Start preparing for bikini season now with laser hair removal by Jacksonville's Garcia Institute.

Here in sunny Northeast Florida, you’re almost as apt to see women walking around in strappy sundresses in January as you are in June. While we’ve still got a few cool spells to go before the official start of summer, temperatures in the 70s have local ladies looking to get fit and fabulous in plenty of time for bikini season. And they’re starting with laser hair removal.

Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute offers laser hair removal for the legs, bikini area and underarms using the top-rated GentleLASE 755nm alexandrite laser designed to permanently reduce hair growth. But contrary to popular belief, significant permanent removal of hair doesn’t happen in just one visit. Typically, eight to 10 sessions scheduled from 21 to 35 days apart are required for optimal results. So the earlier you get started, the more prepared you’ll be for beach season.

To get the best results from your laser hair removal, Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute also recommends that you stay out of the sun in the weeks prior to your first session. Tanned skin increases your risk of unsightly and potentially painful side effects like blistering and permanent skin discoloration. That goes for both natural tans and tanning-booth tans. Either way, you’ll have to wait until your bronzing has completely faded before undergoing laser hair removal.

Jacksonville clients also are advised to skip waxing or electrolysis in the weeks prior to your session. However shaving may actually be recommended, as it preserves the hair shaft and follicle and may help improve your results.

You’ll also need to fess up about any and all medications you’ve taken over the past six months, including both prescription and over-the-counter products. All hormonal and birth control drugs and many antihistamines, anti-depressants, anti-inflammatory, acne and anti-cancer medications can increase your skin’s sensitivity. Your technician needs to know if you’ve taken any of these medications to effectively valuate your risks and to schedule your sessions appropriately.

Think you’re ready for laser hair removal? Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute and Reviva Medical Spa currently are offering a huge special. Purchase six lower leg hair removal treatments for just $1,125. That’s half off the regular price of $2,250. But it only lasts through the end of January, so call 904-247-8522 to schedule your consultation today.

Some vitamin and mineral supplements can interfere with your plastic surgery, Jacksonville surgeons say.

You might think that loading up on vitamins and minerals will help make your body and skin healthier, and thereby in better condition to undergo cosmetic surgery. Not so fast, says Dr. Phillip Garcia of Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery. Jacksonville patients are advised to avoid particular vitamins and supplements that can interfere with plastic surgery procedures and healing. Some can cause post-surgical bleeding, worsen inflammation, raise your blood pressure or alter your sugar levels. And don’t think that an herbal supplement is safe simply because it’s natural.  Some can be downright dangerous.

Among the medications and vitamin, mineral or herbal supplements you should avoid at least three weeks before plastic surgery are:

• Any diet pills or appetite suppressants – herbal and otherwise
• Blood-thinning medications such as aspirin, Motrin or Advil
• Vitamin E
• Chromium
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Ginkgo
• Goldenseal
• Flaxseed
• Fish oil
• Echinacea
• Licorice
• Saw Palmetto
• Ephedra
• Ginseng
• Feverfew
• Kava-Kava
• St. John’s Wort
• Valerian Root

After your plastic surgery, Jacksonville’s top surgeons may recommend medications or vitamin and mineral supplements known to aid the body in healing. In fact, Dr. Phillip Garcia and Dr. Roberto Garcia, partners in the Garcia Institute, have developed a patented line of supplements proven to help speed healing. Patients report less swelling and bruising as well.

No matter who your plastic surgeon is, be sure to tell him or her about all prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals and supplements you have taken over the past six months to a year. Many patients are less than forthcoming, afraid that they’ll be ridiculed by their doctors, perhaps for buying into a bogus supplement claim. But in some cases, that information can help avoid a tragedy.

If you plan plastic surgery in Jacksonville or the surrounding area, call 904-247-8522 to schedule a consultation at Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery today. And be sure to ask about the Drs. Garcias’ Reviva line of healing and anti-aging vitamins.

Are you a good candidate for Botox? Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery can help you decide.

If you’ve been considering Botox, Jacksonville plastic surgeons Dr. Phillip Garcia and Dr. Roberto Garcia want to help make sure you’re a good candidate. Although it’s a minimally invasive procedure, Botox, like any cosmetic procedure, has both benefits and risks. Here’s what you need to know before making your decision.

