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.

Face the fall season with a beautiful new look. Check out Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery's October specials.

With the fall season fully underway, many are thinking about the holidays – what they’ll cook, what they’ll wear and how to look their best during a fun but stressful time of year. Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery has a few October specials to help you get a head start on your beautiful holiday look.

Through the end of October, we’re offering a steep discount on our Lightening Lift Series. This pigmentation resurfacing cocktail is a highly effective blend of natural and synthetic agents designed to tighten and brighten your skin, leaving it smooth, even-toned and radiant. You’ll take home a full size bleaching serum and precise instructions on how to complete the at-home portion of your treatments. The series includes six lightening lifts and the product all for $450 – that’s a $240 savings from the regular price.

Here in sunny Florida, we get a little extra time to enjoy wearing leg-baring skirts and sandals. Make sure your legs are smooth and silky with a six-session full leg laser hair removal treatment. You’ll save more than $1,200 and you’ll be ready for the 2012 bikini season.

Also, don’t forget our monthly Botox & a Taste event at the Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery and Reviva Medical Spa clinic. This Thursday from 5:30-8pm enjoy wine, hors d’oeuvres while you get to know our double board-certified facial plastic surgeons Dr. Phillip Garcia and Dr. Roberto Garcia. You’ll get a complimentary skin analysis, plus you can opt for on-site Botox injections.

Our October specials are expected to go quickly. Call 904-685-8852 to book your appointments today.

Spray tanning, laser hair removal and Jane Iredale skincare products all are part of the special offers from Garica Facial Plastic Surgery and Reviva Medical Spa throughout June.

What better way to spend a Saturday morning? Garcia Plastic Surgery and Reviva Medical Spa invite you to their Open House Saturday, July 9 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. for food, fun and fabulous deals on beauty products and mini treatments.

Want long, lush lashes? Pick up a tube of Latisse for just $99. It’s proven to make lashes longer and fuller with significant improvement in just two months.

Want a clear, hydrated and even-textured complexion with a little R&R? We’re administering our mini treatments for just $40. And we’re offering 50 percent off laser hair removal if you’re a new client or a returning client getting laser hair removal for a new area.

Some specials don’t end with our Open House. These deals run throughout the month of June:

• Experience an Organic Facial and get a SunFX Spray Tan treatment for $15 (a $15 savings).
• Purchase a Brazilian Package laser hair removal treatment for just $1375 (a $500 savings).
• Purchase a Bikini laser hair removal treatment package and get an Underarms Package for free
• Purchase $100 of Jane Iredale products and get a full size Jane Iredale Tantasia for free (a $36 savings).

Each of these specials runs through June 30, 2011 but you’ll need to set your appointment quickly. Call 904-694-0091 to book yours today.

If you’re planning laser hair removal in Jacksonville, Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery and Reviva Medical Spa have a few tips on preparing for your procedure.

That tan looks great! But you'll need to skip it if you plan laser hair removal in Jacksonville.

Before scheduling your laser hair removal, schedule a consultation with a licensed medical electrologist to go over your medical history, including all medications (prescription and over-the-counter) over the past six months. Many medications, including all hormonal and birth control drugs, plus many antihistamines, anti-depressants, anti-inflammatory, acne and anti-cancer medications can increase your skin’s photosensitivity. Your laser hair removal technician needs to know about these medications in order to effectively evaluate your risks and schedule your appointments appropriately.

For those seeking laser hair removal in Jacksonville this tip may be the toughest: Stay out of the sun! That great looking tan you’re sporting increases your risk of side effects including blistering and permanent skin discoloration. If you have a tan of any sort – whether from sun exposure, tanning salon booths or even sunless tanning products (because they, too, temporarily change your skin’s pigmentation) – you’ll need to wait until it fades completely before undergoing laser hair removal. To be on the safe side, Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery’s Dr. Roberto Garcia recommends you steer clear of sun exposure for four to six weeks before your appointment. And you’ll need to protect your newly smooth skin from sun exposure after laser hair removal. In Jacksonville, where we love to spend days sunning along the Atlantic coast, it’s recommended that patients avoid sun exposure and the use of sunless tanners for the first 30 to 60 days after your final treatment, and to use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 beyond that time period.

Also avoid plucking, waxing and electrolysis in the weeks prior to your laser hair removal procedure. Shaving is fine and may actually be recommended. Shaving preserves the hair shaft and follicle and studies suggest that shaving before a laser hair removal procedure may improve results.

To find out if laser hair removal is for you, call Reviva Medical Spa at (904) 694-0091.

The Candela GentleLASE Laser works for multiple applications including laser hair removal and skin resurfacing.

Everyone knows that laser hair removal is the most effective option for permanent hair reduction. But you may not know about the additional benefits of treatment with the Candela, GentleLASE Laser. Jacksonville’s Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery and Reviva Medical Spa regularly treat patients with pigmented lesions, vascular lesions and even wrinkles using the GentleLASE.

