable, according to multiple recent studies. The 2009 Harvard Study of Health and Life Quality concluded that attractive and confident job seekers stood better chances of getting hired than did less attractive, less confident competitors. Another study in the Journal of Economic Psychology suggests the benefits of a beautiful face and physique continue after the hire. It concludes that employees deemed more attractive make 12 percent more money annually than their less comely coworkers. In these tight economic times, that statistical tidbit alone is enough to prompt an investment in cosmetic surgery.

Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute is seeing this trend at play in older patients as well. Many people who had planned to retire instead are opting to remain at their jobs and vying for raises or promotions, or looking for new jobs. An AARP study shows this to be the case for a full 25 percent of respondents to a study on the issue, and many feel they’re at a competitive disadvantage when younger job seekers are going for the same positions. And it’s not just women. A recent NBC poll revealed that more men than ever before are undergoing cosmetic procedures, including dermal fillers (wrinkle fillers) and plastic surgery. Of them a full 95 percent are working professionals looking to extend the life of their careers and boost their income potential.

Of course, without confidence and ability, you’ll never get a great job, promotion or raise solely based on a cosmetic surgery. But Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute can help you address any facial issues negatively affecting your competitive spirit. If you’re ready to get your best look, contact us at 800-803-0082 or via our online email form.

If you’re planning facial plastic surgery, Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute (aka Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery) wants to make sure your experience is a positive one. That means taking every necessary safety precaution, including eliminating certain medications and supplements in the months leading up to your procedure. Many medications and dietary or herbal supplements can remain in your body for weeks and may interact with other medications and anesthesia required at the time of your surgery. A negative reaction between two drugs could put your health or life at risk.

It's imperative that you tell your surgeon about any medications or supplements you're taking prior to your facial plastic surgery. Jacksonville's Garcia Institute can advise you.

For your safety, be sure you tell your Jacksonville facial plastic surgeon about all prescription and over-the-counter medications, dietary and herbal supplements and recreational drugs you have taken in the six months prior to your scheduled facial plastic surgery. Jacksonville-area patients are advised to avoid all types of aspirin and ibuprofen for two weeks prior to your procedure. Both of these medications are temporary blood thinners and thus can cause excessive bleeding during your surgery. If you need a pain reliever, ask your plastic surgeon if it’s okay to take acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. Acetaminophen may be safer because it does not interfere with blood clotting.

If you have been prescribed antidepressant medications, make sure tell your surgeon immediately. Antidepressants and other drugs classified as MAO (monoamine oxidase) inhibitors can negatively react to anesthesia. Telling your Jacksonville plastic surgeon and your anesthesiologist early allows them to make necessary adjustments and keep an extra cautions eye out for any potential problems.

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that because herbal remedies are naturally derived they are safe. St. John’s wort, a popular natural supplement believed to help treat depression and premenstrual syndrome, is known to interact with anesthesia. St. Johns Wort, ginseng and Ginkgo Biloba can increase bleeding. Ephedra and kava can affect blood pressure and heart rate and interfere with anesthetic medications, and kava in particular can intensify anesthesia’s sedation effects. Echinacea can contribute to allergic reactions.

The Garcia Institute’s Drs. Phillip Garcia and Dr. Roberto Garcia also strongly recommend that you not smoke cigarettes for at least two weeks before and two weeks after your facial plastic surgery. Jacksonville patients who do not smoke heal quicker and have less noticeable scarring than do patients who continue smoking.

If you’re considering facial plastic surgery, contact Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute for a consultation today.

At Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery, Jacksonville-area patients have lots of questions about various procedures – how they work, what results they achieve and how long those results will last. That’s a good thing in light of the many myths circulating about facial plastic surgery. Here are a few that we hear most often:

Confused about facial plastic surgery? Jacksonville's Garcia Institute dispells the myths.

Myth #1: Only celebrities and wealthy socialites have or can afford facial plastic surgery.

