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.

Reconstructive plastic surgery after a Mohs procedure can help restore your look.

Learning that you have skin cancer can be tough enough. But if your cancer is located on your face, it can be particularly tough emotionally. Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery are specialists in post-cancer reconstructive surgery and can help beautifully restore your look.

Named for its originator Dr. Fred Mohs, Mohs surgery also is known as Microscopically Controlled Excision. The technique first became available in the 1940s and involved using a chemical fixative to kill the cancer and still its movement in the skin, allowing for its removal. It gave way to “chemosurgery,” a term widely used today although the surgery has been refined over the years and rarely makes use of the chemical fixative today.

The aim of Mohs surgery is to remove cancerous tissue in an extremely precise manner, leaving as small a wound as possible. But even a small scar can mar a patient’s face, causing feelings of self-consciousness. That’s where Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery comes in. Dr. Phillip Garcia and Dr. Roberto Garcia work closely with Northeast Florida’s top Mohs surgeons to help patients heal with little or no scarring. The Mohs dermatologist typically will remove your cancer in his office, then place a dressing over it. You’ll then see one of the Drs. Garcia, who will carefully repair the defect at Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery’s JCAHO-certified office-based surgery suite.

If you’ve been diagnosed with skin cancer on your face and plan to undergo Mohs surgery, call Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery at 904-247-8522 to schedule your post-Mohs reconstructive procedure. We’ll make sure that people see you – not your scar.

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.

Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery is North Florida's only JCAHO-certified office-based surgery suite.

If you’ve perused our website, you probably know that Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery is Jacksonville’s only office-based surgery site certified by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Health Organizations. But what does a JCAHO certification really mean and why is it beneficial to patients?

Founded in 1951, the Joint Commission is the undisputed leader in developing and the highest standards for quality and safety in the delivery of healthcare, and in evaluating organization performance based on these standards. In fact, more than 19,000 health care providers use JCAHO standards to dictate the way they administer care and continuously improve performance.

JCAHO certification means that a plastic surgery center is:

• Continually working to provide the highest quality services.
• Periodically evaluated by The Joint Commission for compliance with the standards and other requirements.
• Provided with expert advice and education from The Joint Commission about quality improvement.
• Able to attract qualified staff because they have more opportunities to develop their skills and knowledge.

Plus, our facial plastic surgeons, Dr. Phillip Garcia and Dr. Roberto Garcia, both are double-board certified, highly experienced and highly respected by both peers in the plastic surgery field and by countless satisfied patients. There are dozens of plastic surgery suites in Northeast Florida, but only one can boast JCAHO certification. Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery’s Jacksonville practice also offers single-night or extended stays at its Summer House Cottages, a private and secluded recovery suite located just a few blocks from the Atlantic Ocean. It’s the perfect mix of cutting-edge treatment and unmatched comfort.

Squinting at the small screens on your cell phone and other handheld devices can cause wrinkles. Jacksonville cosmetic surgeons offer face-saving tips.

Jacksonville cosmetic surgeons Dr. Phillip Garcia and Dr. Roberto Garcia want you to be aware of the potentially aging effects of staring at the small screens on your cell phones, MP3 players and other mobile devices.

It seems everyone and their toddler has one and the thought of going about our day-to-day routines without one of our handheld helpers is almost unfathomable. Cell phones alone allow us to talk, email, text, catch up on the latest news, buy movie tickets and get step-by-step directions to our next destinations. Meanwhile, MPs and e-book readers are increasingly popular.

“While mobile devices certainly make our lives easier, all that squinting to read the tiny lettering can lead to crow’s feet and wrinkles between the eyes,” says Dr. Phillip Garcia, founder of Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery and Reviva Medical Spa. “Plus, there are indications that being in front of standard sized computer screen for long periods of time can have a dulling effect on the skin.”

So how do you fight the skin aging and dulling effects of computer, cell phone and other screen types, Jacksonville? Cosmetic surgeons recommend regularly scheduled facials to keep your skin hydrated, smooth and taut; skin resurfacing treatments like chemical peels to help repair damage from device screens, sunlight and exposure to other environmental elements; or injectable treatments such as Botox or Restylane to smooth out wrinkles.

If you’re seeing the effects of computer screens and mobile devices on your skin and facial features, the Drs. Garcia and their staff of highly trained skincare specialists can help. Call 904-247-8522 for a personal consultation today.

