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.

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’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.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery recently debuted its ProjectBeauty.com advice site, featuring video blogs on beauty issues ranging from the perfect ponytail to porcelain veneers to plastic surgery. Sections such as beauty, style and healthy living cover makeup, hair, nails, fashion, fitness, diet, skin care and vitamin/mineral supplements. Video blogs are announced by reporter Audrey Hasson, by experts in various fields or by everyday people who have undergone plastic surgery procedures. Patient-centered video blogs include one from a New York teenager who underwent a rhinoplasty surgery.

Although ProjectBeauty.com is produced by the ASAPS, considered among the nation’s leading organizations for professionals in plastic surgery, it’s not a plastic surgery website per se. Still, the site offers lots of healthy advice that the organization’s 2,200 board-certified plastic surgeons stand behind.

If you’re considering plastic surgery, Jacksonville’s Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery (also known as the Garcia Institute) is among the leading facial plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery practices in Northeast Florida, primarily offering facial plastic surgery in Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach and St. Augustine areas. Our state-of-the-art surgery suite is the region’s only JCAHO (Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Organizations) certified office-based surgery suite. And our Jacksonville plastic surgeons are double board-certified – Dr. Phillip Garcia, MD, FACS by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Robert Garcia, MD by the American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and both by the American Board of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery.

For facial plastic surgery, Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute is a trusted source. We work exclusively on the face, affording patients a higher level of focus than do Jacksonville plastic surgeons who offer both facial and body plastic surgery procedures. Visit our website to learn about the facial plastic surgery procedures and other facial services we offer; take a look at our Before & After section to see the results of our work; then give us a call at (904) 247-8522 to set an appointment for your consultation.

A screen shot of the ASAPS' new Project Beauty website

Perhaps among the most nerve wracking cosmetic surgery or reconstructive surgery options is nose surgery. Jacksonville’s Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery Institute offers nose surgery (informally called nose jobs) by highly skilled and board certified plastic surgeons Dr. Phillip Garcia, M.D., F.A.C.S. and Dr. Roberto Eloy Garcia, M.D. Each trained in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the world renowned McCullough Institute for Appearance and Health in Alabama, and Dr. Roberto Garcia completed a fellowship that included heavily specialized reconstructive surgery of the nose.

The nose is among the features that lend the most character to our faces, and it’s the one that causes the most angst for patients unhappy with theirs. A nose that’s too big, too wide or crooked either naturally for resulting from an accident (or a brawl – we don’t judge) can be a source of self consciousness or even downright embarrassment. When you need nose surgery, Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute can help.

Nasal surgery is performed for two reasons: to restore or improve the function of the nose, and to improve its aesthetic form. Functional reconstructive nose surgery primarily addresses cases of a deviated septum. The nose septum, made up of cartilage and bone, divides the nose into two halves. A deviation (either natural or as a result of nose trauma) obstructs airflow and can cause a cadre of symptoms including headaches, snoring, daytime sleepiness and sinusitis. Another common problem is enlarged turbinates, tiny structures within the nose that help warm incoming air and prepare the body for allergens such as pollen. When turbinates enlarge, they can obstruct airflow and cause symptoms similar to those of a deviated septum. Performed in our state-of-the-art surgical center near Jacksonville, functional nose surgery involves straightening the nose septum or reducing the size of turbinates.

On the other hand, cosmetic nose surgery – also called “rhinoplasty” or simply, a “nose job” – focuses on the nose’s aesthetic form. Drs. Garcia aim to improve the nose’s size and special balance with the rest face, so that the focal point of a patient’s face moves from the nose to the eyes. Cosmetic nose surgery primarily involves sculpting or adding cartilage to the nose’s tip or bridge to give the nose a better shape or make it less prominent.

Cosmetic nose surgery in Jacksonville typically is performed under twilight anesthesia, making it less risky than undergoing general anesthesia, which can be dangerous and leave you groggy for days. Patients have neither discomfort during the procedure or any recollection of the procedure afterward. And we use absorbable sutures that require no removal. Splints and tapes are removed seven days after nose surgery, though patients typically are able to breathe through their noses again within three days, and we’ll follow your progress for one year, performing any needed revisions.

If you have trouble breathing through your nose, or if you simply are unhappy with its shape or size, contact the Garcia Institute via our online email form or at or 800-803-0082 or 904-247-8522 to speak with a Jacksonville nose surgery specialist today.

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.