Jacksonville-area cosmetic surgery patients’ demographics mirror those in other areas of the nation. Studies show that a full 86 percent of plastic surgery patients are working women. And in a 2004 study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 60 percent of the respondents reported a household income of between $30,000 and $90,000, and 30 percent reported making less than $30,000. In fact, many people struggling in today’s tight economy are springing for plastic surgery procedures that will help improve their looks and boost their confidence. Why? Because studies by trusted institutions including the Harvard University and the Journal of Economic Psychology reveal that people who feel they are attractive also tend to have higher opinions of their worth and capabilities. That confidence means higher chances of landing competitive jobs and an average 12 percent higher income than their less attractive peers.

Myth #2: All plastic surgeons are created equal.

Save for the occasional rogue busted for performing cosmetic procedures without a license, all legally compliant facial plastic surgeons have the same core training and licensing. However, not all are board-certified in specialties within facial plastic surgery. Jacksonville’s Drs. Phillip Garcia and Roberto Garcia both are certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Phillip Garcia also is board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery and Dr. Roberto Garcia by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Even with the same certifications, plastic surgeons across Jacksonville and elsewhere have their own personal styles. Remember that much of cosmetic surgery is an art, so it’s critical that you ask to see many photos of a cosmetic surgeon’s work before choosing one.

Myth #3: Plastic surgery leaves no scars.

All surgical procedures heal with scars, but advances in minimally invasive and endoscopic procedures are making those scars all but invisible. At Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery, our Jacksonville surgeons make tissue incisions in strategic positions and directions to hide or minimize their visibility.

Myth #4: Plastic surgery results do not last.

This is the one myth that has an ounce of truth – but it’s entirely up to the patient. Cosmetic surgery procedures are designed to give patients lasting results, though aging and weight will factor into the long-term efficacy of any procedure. By doing your part with a nutritious diet, ample sleep, regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle, you add years to your cosmetic surgery’s results.

For laser hair removal, Jacksonville is a busy market. Northeast Florida’s beautiful beaches, lakes and rivers mean many days outside donning swimsuits, shorts and sundresses. Women go to great pains to make sure their legs, underarms, faces and bikini zones are smooth. And men increasingly are wanting of a hairless chest and back, especially during the spring and summer months.

Various skin and hair types respond differently to laser hair removal. Jacksonville's Garcia Institute has the right solution for removing your unwanted facial hair.

Products and procedures promising that silky smooth, hair-free skin abound. Shaving, waxing, tweezing and using depilatory creams all are options, but each comes with its own annoyances and none offer long-lasting results. That’s the main push behind the growing popularity of laser hair removal. Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute offers professional, safe and effective laser hair removal treatments with long-lasting results and no damage to your facial skin.

Many would-be patients skip the professional clinic, opting instead for one of numerous at-home laser hair removal devices. Jacksonville-area patients have many a horror story to tell about their attempts at permanent hair removal without the assistance of a professional in an ill-conceived effort to save time and money only to be left with damaged, burned skin and eyes. While at-home remedies are tempting, and although personal laser hair removal products on the market are of increasingly higher quality, a professional procedure remains your best, safest and most effective option – especially when it comes to removing unwanted facial hair.

The top reason that savvy patients in Jacksonville choose laser hair removal by physicians is safety. Many people assume that at-home laser hair removal equipment has been approved for safety by some governing body. Not so. In fact, most of these home-use devices have not been approved by the FDA as suitable for home laser hair removal treatment – but you won’t easily find that tidbit of information on product websites. Consider that, in unsteady hands, laser devices can burn and scar your skin – especially delicate facial skin. Lasers also can damage your eyes, sometimes causing blindness. Diode lasers have been known to cause urticaria, a severe allergic reaction similar to hives.

Another case for professional laser hair removal, Jacksonville, is simply the know-how that non-professionals lack. Different skin types and colors respond differently to various types of laser equipment. And each type of laser wand has various settings for wavelength, pulse width and fluence – all of which must be tailored for each patient based on skin tone, hair color and texture.

