Considering cosmetic surgery? Jacksonville-area patients have long turned to Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery Institute for a range of facial cosmetic surgeries including facelifts, forehead lifts, brow lifts, cheek implants, chin implants and lip enhancements among other procedures. Our highly qualified, board certified and caring cosmetic surgeons go the extra mile to make sure patients are happy with their results.

But will facial cosmetic surgery make you an overall happier person? It’s a tricky question and one that we at the Garcia Institute take very seriously. Over the last decade, our industry has seen a phenomenon of “plastic surgery addiction.” Patients (primarily women, but men are affected as well) experiencing depression or severely low self esteem issues began demanding multiple cosmetic surgeries and many unsuspecting, or downright unscrupulous plastic surgeons obliged. The problem gradually revealed itself when these patients returned repeatedly. Many of these patients initially seemed elated with their cosmetic surgery results, but soon returned saying they were dissatisfied.

Psychologists and cosmetic surgeons in Jacksonville and across the nation place at least some blame on popular extreme makeover television shows that make plastic surgery seem quick and easy. Scores of cosmetic surgeons have responded to the phenomenon by requiring patients who show troubling signs to undergo psychological screenings before their surgeries. Patients deemed emotionally fragile often are required to get further counseling before surgeries are scheduled and many plastic surgeons flatly deny services to patients who have shown evidence of an inordinate dependence on plastic surgery.

Garcia Institute’s Jacksonville cosmetic surgeons and other staff care about our patients’ overall wellbeing – not just their outward beauty. So, we recommend that you strongly consider your reasons for having cosmetic surgery and your expectations. Study after study shows that patients who have realistic expectations of what their cosmetic surgery results will look like and how their lives will be affected fare far better than those with unrealistic expectations. If you look like Deborah Winger, we can’t (and wouldn’t if we could) make you look like Marilyn Monroe. Also, women or men going through major life changes or crisis situations definitely should hold off on undergoing cosmetic surgery. Although many of our procedures are minimally invasive and have relatively quick healing times, any surgical procedure and the required or recommended physical limitations during the healing phase can be stressful. A tough life situation on top of it is a recipe for trouble.

Bottom line, Jacksonville – cosmetic surgery most definitely can help improve your self esteem by improving your looks, and that self-esteem boost can spill over into many facets of your life. People who are confident and happy with their looks perform better in their careers, tend to lead healthier, more active lives and experience more fulfilling social and romantic relationships. But cosmetic surgery alone won’t heal a broken spirit. Improving your self-image from the inside will always be more important and more effective than any outward fix. If you are experiencing depression or severely low self esteem spend time with friends and family members who have positive outlooks on life, exercise (endorphins are great medicine!), get counseling from a pastor, mentor or professional counselor/psychologist if needed. When you feel beautiful inside, you’ll be even happier with what we can do for your outward beauty.