Plastic surgery can be a sensitive issue between significant others. In fact, broaching the subject can be a real challenge for husbands and boyfriends of female patients. Often, a woman wants a cosmetic procedure that her man shuns – sometimes because of financial concerns, other times because he truly loves the way she looks already. Some men, however, fit the exact opposite description, pressuring – even demanding a wife or girlfriend to undergo a procedure she doesn’t want or that is more intense than she wants.

Couples shoud discuss plastic surgery, but the ultimate decision lies with the patient alone.

In a 1997 legal case against one of Hollywood’s most famous celebrity plastic surgeons, actor Sylvester Stallone reportedly burst into the room where then-girlfriend Angie Everhart was undergoing a breast augmentation. The surgeon’s employees testified that Stallone demanded bigger implants than Everhart had agreed to, and the surgeon acquiesced. The couple soon parted ways and Everhart had her implants removed. While this case may sound more like a tawdry Hollywood script than day-to-day reality, you’ll be hard pressed to find a plastic surgeon who has not witnessed such pressure situations in his or her office.

If you feel you’re being pressed to undergo a plastic surgery or other cosmetic procedure that you’re not absolutely sure you want, put the brakes on immediately.

“Undergoing plastic surgery or even a simpler, non-evasive cosmetic procedure is, and should be an intensely personal decision,” says Dr. Phillip Garcia, founder of Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery near Jacksonville, FL. “Here at the Garcia Institute, if we have any cause to believe that a prospective patient is being unduly pressured by a husband, boyfriend or anyone else, we will politely decline our services. Any ethical plastic surgeon in Jacksonville or elsewhere will do the same.”

If you are truly interested in facial plastic surgery but your significant other is hesitant, talk it out. Find out what his concerns are and carefully consider your own. A great celebrity example is Lisa Rinna’s recent decision to undergo facial plastic surgery to remove a 22-year-old silicone lip implant. Scar tissue had formed around the implant, giving her lips an odd shape and she arguably endured more than her fair share of public and media ridicule. Actor husband Harry Hamlin felt she didn’t need surgery, but understood why Rinna wanted it.

“My lips started to define who I am,” Rinna told People magazine. “That bothered me.”

Hamlin supported Rinna’s decision and she reportedly is very pleased with the results of the corrective surgery.

“Couples should discuss plastic surgery and carefully consider all the ways it will affect them as a couple,” Dr. Garcia says. “But the decision ultimately lies with the patient.”

If you are considering undergoing a procedure contact us at (904) 247-8522 or via our online email form to schedule a consultation.

Eyelid surgery by Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery can be an effective option for anyone seeking a more youthful, rejuvenated look around the eyes, and a particular benefit to patients whose drooping eyelids impair vision.

Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery near Jacksonville focuses on both aesthetic and functional benefits of eyelid surgery.

Formally known as blepharoplasty, eyelid surgery involves removing excess skin, muscle or fatty tissue from the upper and lower eyelids. Most upper eyelid surgeries and lower eyelid surgeries are performed for cosmetic reasons. The primary aesthetic result is a firmer, refreshed look around the eyes. But in many cases, eyelid surgery can significantly improve a patient’s vision as well. For instance, a blepharoplasty procedure can address a severely hooded eyelid that partially obscures a patient’s vision or open up naturally small eyes.

The body’s thinnest and most delicate skin is the skin around the eyes. As we age, the underlying eye muscles weaken and the skin stretches. For most, this simply means an older, often tired look. For many others, however, the resulting droop of the upper eyelids can compromise vision by more than 50 percent. Patients considering blepharoplasty often complain that their eyelids feel heavy and that they feel tired even after a full night’s sleep. And any amount of vision loss can hinder independence and everyday activities from reading your favorite novel to assembling a puzzle with your grandchild to driving your car.

In an upper eyelid surgery, excess fat, muscle and loose skin is removed with incisions made along the natural folds and creases of the eyelid, and fine sutures are used to close the incisions. This helps minimize the visibility of any scar. Lower eyelid operations involve removing excess fat and skin through a tiny incision beneath the eyelashes in the first crease. If only fatty pockets need to be removed, your surgeon may instead cut behind the eyelid, making the incision completely invisible. Self dissolving sutures are used, leaving no visible scar.

Typically, upper and lower eyelid surgery is completed within two hours. Permanent stitches are removed three to five days following the surgery and you’ll be advised to use cold compresses and keep your head elevated when lying down to help speed healing and relieve discomfort. You’ll also need to avoid certain activities and environments – particularly bright, direct sunlight – while you heal.