If you’re considering laser hair removal, Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute / Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery can safely and effectively clear your face of unwanted hair. Call (800) 803-0082 or use our online email form to ask questions or schedule a consultation.

If you’d love to look younger without the downtime of a traditional plastic surgery procedure (and who wouldn’t?) consider an endoscopic brow lift. Jacksonville’s Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery, also known as the Garcia Institute, offers this less invasive procedure as an effective alternative for its busiest clients.

An endoscopic brow lift offers a rejuvenated look with a fraction of the downtime, post-operative discomfort and scarring than a traditional brow lift.

With an endoscopic brow lift, Jacksonville patients who require less extensive treatment enjoy a rejuvenated look with a shorter recovery time than a traditional brow lift procedure entails. This procedure raises the eyebrow line and smoothes out wrinkles – much like its traditional counterpart. However, it’s achieved removing less skin. The difference is in the way incisions are made. A traditional brow lift involves the making one long incision from between the tops of ears, arching over the top of the forehead within the hairline. An endoscopic browlift instead requires just four to six small (about one inch) incisions behind the hairline.

In an endoscopic brow lift, Jacksonville’s Drs. Phillip Garcia and Roberto Garcia use an endoscope, a long, slender medical device that allows them to see the tissues beneath your skin on a monitor. This further allows them to work with smaller, fewer incisions. Less extensive incisions mean less recovery time, less post-operative discomfort and less scarring than is typical with a traditional brow lift. However, results may be less pronounced and shorter-lived. That’s why the ideal candidate is younger and does not need as much skin removed to achieve ideal results.

Both traditional and endoscopic brow lift procedures help address drooping brows, horizontal lines across the forehead, deep furrows between the brows, heavy upper lids and an angry or tired appearance that often comes with age or high-stress lifestyles. If you are interested in a traditional or endoscopic brow lift, Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute has the experience and expertise to offer you beautiful, natural looking results. Visit our website for more information and use our convenient Click to Call feature to schedule a consultation.

If you’re wondering about ear surgery, Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute has answers to all your questions. Formally referred to as “otoplasty” and often called “ear pinning,” cosmetic ear surgery is designed to change the appearance of your external ears. Most often, the surgery is performed on patients who feel their ears too noticeably protrude away from their scalps. When this is the case, an ear surgery procedure reshapes the cartilage in a way that brings the ear closer to the scalp.

However, other reasons for otoplasty exist, including genetic disorders such as Treacher Collins syndrome, hemifacial microsomia and Stahl’s deformity (known as “Spock ear”); and traumatic ear injuries caused by car crashes, fights or dog bites, for instance. Reconstructive or cosmetic ear surgery can involve moving, reshaping, adding or removing ear elements.

Before and after photos of an otoplasty procedure by Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery. Click the image to see more patient photos.

Otoplasty was first developed in ancient India around 600 BC and often was used to reconstruct ears that had been amputated as a punishment for crimes. Those same early procedures form the basis for the very procedures that are performed today. The most common ear surgery procedures involve removing excess cartilage from the center back of the ear, then reconnecting the ear closer to the scalp using absorbable sutures. In pediatric ear surgery, Jacksonville surgeons typically perform the procedure under general anesthesia. Adults are treated under local or twilight anesthesia. Immediately following the procedure, patients wear headbands that keep their ears in place 24 hours a day for three weeks. And most are able to resume normal athletic activity within two weeks following ear surgery.

Jacksonville’s Drs. Phillip Garcia and Roberto Garcia focus exclusively on facial reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. Otoplasty is a specialty for them, so rest assured that you are in the best of hands. To discuss your ear surgery, contact Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute at (904) 247-8522.

Considering cosmetic nasal surgery? Jacksonville’s Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery offers tips on making sure you get the best results possible with your rhinoplasty procedure.