Ideal candidate for Botox injections are between the ages of 18 and 70, have reasonably good skin tone and are both physically and emotionally healthy. They want to diminish or eliminate lines and wrinkles on their face and neck, but have realistic expectations of what Botox can do for their looks and their lives.

You may not be a good candidate for Botox if you:

• Have a disease or medical condition that affects nerves and muscles;
• Are breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant soon;
• Have any severe allergies or any known allergies to bovine products or to preservatives found in Botox Cosmetic;
• Are taking antibiotics, heart medications or certain other drugs;
• Have a neurological disease;
• Have Lambert-Eaton Syndrome or Myesthenia-Gravis Syndrome, muscle-weakening disorders;
• Have skin infections on the areas to be treated with Botox;
  Have sagging, drooping or sun-damaged skin.

When you choose Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery for your first Botox injections, you’ll get a thorough consultation to make sure that Botox is right for you. If not, our double board-certified plastic surgeons and expert aestheticians can suggest alternatives to help you achieve the look you want. Call 904-247-8522 to schedule your appointment today.

Get $15 off 60-minute skincare treatments on any Tuesday throughout January at Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery.

If your New Year’s resolutions include a beautiful new look, you’re in luck. Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery is offering a slate of January specials designed to give you a smoother, firmer, more youthful look.

To keep your skin healthy and vibrant throughout the year, experts recommend adding a touch of luxury to your skincare routine with weekly or monthly facials. Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery makes it easy to get started with “Terrific Tuesdays.” You’ll get $15 off all 60-minute skincare treatments on any Tuesday throughout January. We know you’ll feel so relaxed and look so radiant that you’ll commit to making this resolution stick.

Is getting your body in bikini shape on your list of New Year’s resolutions? Make sure your skin is beach-ready, too. Start early with a series of laser hair removal sessions designed to permanently reduce hair growth on your legs, bikini area and underarms. Throughout January, purchase six lower leg laser hair removal treatments for just $1,125. That’s half off the regular price of $2,250.

All these great specials come to a close January 31, so call 904-694-0091 to book your appointment today.

Also during January, we’re hosting two Botox and a Taste events where you can meet our double board-certified plastic surgeons, get a complimentary skin analysis and opt for onsite Botox injections. The first is hosted at Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery‘s Reviva Medical Spa in Neptune Beach on Thursday, January 5 from 5:30-8pm. RSVP by calling 904-247-8522.

A second Botox and a Taste event is scheduled for January 25, 5:30-8pm at the Fountain of Youth Medical Spa in St. Augustine. Reserve your spot by calling 904-806-4208.

Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery offers New Years Resolution tips to help you prepare forand maintain beautiful plastic surgery results.

Will 2012 be the year you finally go for that facial plastic surgery procedure you’ve been thinking about? As 2011 comes to a close and the economy continues to recover (albeit slowly) people everywhere are ready for a fresh start – and a fresh look to go with it. If a youthful new look is on your list of New Year’s resolutions, Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery has a few tips for that will help you prepare for and maintain your beautiful results.

By far, the most common New Year’s resolutions are to lose weight, get more exercise and stop smoking.

“Each of these is a huge recommendation for patients preparing to undergo facial plastic surgery or even less invasive cosmetic procedures,” says Dr. Phillip Garcia, founder of Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery and Reviva Medical Spa. Here’s why:

Losing weight typically improves a person’s overall health. But great weight loss can leave facial skin loose. Skin can be stretched only so far for so long before it loses its ability to snap back, and weight loss shows first in the face. If your slim-down plans are significant, lose that weight before you schedule your facelift for the best, most permanent results.

Smoking can dehydrate your skin, leaving it looking dull. It also is associated with lung and heart conditions that increase a patient’s risk of peri-operative and post-operative complications including anesthesia-related problems. Nix the habit before you undergo your facial cosmetic procedure and you’ll not only be happier with your outcome, but you’ll be safer throughout the procedure and healthier afterward. Plus, you’ll heal faster and you’ll be less prone to scarring.

Plenty of exercise; a nutrient-rich diet low in fat, salt and sugar; and lots of water will help keep your face hydrated and healthy. Like an artist starting out with a tight, smooth canvas, your plastic surgeon will have an easier time with your procedure if he can start with smooth and well-hydrated skin. Your results invariably will be better and you’ll heal faster if you go in with healthy skin.

