If your smile is showing the signs of aging or other youth-sapping factors, consider one of several options for lip augmentation. Jacksonville’s sunny climate means countless days lounging on the beach, boating down the St. Johns River or walking Northeast Florida’s beautiful parks and nature preserves. Of course, most know the importance of using a potent sunscreen to help protect the face, but many neglect the lip area. Resulting sun exposure, as well as aging, is among the main culprits of thinning, drying, lined lips that add years to your appearance.

Three main types of lip augmentation treatments are lip injectables, laser lip treatments and lip implants. At Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery, Jacksonville patients undergo a thorough evaluation of their full facial features, desires and expectations for the outcome of their lip enhancement or lip augmentation treatments and lifestyle choices to determine their best choice for lip augmentation. Jacksonville plastic surgeons Dr. Philip Garcia and Dr. Roberto Garcia specialize in facial cosmetic and restorative procedures and offer multiple options for lip enhancement.

Lip injectables are the most commonly used form of lip augmentation. The procedures involve injecting matter directly into the borders of the lips to plump them up and smooth wrinkles, giving the lips a smoother, younger appearance. Among the numerous injectable products on the market today, Radiesse and Restylane are increasingly popular. Radiesse uses calcium hydroxyl apatite suspended in a gel, while Restylane’s key component is hyaluronic acid. Both occur naturally in your body. Calcium hydroxyl apatite is found in bone and used in prosthetic implants for dental, facial and orthopedic surgery. Hyaluronic acid binds to water up to 1,000 times its volume. Even as the acid is absorbed into the body, the water remains just under the skin’s surface, leaving lips looking full and smooth.

Lip laser treatments are a great form of lip augmentation for Jacksonville patients who may develop allergic reactions to injectable lip fillers, but work best for superficial, rather than deeper lip wrinkles. Laser treatments work by resurfacing the skin, essentially damaging it and forcing it to grow new, healthier skin and tightening the collagen and elastic tissue in the area around the mouth. They are considered preventative treatments rather than restorative treatments and there is a risk of temporary hyperpigmentation, or darkening of the skin surrounding the lips.

Another form of lip augmentation Jacksonville patients often choose is a lip implant. This surgical procedure involves placing an implant, usually made of silicone, beneath the lip surface. It’s much more permanent option than injectable lip fillers and laser treatments, but can be upsized, downsized or taken out altogether if you are unhappy with the results.

Each type of lip augmentation Jacksonville patients consider have pros and cons. Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery can help you decide which option is best for you, and also offers topical products for maintaining a healthy, youthful smile.

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.

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.

No doubt, financial times are tough, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t afford facial plastic surgery, Jacksonville. In fact, research shows that this may be the best time to invest in your best self. But it may also be one of the scariest times, as unethical, untrained and unlicensed practitioners are on the prowl, offering what seem like very sweet deals for facelifts and facial filler injections.

A study commissioned by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and released in April 2009 shows that in 2008, 81 percent of facial plastic surgeon members say their patients opted for non-surgical procedures in order to delay the need for more invasive surgical procedures. At Garcia Institute, we offer a range of procedures for the cost-conscious patient who wants to look her or his best without breaking the bank including:

•    Non-invasive laser treatments to reduce wrinkles around the eyes and lips, smooth the surface of the face and remove blemishes such as birthmarks, spider veins and acne scars;
•    Wrinkle fillers such as Juvederm, Botox and Radiesse;
•    Lip augmentation, including laser treatments, injectable fillers such as Radiance and Restylane and permanent lip implants;
•    Skin resurfacing and rejuvenation treatments such as dermabrasion, laser treatments and deep chemical peels;
•    Minimally invasive surgeries including mini-facelifts and minor browlifts and forehead lifts.

While patients are looking to keep things affordable, they increasingly are viewing surgical procedures like facelifts, browlifts, forehead lifts, eyelid surgery and cheek implants as investments. The AAFPRS survey showed 75 percent of members surveyed saw an increase in patients requesting cosmetic surgery to remain competitive in the workplace. That makes sense, as today’s tight economy is forcing many Baby Boomers and people in their 50s to reenter the workplace, where they find themselves competing with workers in their 20s and 30s for jobs and promotions.

The double whammy of a down economy and a field of half-their-age competitors puts patients at risk of being lured by unlicensed practitioners offering cheap prices on treatments, fillers and plastic surgery. But many patients of these predators end up with lumps, burns, scars and other problems that may not be reversible. When it comes to plastic surgery, Jacksonville area patients can rest assured they’re in good hands when they choose Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery, where our doctors are board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery, the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery. And, we accept all major credit card plus financing by Care Credit and Capital One Healthcare Finance.

Your face is your ultimate calling card. Invest in yourself with a facelift, browlift, forehead lift, lip augmentation or other procedure to restore your youth and revive your career, earning potential, social life and self confidence. Use our convenient online email form for a quick, personal answer to your questions about plastic surgery by Jacksonville’s Dr. Phillip Garcia or Dr. Roberto Garcia.