Cosmetic nasal surgery, also known as rhinoplasty, is intended to correct aesthetic issues of the nose that make patients feel self-conscious. Among the most common issues that Jacksonville plastic surgery specialist see in patients are:

•    A nose that appears too large for the face;
•    A bump on the nasal bridge when viewed in profile;
•    A nose that seems too wide when viewed from the front;
•    A nasal tip that droops or plunges;
•    A thickened or enlarged tip;
•    Excessively flared nostrils;
•    An off-center or crooked nose;
•    An asymmetrical shape of the nose caused by a previous injury.

Cosmetic nasal surgery isn't like choosing a new nose from a catalog. Many factors are at play, so having realistic expectations is critical.

In 2009, the fourth most frequently performed plastic surgery procedure was cosmetic nasal surgery. Jacksonville’s Drs. Philip Garcia and Roberto Garcia specialize in reconstructive and cosmetic nasal surgery. Their most important piece of advice to patients is to clearly and fully communicate with your Jacksonville plastic surgeon and to have reasonable expectations.

It has been said that the best candidates for cosmetic nasal surgery – or any cosmetic surgery – are those who want to improve, not perfect the way they look. The nose is the face’s most prominent feature and many factors affect what a surgeon is and is not able to accomplish. Patients often mistakenly believe that the process is like choosing a new nose from a catalog. Surgeons today use advanced digital imaging and morphing software to help communicate ideas and expectations prior to a patient undergoing a nose surgery procedure. However, understand that each procedure is as unique as each patient.

To assure great results with your cosmetic nasal surgery, Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute asks that you be extremely clear as to what you would like to change about your nose and why. The decision to undergo any plastic surgery procedure should be yours alone, so be sure that you are not being influenced by your family, friends or media-fed perceptions. Even the most extensive cosmetic nasal surgery won’t make you look like that movie star on the magazine covers. It will make you look like you – only better. And that’s a beautiful thing!

To plan your cosmetic nasal surgery, contact Jacksonville’s Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery at (904) 247-8522.

Wondering about laser hair removal, Jacksonville? This procedure can give your face a smoother, cleaner more youthful look and save you hours of shaving and plucking. Laser hair removal works by passing a thin light beam through the skin’s surface, targeting the melanin (dark pigment) and destroying hair follicles. The melanin absorbs the laser’s light energy, which travels down the air shaft to the root in the form of heat. When this heat energy is delivered to the root of the hair, the root is destroyed and the hair falls out. All of this is accomplished without any damage to your skin.

No need to cover that pretty face. If you're looking for laser hair removal, Jacksonville's Garcia Institute can help.

When you opt for laser hair removal at Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute, your physician will press a laser device, along with a cooling device, against your skin and you will feel what many describe as a quick pinching or mild stinging sensation. You will wear special goggles to protect your eyes and you may smell a strange odor when the hair follicles get zapped. Patients typically undergo three laser hair removal treatments scheduled six weeks apart initially. Occasional maintenance treatments may be necessary to keep your face smooth and free of unwanted hair. Treatments may take from a few minutes for small patches to several hours for larger areas. Patients are able to resume their daily routines almost immediately following laser hair removal treatment, though we recommend avoiding direct sunlight of treated areas.

Before opting for laser hair removal, there are a few things to consider. The ideal candidate for this procedure has dark hair, thick or coarse. Because the laser is designed to target dark pigments, laser hair removal treatments are not as effective on grey, white or blonde hair. For women, it’s important to know whether your facial hair growth is the result of a hormonal abnormality, as this type of hair growth may respond better to different treatment types.

For laser hair removal, call Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute at (904) 247-8522 or contact us via our online email form.

A recent study shows that people today are more open than ever about cosmetic surgery. Jacksonville patients of the Garcia Institute and others nationwide say that “having a little work done” no longer carries the taboo that it once did. Perhaps because of its saturation of TV, magazines and the Internet, talk of cosmetic surgery is increasingly an acceptable and comfortable conversation.

