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.

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.

As specialists in facial plastic surgery, Jacksonville’s Dr. Philip Garcia and Dr. Roberto Garcia know that the work they perform will yield the best results if patients are healthy and their skin is in optimal shape for their ages and lifestyles. That’s why they developed the Reviva Anti-Aging System, featuring anti-oxidant and Omega 3 vitamin and mineral supplement formulas specifically designed to help Jacksonville plastic surgery patients heal faster, ward off skin-damaging free radicals and keep not just their skin but their entire bodies healthy and strong.

The Reviva anti-aging vitamin line includes four formulas/stages: Stage I Multivitamin, Stage II Anti-Oxidant, Stage III Healing and Omega-3.  Each is designed for a specific result and together, they keep help keep the

Reviva Anti-Aging System by Drs. Phillip and Roberto Garcia

body’s internal processes healthy, promote healing after plastic surgery in Jacksonville, rejuvenate and protect your skin and hair. Read more »

When considering plastic surgery, Jacksonville clients must consider not only the surgeons and staff, but the facility where the procedure will take place. The Garcia Institute is located on the first floor of the Atrium Building at 700 Third Street in Neptune Beach near Jacksonville, just blocks from the Atlantic Ocean. Ours is North Florida’s only office-based surgery suite accredited and certified by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Founded in 1951, the Joint Commission is the nation’s leader in developing and enforcing the highest standards of quality and safety in the delivery of healthcare and in evaluating organizational performance based on these standards. Accreditation and certification by the Joint Commission requires an exhaustive evaluation that ensures compliance with the organization’s standards plus requirements by various regulatory agencies governing the medical industry. Evaluators go through a firm’s facilities and organizational procedures with a fine-toothed comb and make suggestions for improvement where needed.

The Joint Commission’s Office-Based Surgery Accreditation Program was introduced in 2001 to help improve the safety of office-based surgical facilities. To date, more than 400 office-based surgery practices are accredited by the Joint Commission, and we are proud to be the forerunner in accredited and certified office suites offering plastic surgery in Jacksonville and throughout Northeast Florida. The distinction allows us access to the commission’s expert advice and education on quality improvement and the ability to attract highly trained and qualified staff.

Garcia Institute Summer House Cottages Recovery Suite

The Garcia Institute’s state-of-the-art facility carries a home-like feel with soothing color schemes, soft lighting and plush furniture to help patients feel at ease. And our surgical suites boast the latest in equipment and technologies to assure you the safest, least invasive surgical experience possible.

To help get your recovery started quickly and smoothly, we offer single-night and extended stays in our Summer House Cottages recovery suites, located in a private and secluded Ponte Vedra Beach residence. The home is backed by a tranquil pond and is just blocks from the Atlantic shoreline. You’ll enjoy peace and quiet in a plush environment with valet service to the beach.

If you’re considering plastic surgery, Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute is among the most trusted firms in Northeast Florida. Browse our website to learn more about our services, staff and facilities and use our convenient, online Click to Call feature to talk with a representative about your plastic surgery needs.

A person’s face, particularly her smile, often is considered her calling card, so when reconstructive surgery is needed, it can be an intensely emotional time. We at Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery Institute near Jacksonville take reconstructive facial surgery very seriously. We see patient after patient whose beautiful faces have been marred by automobile accidents, skin cancers, dog bites and other misfortunes. These injuries can affect both the form and the function of the face, requiring the expertise of an experienced Jacksonville reconstructive surgeon to help restore the face’s functionality and aesthetic form.

The face is among the most commonly injured parts of the body, and the most challenging to treat. Injuries to facial bones including the jaw, eye socket or cheek bone, as well as severe facial scarring may interfere with the movement and function of the victim’s mouth or eyes. And any soft tissue injury, facial bone fracture or skin cancer surgery can result in significant cosmetic deformity to the face.

When considering facial reconstructive surgery, it’s important to understand the two primary reasons that a plastic surgeon performs reconstructive surgeries. The overarching reason is to address issues of lost functionality. We want to restore your ability to smile, open or close your eyes, speak clearly – all examples of functions that facial injuries can inhibit. The second reason is to restore your face’s aesthetic form, and therefore your confidence. Please understand that while a skilled reconstructive surgeon can improve your face’s function and form, complete and perfect restoration to your face’s original appearance rarely is possible.

For reconstructive surgery, Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute offers outpatient treatment, often without the use of sedation or general anesthesia required. For more severe cases requiring general or sedation anesthesia, such as facial fractures, large facial traumas or traumas in children, we can perform facial reconstructive surgery in a local hospital or at our outpatient surgery center or our state-of-the-art Jacksonville surgical suite accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations. Recovery from reconstructive surgery typically takes about a week and our reconstructive surgeons follow patients for a year after their surgeries.

If a facial injury has cost you facial functions or robbed you of your beauty, contact the Garcia Institute today. Our highly skilled reconstructive surgeons can help restore your face’s function and your confidence. Call our Neptune Beach office at 904-247-8522 or contact us via our convenient online email form.

Many of our prospective patients are a little antsy about what to expect after getting a facelift. Jacksonville’s Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery walks you through every step of the way, assuring that you’re informed and comfortable throughout the process.

The primary questions we always hear are

•    “How will I look?”
•    “Will it hurt?”
•    “When can I return to my daily routine?”

You definitely can expect some swelling and bruising in the weeks immediately following your facelift. Don’t panic! That stranger you see in the mirror is temporary. Your beautiful, youthful new look will come sharply into focus as you heal.

As for the pain, most of our Jacksonville facelift patients take only a few pain pills over the first two days after their surgeries. Because you’ll need to sleep in an elevated position for the first week or so, you may experience mild neck and back aches. An over-the-counter pain medication such as Tylenol will help alleviate this discomfort. Otherwise, the primary complaint after a facelift is a feeling of tightness. This is normal as your tissues heal. Tightness typically peaks on the third day following a facelift, and subsides significantly by the fifth day.

You may continue to feel some stiffness in your neck for several weeks, but should be able to resume much of your physical activity such as running and lifting objects at the two-week mark. Take it slow, though, as your body not only is healing, but has been sedentary for several weeks and needs to ease back into its normal groove.

Most of our patients report feeling comfortable with going back out into public in about a week’s time after a facelift. Jacksonville offers year-round sunny weather that makes everyone want to get out and socialize, but your skin will be sensitive for four to six weeks following a facelift. So, avoid direct sunlight for a while, instead opting for indoor socializing opportunities. Be sure to slather on the high SPF sunscreen and wear a wide brimmed hat if you’ll be outside for more than a few minutes.

Of course, all the anxieties and frustrations go back to the original question – “How will I look?” The long term effect depends on multiple factors including your age, lifestyle and expectations. Going into your facelift in good health with a positive foundational self image and realistic expectations yields the most favorable results. If you’re 60, we can’t (and wouldn’t if we could) make you look 16. Our goal is to help you achieve a natural, youthful and radiant look that fits your lifestyle. No amount of plastic surgery can GIVE you confidence, but an expertly performed facelift done in tandem with your own health-conscious efforts will definitely BOOST your self confidence.

If you’re considering a facelift, Jacksonville’s Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery is ready to work hand-in-hand with you to achieve the look you want. Use our convenient online Click to Call feature to talk with a specialist, or fill out our email form to get a personal response from Dr. Phillip Garcia or Dr. Roberto Garcia today.