Prepare now for a beautiful start to 2012.

New year, new decisions, new look – that’s the hallmark of every January 1. But don’t wait. Begin preparing now for your beautiful new look via plastic surgery, Jacksonville’s top facial plastic surgeons say.

“Plastic surgery isn’t a one-day deal,” says Dr. Roberto Garcia of Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery in Neptune Beach near Jacksonville. “Preparing your skin and body in the weeks and months prior to a surgical procedure like a facelift, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle afterward, can greatly increase your chances of healing quickly, healing well and loving your results.”

Dr. Garcia recommends these tips to help you prepare for your facelift or other plastic surgery:

• Begin eating and drinking healthily now. Healthy, hydrated skin heals quicker and better.
• Nix smoking and heavy alcohol intake at least two weeks before and two weeks after your surgery. The effects of smoking and drinking alcohol can slow healing.
• Let your doctor know all of the medications and natural supplements you’re taking or have taken over the past year. Some can dangerously interact with anesthesia and medications your plastic surgeon may administer or prescribe. Others can thin blood and cause excessive bleeding. Others, like Echinacea, can contribute to allergic reactions.
• Begin and maintain a skincare regimen.
• If you have short hair, grow it out a few inches to help cover incisions while they heal.
• Plan to have day-to-day chores and activities, like cooking, cleaning and caring for children and pets, handled for you during the week after your facelift or other facial plastic surgery.

Planning and scheduling your facial plastic surgery now can help ensure a beautiful start to 2012. Call Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery, Jacksonville’s only plastic surgery practice boasting a JCAHO-certified office-based surgical suite, at 904-247-8522 today.

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.

It’s a question we get often: How long will my facelift last? Jacksonville patients want to know that their investment will pay off not just over the next few years, but for many years. Our answer? The lasting effects of your facelift are full up to you.

Technically, your facelift will last forever because the tissues that we remove during your surgery will never return. You likely will always look younger than you are – a thought that puts a youthful smile on anyone’s face, women and men alike. But you must keep in mind that your facelift doesn’t freeze time – only shifts it backwards, so to speak. You will continue to age, make no mistake. But there are many, many steps you can take to assure a youthful look far into the future.

First, understand exactly what issues can be addressed by a facelift. Jacksonville’s Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery makes it a priority to talk through every aspect of a procedure with our patients, assuring that they know exactly what’s in store. Many people believe that a facelift addresses issues of the entire face. Actually, facelifts address signs of aging primarily in the lower cheek and neck. Often additional procedures such as a browlift, forehead lift or lip enhancement need to be performed in order to achieve the full look you want.

For the best results, go into your facelift as healthy as possible. Adopt healthy eating habits, drink lots of water, exercise daily, eliminate smoking and excessive alcohol intake and, above all, learn to relax. Smoking, alcohol and stress are three of the biggest culprits when it comes to prematurely aging skin, making you look older than you really are.  If you haven’t already, begin a healthier regime as far in advance of your facelift procedure as possible. This will allow for quicker, more thorough healing. And be sure to continue your new health-conscious habits long after your facelift. Jacksonville area beaches, nature preserves, dog parks and riverwalks along with a year-round mild climate make it easy to get outside and get healthy.

While you’re enjoying all that sunshine, however, be sure to cover up when you’re outside in Jacksonville. Facelift patients are very sensitive to the sun for up to six weeks following their procedures, so we encourage you to limit your exposure. And even once you’re past the sensitivity window, be sure to use a high SPF moisturizer daily and don a wide-brimmed hat while strolling the beach to protect your skin from the sun’s harsh rays.

Over the years, you’ll begin to see signs of aging return. Maintain your facelift with noninvasive or minimally invasive procedures such as filler injections, chemical peels and laser treatments. And get into the habit of a morning-and-night skincare regime. We can help tailor a skincare program just for you with selections from our wide array of top-of-the-line skincare products. And take vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements to feed your beautiful skin. We suggest our Reviva system, developed by Drs. Garcia to address many common and potential skincare needs.

Any procedure is an investment in yourself, your looks and your future. If you’re considering a facelift, Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute is a top choice. Use our convenient online Click to Call feature to talk with a specialist today.

You’ve just made an investment that’s sure to pay off in multiple ways – an expertly performed facelift. Jacksonville area patients are anxious to get out into the beautiful Florida sunshine and show off their rejuvenated looks. While it’s important that you rest and take certain precautions while you heal, there are ways to minimize your post-surgery downtime.

The best recommendation we can make to ensure a quick recovery time is to get healthy now! Younger, healthier patients fare better post-surgery than others undergoing most any medical procedure. If your nutritional and exercise habits aren’t up to par (be honest) begin as early as possible before your facelift to adopt healthier habits like eating right and exercising each day. But it’s not just your physical health that counts. Reducing stress and going into your procedure with a positive mindset and realistic expectations make a world of difference.

Te ensure a quick recovery after a facelift, Jacksonville area patients follow these simple tips in the weeks surrounding their procedures:

•    Exercise each day. Just a 20-minute daily walk can help you lose weight, de-stress and get fit.
•    Avoid caffeine, aspirin and other blood thinners before and after your facelift, as thinned blood can delay healing.
•    Eliminate alcohol. It thins your blood, dehydrates you and can have dangerous interactions with anesthesia.
•    Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, drink water and avoid salt so that you’re skin is well hydrated but not retaining water – there IS a difference! Hydrated skin is more resilient. But retaining water can worsen post-operative swelling.
•    Stop smoking. Smoking inhibits blood flow to the skin, slowing healing of incisions and putting you at a higher risk of scarring.
•    De-stress. Plan ahead to get your bills paid, your grocery shopping done and your home cleaned. Arrange for childcare, pet care and your own assistance and pampering.
•    Avoid excessive bending and heavy lifting in the two weeks following your facelift to minimize swelling and avoid bleeding.
•    Avoid sudden movements of the head and, when turning around, turn your shoulders as well to reduce tension on the sutures.
•    Avoid the sun or excessive heat including saunas, hot showers and hair dryers for four to six weeks to help minimize swelling.
•    Avoid excessive use of cell phones and telephones for two weeks after a facelift, as pressure from the receiver around the ear can damage tender skin. Instead, use a speaker phone or buy a cushioned ear piece to cover the receiver.
•    Take vitamins and minerals, but be sure to let us know of all the prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and supplements you’re taking as some can adversely interact with anesthesia and medications we may prescribe. Our Reviva vitamin and herbal supplement system developed by Drs. Garcia and compounding chemists is designed to boost your body’s healing mechanisms. Patients using the Reviva system report nearly 30% less swelling bruising and overall recovery time following  a facelift.
•    Avoid mirrors for the first few weeks. We know you’re anxious to see your results, but even the smoothest procedure results in temporary bruising and swelling. Be patient. Your beautiful new look will emerge soon.

Following these tips are sure to help keep your post-facelift recovery time at a minimum. Be sure to read all literature and follow all additional recommendations