Go ahead - Tell it to the world! A new survey shows society is more open than ever about cosmetic surgery.

According to the study released by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, a full 71% of respondents believe society is less judgmental about cosmetic surgery than it was just five years ago, and for 62% of them, society’s relaxed attitude made them feel more comfortable about getting their own procedures. Respondents younger than age 40 were nearly twice as likely as others to consider undergoing cosmetic surgery. And though they may have kept mum about it in the past, 52 percent of respondents say they today would tell their families about having invasive cosmetic surgery. Jacksonville patients share these thoughts.

Survey respondents are most comfortable talking about:

• Laser hair removal (61.9%)
• Botox (61.9%)
• Breast augmentation (42.4%)
• Facelifts (32.2%)
• Tummy tucks (32.1%)

“This is a confirmation of what many of us have felt for a long time – that cosmetic surgery has become mainstream,” said AACS President Dr. Mark Berman. “A variety of factors have contributed to the normalization of our industry, but the bottom line is that people are not afraid to talk openly about cosmetic surgery anymore.”

Adds AACS Past President Dr. Patrick McMenamin, “It’s been a long road but thanks to the hard work of so many, cosmetic surgery is rightfully gaining acceptance in our society. We’ve reached a point where people are no longer quiet about having a cosmetic procedure and that is important to all of us.”

How comfortable are you talking about cosmetic surgery, Jacksonville? Do you still keep mum? Do you tell only closest friends or family? Or do you proudly declare it to the world? Garcia Institute wants to know your thoughts, so please leave us a comment. And if you’re considering facial cosmetic surgery, Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute can be reached at (904) 247-8522 or via our convenient online email form.

More than 17 million cosmetic procedures were performed nationwide throughout 2009, according to a new survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. Jacksonville Baby Boomers likely won’t be surprised by these results. The survey shows that the Boomer generation represents a large percentage of cosmetic procedure patients. In fact, among the client base of AACS members, the average age of facelift patients is 54.1 years. The average age for blepharoplasty is 52.3 years. And the average age of patients opting for Botox is 46.6.

Baby Boomers account for a growing percentage of cosmetic procedures performed in Jacksonville and nationwide.

A few highlights of the survey:

• Facelifts by AACS members rose 44% from 2008 to 2009, totaling 34,455 last year compared to 20,478 in 2008;
• Blepharoplasty procedures jumped 42 percent to 60,507 from 42,602;
• Rhinoplasty surgeries went up 74% to 21,730 from 12,460
• Invasive procedures showing the largest gain in the past five years are Blepharoplasty, abdomonoplasty and rhinoplasty;
• Less invasive procedures with the biggest 5-year gain are laser resurfacing, chemical peels and fillers.

The study is the first of its kind performed by the AACS and involves polling of AACS members plus randomly chosen physicians nationwide. The total number of procedures performed by AACS members has increased by eight percent since 2008.

When it comes to cosmetic procedures, Jacksonville follows the same trend that physicians and surgeons are seeing across the United States – a boom in Baby Boomer clientele. Many patients of the Garcia Institute are in their 50s and 60s and not quite ready to concede their looks. Today’s mature population is healthier, more active and more consumer savvy than any previous generation. They also are more informed about medical, plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures. Jacksonville’s Boomer population is one that knows what it wants and is comfortable asking for it.

“The Baby Boomers are getting older but they still feel young and they want to look that way too,” said AACS President Mark Berman, MD. “With anti-aging procedures, people tend to feel much better about themselves afterward.”

Cosmetic procedures in Jacksonville and beyond are expected to grow as America’s economy recovers.

“The cosmetic surgery industry continues to grow at a rate many people never thought it
would reach,” Berman said. “With the aging of the Baby Boomer generation, I don’t think we’ve come close to hitting the ceiling yet. That 17 million is only going to expand.

If you’re a Baby Boomer who wants to look as great as you feel, contact the Garcia Institute at  (904) 247-8522 today.