Eyelid surgery done for cosmetic reasons only won’t be considered by insurance companies. However, photographic documentation of obstructed vision and physicians’ projections on the percentage of vision improvement may convince your insurer to pay for a portion of your eyelid surgery costs. Insurance providers differ on the requirements for such coverage, and Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery’s surgeons and staff will work diligently with you and your provider to help land coverage of qualified costs. We also accept major credit cards and work with financing companies including CareCredit and CapitalOne Healthcare Finance. For more information or to schedule an eyelid surgery consultation, contact Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery near Jacksonville at 904-247-8522.

Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery cautions viewers and participants of the new E! show, "Bridalplasty," in which brides-to-be compete for plastic surgery and the chance to be the "perfect bride."

In the newest and perhaps most controversial show of the upcoming Reality TV season, a bevy of brides-to-be will go head-to-veiled and tiara topped-head competing for a full battery of plastic surgery just in time for their weddings. In fact, the winning bride’s new look will literally be “unveiled” for family, friends and fiancé to see for the first time when she reaches the altar, say producers of “Bridalplasty,” the Shanna Moakler-hosted show that reportedly will air on the E! this fall.

Good for TV network ratings? That’s all but assured, given reality TV’s undeniable draw. Good for the brides? That’s debatable, says Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery (Jacksonville, FL) founders Drs. Phillip Garcia and Roberto Garcia. Of course, every bride wants to look beautiful on her big day and it’s not uncommon for women to undergo cosmetic procedures in the months just prior to walking down the aisle – even unbeknownst to her husband-to-be. However, a drastic change made with the wrong mindset can lead to heartbreak.

Remember the short-lived Fox TV show, “The Swan,” which featured women who underwent extreme surgical makeovers and competed against one another for a pageant crown? Media jumped on the fact that multiple participants saw their romantic relationships crumble as the bandages came off. In a People magazine article two months after the show’s second season finale, the husband of “Swan” participant Beth Lay suggested that the experience made her too self-conscious. Critics suspect that the “Bridalplasty” winner may face similar risks in her personal life.

“Plastic surgery must be a personal decision made by the patient, for the patient with no coercion by anyone else – lovers, friends or especially reality TV show producers,” says Dr. Roberto Garcia. “Motives must be sound and expectations must be reasonable.  After all, plastic surgery cannot be undone – only revised – should you be unhappy with the results.”

At Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery, each patient is counseled not only on the physical changes she hopes to make, but on the emotional reasons for and expectations of a chosen cosmetic procedure. Our success is in patients who enjoy long-term satisfaction with their new looks, and our most satisfied clients are those who carefully consider all options and make the decisions solely for themselves. If you are a bride-to-be considering a facial plastic surgery or other cosmetic procedure, Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery near Jacksonville can help make sure your decision about improving your look is a happily-ever-after one.

At Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery, Jacksonville men and women achieve rejuvenated and youthful new looks every day. Like most of our colleagues, we see primarily female patients. But men increasingly are opting for facial cosmetic surgery to help them look younger, feel more confident and remain competitive in the workforce. Both Dr. Phillip Garcia and Dr. Roberto Garcia are board-certified facial plastic surgeons treating Jacksonville area men and women and have extensive experience with and insight into the differences that the two sexes face with plastic surgery.

Differences affecting plastic surgery for Jacksonville men include thicker muscles, different chemical reactions and a greater variance in exposed skin areas. The skin texture of a man’s chin and neck is more coarse than a woman’s, allowing for less scarring. Men’s visible scars from neck lifts and chin implants can be covered by sideburns and beards. Women have an easier time covering brow lift and facelift scars with their hairstyles than do men, particularly men with receding hairlines. Drs. Garcia carefully consider each of these factors when choosing incision points, particularly for male patients, as they typically continue to be more concerned about privacy than do women.

Risks of complications also differ between men and women. Men tend to bleed more than do women, increasing the risk for excessive bleeding or a hematoma (blood clot beneath the skin). Both are easily addressed, but recovery tends to be a bit longer in such cases. When it comes to skincare, men are cautioned not to shave for up to three weeks after a chemical peel. For both men and women, the skin may have a red tint and the face may remain swollen and sensitive for several weeks. A benefit for men is that this redness and swelling can be at least partially hidden by beards.

Drs. Garcia perform successful facial plastic surgery for Jacksonville for both men and women every day. Both are well aware of the differences that male and female patients face. If you are planning a facial plastic surgery, Jacksonville’s Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery is your top choice. Contact us at 800-803-0082 or via our online email form.

There are big differences in the way men and women experience plastic surgery. Jacksonville's Garcia Insitute explains.