The GentleLASE works for laser hair removal and other procedures by using gentle beams of light that target melanin (dark pigment).  For patients living in and around Jacksonville, this can be a great way to treat pigmented lesions, including sun spots, brown spots (often called Café-au-Lait) and freckles – all caused by or exacerbated by exposure to the sun. If you live in Northeast Florida, you know that the year-round warm climate, beaches, lakes, rivers, golf courses, nature trails and the countless outdoor sports and recreational opportunities mean sun damage to the skin is unavoidable unless you are vigilant about sun protection (high SPF lotions, large brimmed hats, sunglasses, etc.). Age spots and Melasma, a skin-discoloring condition associated with pregnancy or with the use of oral contraceptives, also can be treated with the GentleLASE laser.

Vascular lesions including hemangiomas (masses of blood vessels sometimes appearing as birthmarks), venous lakes and blue facial veins also can be treated with the GentleLASE. The laser’s light energy is absorbed into the blood’s hemoglobin, causing the tiny, superficial blood vessels to close up and recede back beneath the skin’s surface. This allows your skin’s natural color and tone to show through.

The GentleLASE also is a great wrinkle buster. Laser resurfacing removes the superficial part of the dermis, reducing the depth of the wrinkle, much like sanding a table to remove a scratch.

To find out how laser hair removal and skin resurfacing treatments with the Candela GentleLASE laser can help you, call Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery at 904-247-8522.

The right skincare regimen before, during and after laser hair removal can help protect your smooth new look.

When you undergo laser hair removal at Jacksonville’s Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery or Garcia Reviva Medical Spa, you’ll need to take a few special precautions to care for your newly smooth skin. A major benefit of laser hair removal over more conventional methods such as plucking and electrolysis is that lasers won’t damage your skin when all prescribed precautions are taken. Dr. Roberto Garcia, Dr. Philip Garcia and our expert medical staff exclusively use Candela’s GentleLase 755nm alexandrite laser, which is effective not only for laser hair removal, but for treatment of pigmented lesions (such as sun spots, age spots and freckles), vascular lesions and wrinkles.

However, your new complexion may be more delicate and susceptible to sun damage. So, for laser hair removal in Jacksonville’s sunny climate, patients must take extra care. In the weeks prior to your laser hair removal treatment, avoid sun exposure and don’t use tanning lotions. The laser is more effective when your skin is at its lightest shade. You’ll also need to avoid certain medications that can make skin susceptible to damage by the laser. Accutane, a well known acne treatment medication is an example. Make sure your physician knows all the medications you’ve taken over the past year to ensure the safest, most effective treatment.

Immediately after a laser hair removal treatment, your skin may be red and swollen and you may feel mild pain. Use an ice pack or a cold washcloth to help reduce the redness and swelling and, if you haven’t already, make use of a high quality moisturizer with sun protection a daily routine. Note that your physician may even prescribe a lotion based on your particular skincare needs.

Between laser hair removal treatments, continue to use moisturizer and sun screen and limit your skin’s sun exposure.

When your full treatment cycle is complete, you still should avoid excessive sun exposure. We know – that’s tough living in a coastal region with so many opportunities for outdoor fun. Wear a strong sunscreen or sunblock and stick to a daily skincare regimen that includes skin hydrating products. Be aware that extended sun exposure can irritate your skin and that darker skin may burn more easily after laser hair removal treatments. Also, if you plan to have additional treatments, sun exposure could render the treatments less effective. To deter future hair growth, ask your physician about the many lotions and creams available.

For more information, on laser hair removal in Jacksonville, reach Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery / Garcia Reviva Medical Spa at 800-803-0082 or via our convenient online email form.

Laser hair removal by Jacksonville's Garcia Insitute Offers Long-Lasting, Smooth Results.

Considering laser hair removal? Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute offers professional laser hair removal for the face. Though other options exist, laser treatments are far superior for long-lasting results. Consider these differences:

• Tweezers, shaving, waxing and depilatory creams: These can be messy at best, even painful. But the biggest disadvantage is that they offer only very short term results. Hair typically begins to grow back within three to seven days and those with sensitive skin may experience reactions including redness, inflammation, pimples, ingrown hairs, bumps, bruising and burning or removal of skin.
• Electrolysis: This option provides longer-lasting results, but is painstaking and sometimes painful. Electrolysis requires removal one hair follicle at a time, which can mean multiple hours-long treatment sessions.
• Oral medications: Spironoolactone (a diuretic) and Proscar (also known as Finasteride) have helped people successfully treat unwanted hair. But each comes with restrictions and risks of side effects. Proscar is for men only and can cause birth defects in women exposed to it during pregnancy. Potential side effects in men include impotence, pain in the testicles and skin rash. Spironoolactone can boost potassium levels, which can prove fatal for people with diabetes and kidney problems.