Other tips for maintaining your new look include regular facials and taking vitamin and mineral supplements. Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery offers a variety of prescription skincare systems and a patented line of anti-aging vitamins and minerals, including supplements that designed to help you prepare for your surgical procedure and maintain the results. Patients who take these supplements report less bruising and swelling, and shorter recovery times than those who do not.

Resolve to be your most beautiful you this year! Call Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery at 904-247-8522 to schedule your consultation today.

Give the gift of beauty with Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery.

What better holiday surprise than the gift of beauty? Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery offers a range of gift ideas perfect for the both the girls and guys on your holiday shopping list:

• A luxe new look: Facial cosmetic procedures, both surgical and non-invasive, are increasingly popular gifts. If someone you love has talked about a chemical peel, brow lift or Botox injection, consider a Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery gift certificate toward a procedure of their choosing. A favorite this year is the Garcia Institute’s Contoura, a proprietary procedure designed to take years off a face in a matter of minutes. Certificates for a SunFX spray tanning session, hand rejuvenating treatment or lash and brow tint make great stocking stuffers.

• A sweet respite: Everyone can use a little R&R now and then. A luxurious facial treatment or massage is always a welcome gift. The Swedish massage is a favorite. The athlete in your life will love a sports massage, designed to release lactic build-up in the muscles and prevent injuries. And if someone you care about is carrying a stress load, our deep tissue massage will help him or her relax, rejuvenate and refocus.

• A little knowledge: If someone on your holiday shopping list is considering facial plastic surgery, make sure he or she is well informed. Penned by Dr. Phillip Garcia and Dr. Roberto Garcia, Just Faces: A Guide to Facial Plastic Surgery provides a comprehensive look at all you can expect while preparing for, undergoing and recovering from a cosmetic surgery procedure.

• A little swag: Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery and Reviva Medical Spa offer a full battery of top-quality skincare and beauty products to fill any stocking. We carry the LaLicious line of all-natural bath and body products including luxury shower scrubs, body oils and scented lotions in a variety of sumptuous scents. Known as the “skin care makeup,” Jane Iredale cosmetics are best known for their mineral makeup products that offer beautiful, smooth coverage while allowing the skin to breathe. And our DecoCandles soy blend jar candles fill your home or office with soothing scents.

• A little love: For the person who already has everything, consider a donation in his or her name to F.A.C.E., the Foundation for the Advancement of Children’s Aesthetics. This nonprofit organization provides free facial reconstructive surgery to underprivileged children with facial trauma or disfigurement throughout Northeast Florida. It’s a gift that will positively and permanently impact a child’s life.

For any of these gift ideas, stop by Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery at 700 3rd Street, suite 102 in Neptune Beach near Jacksonville. Happy holiday shopping!

Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery in Jacksonville offers tips for looking your holiday best.

Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve are just around the corner and the holiday party season is in full swing. Of course, everyone wants to look their best this time of year. Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery in Jacksonville has a few party-perfect tips for your look.

• Watch your diet: Take in lots of water, fruits and vegetables to give you a clear and smooth complexion.
• Get a Botox boost: Botox can give your look a near-instant lift. Smooth those crow’s feet, forehead and marionette lines or plump your lips and cheeks for a more youthful look in no time.
• Bronze your look: If the cool weather and the non-stop holiday shopping and party planning has your complexion looking pale and stale, opt for a SunFX spray tanning treatment. A highly trained technician will apply the tanning solution for a natural, sun-kissed look.
• Give your skin some TLC: A luxurious facial or light chemical peel will pamper your sun damaged, acne prone, unbalanced or dehydrated skin, giving it a tighter, brighter, smoother look.
• Rub it in: A professional massage will help relax and rejuvenate you while cleansing your body of toxins and boosting blood circulation – all factors in healthy, glowing skin.
• Open those eyes: The first feature people notice about a stranger is their eyes. Make sure yours make a stunning impression with a two-layer eye lift treatment designed to reduce the appearance of fine lines and to tighten, lighten and brighten the eye area. Also opt for eyebrow waxing and lash and brow tinting for an open, defined look.

Prepare now for your next holiday party by calling Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery in Jacksonville at 904-247-8522. Happy holidays!