When choosing laser hair removal, Jacksonville patients can expect longer results with fewer and faster treatment sessions than tweezing, waxing, shaving or electrolysis offer, and skip the side effects common with medications. Laser hair removal works by passing a thin light beam through the skin’s surface and targeting the melanin (dark pigment) to destroy hair follicles. The melanin absorbs the laser’s light energy, which travels down the hair shaft to the root in the form of heat and destroys the hair’s root. Hair simply falls out, leaving behind smooth, undamaged skin. It’s effective for the face, upper lip and neck area and can provide near permanent results.

If you’re considering laser hair removal, contact Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute at 800-803-0082 or via our online email form to schedule a consultation today.

For laser hair removal, Jacksonville is a busy market. Northeast Florida’s beautiful beaches, lakes and rivers mean many days outside donning swimsuits, shorts and sundresses. Women go to great pains to make sure their legs, underarms, faces and bikini zones are smooth. And men increasingly are wanting of a hairless chest and back, especially during the spring and summer months.

Various skin and hair types respond differently to laser hair removal. Jacksonville's Garcia Institute has the right solution for removing your unwanted facial hair.

Products and procedures promising that silky smooth, hair-free skin abound. Shaving, waxing, tweezing and using depilatory creams all are options, but each comes with its own annoyances and none offer long-lasting results. That’s the main push behind the growing popularity of laser hair removal. Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute offers professional, safe and effective laser hair removal treatments with long-lasting results and no damage to your facial skin.

Many would-be patients skip the professional clinic, opting instead for one of numerous at-home laser hair removal devices. Jacksonville-area patients have many a horror story to tell about their attempts at permanent hair removal without the assistance of a professional in an ill-conceived effort to save time and money only to be left with damaged, burned skin and eyes. While at-home remedies are tempting, and although personal laser hair removal products on the market are of increasingly higher quality, a professional procedure remains your best, safest and most effective option – especially when it comes to removing unwanted facial hair.

The top reason that savvy patients in Jacksonville choose laser hair removal by physicians is safety. Many people assume that at-home laser hair removal equipment has been approved for safety by some governing body. Not so. In fact, most of these home-use devices have not been approved by the FDA as suitable for home laser hair removal treatment – but you won’t easily find that tidbit of information on product websites. Consider that, in unsteady hands, laser devices can burn and scar your skin – especially delicate facial skin. Lasers also can damage your eyes, sometimes causing blindness. Diode lasers have been known to cause urticaria, a severe allergic reaction similar to hives.

Another case for professional laser hair removal, Jacksonville, is simply the know-how that non-professionals lack. Different skin types and colors respond differently to various types of laser equipment. And each type of laser wand has various settings for wavelength, pulse width and fluence – all of which must be tailored for each patient based on skin tone, hair color and texture.

If you’re considering laser hair removal, Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute / Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery can safely and effectively clear your face of unwanted hair. Call (800) 803-0082 or use our online email form to ask questions or schedule a consultation.

Wondering about laser hair removal, Jacksonville? This procedure can give your face a smoother, cleaner more youthful look and save you hours of shaving and plucking. Laser hair removal works by passing a thin light beam through the skin’s surface, targeting the melanin (dark pigment) and destroying hair follicles. The melanin absorbs the laser’s light energy, which travels down the air shaft to the root in the form of heat. When this heat energy is delivered to the root of the hair, the root is destroyed and the hair falls out. All of this is accomplished without any damage to your skin.

No need to cover that pretty face. If you're looking for laser hair removal, Jacksonville's Garcia Institute can help.

When you opt for laser hair removal at Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute, your physician will press a laser device, along with a cooling device, against your skin and you will feel what many describe as a quick pinching or mild stinging sensation. You will wear special goggles to protect your eyes and you may smell a strange odor when the hair follicles get zapped. Patients typically undergo three laser hair removal treatments scheduled six weeks apart initially. Occasional maintenance treatments may be necessary to keep your face smooth and free of unwanted hair. Treatments may take from a few minutes for small patches to several hours for larger areas. Patients are able to resume their daily routines almost immediately following laser hair removal treatment, though we recommend avoiding direct sunlight of treated areas.

Before opting for laser hair removal, there are a few things to consider. The ideal candidate for this procedure has dark hair, thick or coarse. Because the laser is designed to target dark pigments, laser hair removal treatments are not as effective on grey, white or blonde hair. For women, it’s important to know whether your facial hair growth is the result of a hormonal abnormality, as this type of hair growth may respond better to different treatment types.

For laser hair removal, call Jacksonville’s Garcia Institute at (904) 247-8522 or contact us via our online email form.