Whether you’ve got just a few stocking stuffers to go or haven’t even begun your holiday shopping, you’ll want to mark your calendar for this one. Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery and Reviva Medical Spa are holding a Stock Up & Save event on Saturday, December 17th, 9am-1pm. We’re offering fabulous deals on our top-of-the-line skincare and cosmetic products – so good, in fact, that you can afford one for each of the gorgeous gals on your holiday shopping list and keep one for yourself, too. Check out these deals:

• Buy 2 products and get 1 half off
• Buy 3 products and get 1 free
• Buy 5 products and get 2 free

And while you’re shopping, why not indulge in a little low-cost, high-luxury pampering:

• 30-minute treatments for just $40
• 50% off laser hair removal

After all, you’ll want to look smooth and stunning for those Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties. Bring your mother, sister, daughter or best girlfriend along for a pre-Christmas indulgence that offers a break from the holiday stress.

With such great deals, appointments are limited, so call 904-694-0091 to book yours today.

As they say, “the eyes have it.” Or something like that. Truth is, your eyes are the first features someone notices when they look at you – and they’re one of the top tell-tale indicators of your age. If you’re aiming to smooth out those under-eye crinkles that add years to your look, you’ve got several options including under eyelid surgery and Botox. Jacksonville’s Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery can help you choose.

Also known as “blepharoplasty,” eyelid surgery effectively removes excess skin and bulges from around your eyes, including both upper and lower eyelids. This excess skin below the eyes is what causes that crinkled look. Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery’s Dr. Phillip Garcia and Dr. Roberto Garcia remove the skin via a tiny incision underneath the eyelashes in the first crease or behind the eyelid. Careful placement of the incisions assures that your plastic surgery scars will be unnoticeable or even invisible.

Another option for treating under-eyelid crinkles is Botox. This method of treatment is used far less frequently because it demands an incredibly skilled hand and a tiny amount of Botox. Also, Botox may not work well for every patient, depending upon the facial structure and the way the skin beneath the eyes fold when the patient smiles. It’s most effective in conjunction with Botox treatment of crow’s feet.

Chemical peels also can be an effective choice for treating under-eye crinkles, but again – this takes a highly skilled professional. Chemical peels that are too strong or administered incorrectly can be harmful to the sensitive skin around the eyes.

Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery can help you decide the best treatment for your under-eye crinkles and set you up with great skincare products and vitamins that help keep your skin smooth and youthful. Call 904-247-8522 to schedule a consultation today.

Many myths surround Botox. Jacksonville's Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery helps separate fact from fiction.

If you’re considering trying it, no doubt you’ve heard multiple myths and misconceptions about Botox. Jacksonville’s Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery helps set the record straight about America’s most popular youth-restoring cosmetic procedure.

Myth #1: Botox is toxic. While it’s true that Botox is made from the botulinum toxin, essentially a food-borne poison, that toxin undergoes a lot of refining before it hits your plastic surgeon’s shelves. First, the botulinum toxin that makes it into a vial of Botox is highly purified. Plus, the concentration of the toxin is extremely low and a qualified plastic surgeon or aesthetician will pinpoint the injection into a certain muscle or group of muscles. With precision placement and the low concentration, a Botox injection is simply incapable of spreading effects outside a given area. And, over a period of time, your body will naturally eliminate the Botox.

Myth #2: Botox will make my face immovable. This is perhaps the most enduring yet not (necessarily) true misconception about Botox. Yes, Botox does work by relaxing certain facial muscles and restricting their movements. Back when Botox was a new craze, many inexperienced physicians and overzealous patients tended to go overboard with the amount of Botox injected. This did, in fact, cause a “poker face” phenomenon. But over the years, as physicians became more experienced with Botox injections, the novelty wore off, and the popularity of the super-smooth look gave way to a more subtle, natural look, Botox is no longer the “frozen-face” treatment. When administered correctly by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon, Botox can minimize wrinkles, giving you a natural, youthful look that allows a full range of emotions.

Myth #3: Botox is addictive. Botox itself does not bring about any physiological addiction. You’ve likely heard horror stories and seen photos of people who have developed an addiction to plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures. However, this is a result of body dysmorphic disorder, a psychological condition that causes people to become obsessively focused on “fixing” a particular part of their body or face. It has nothing to do with Botox or the procedures themselves – it is an inner battle that necessitates psychological treatment. A reputable plastic surgeon will know how to spot red flag indicators of such a disorder and will politely refuse to administer a troubled patient Botox.

Jacksonville’s Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery boasts two double board-certified plastic surgeons and a staff of highly experienced aestheticians who treat patients with Botox daily. If you’re considering Botox or another facial rejuvenating procedure, call 904-247-8522 to schedule a consultation today.