Avoid "pillow Face" - Jacksonville Plastic Surgeons Tell You How

By Author: Kirsten Gross
Total Articles: 91
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It's being called "pillow face" and it's a look that patients of Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery near Jacksonville, FL are looking to avoid.

"Pillow face typically is a tell-tale sign of overdoing it with Botox and other facial fillers for too many years," explains Dr. Phillip Garcia, a double board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery. "Our patients definitely are noticing it in older celebrities and socialites and they're asking how they can avoid it."

The trend is a major point of discussion among plastic surgeons from around the world attending conferences like the British Association for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting that took place earlier this year. Overuse of Botox and other temporary or permanent fillers, as well as poorly done cheek implants or fat transfers are to blame, practitioners say.

The "ideal" facial shape for a woman is the inverted triangle - a wide cheek region and narrow chin. As we age, those proportions begin to reverse. The naturally occurring fat tissue in our cheeks begins to deplete, while excess fat and skin settles in ...
... the chin and jaw line. Wrinkles appear, cheeks hollow and jowls form.

Properly administered Botox and fillers will help smooth wrinkles and plump skin. And cheek implants can restore youthful volume to an aging face. But an overzealous physician or a patient insistent upon too much of a good thing can leave a woman looking smoother and plumper, but definitely not younger.

"As plastic surgery techniques and products improve, and as fillers 'come of age,' so to speak, patients are demanding a more natural look," says Dr. Roberto Garcia, partner in Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery (also known as the Garcia Institute). "A skilled physician using the right techniques can help a patient achieve a younger, more vibrant and totally natural look."

Drs. Garcia recently unveiled Contoura, a proprietary combination of facial cosmetic procedures designed to achieve youthful looking, long-lasting results under local anesthesia with no downtime and at a fraction of the cost of invasive procedures like facelifts and cheek implants. This multi-technique approach allows for subtle changes that together yield a dramatically improved, yet natural look.

If you aren't able to visit Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery, Drs. Garcia offer tips for achieving a youthful look without risking pillow face:

* Ask to see a plastic surgeon's "look book" of patients' before-and-after photos and to speak with patients if possible;
* Pay close attention to the looks of a plastic surgeon's staff, as they are likely to have had free or discounted work done by the surgeon;
* Only go to a plastic surgeon whose policy includes free follow-up visits. These surgeons are less likely to overdo a procedure, knowing that tweaks can be done during follow-ups if the patient wants a little more work;
* If a physician seems pushy about performing a procedure immediately, walk out. Any procedure, no matter how minor, must ultimately be your decision;
* Opt for small amounts of Botox or other injectable fillers, particularly if you're new to cosmetic procedures. This will allow for a gradual, more natural looking improvement rather than an instant, dramatic change.

To learn more about Contoura or other youth-restoring cosmetic procedures, call Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery at 904-247-8522 and schedule your consultation with Dr. Phillip Garcia or Dr. Roberto Garcia today.

As double Board Certified Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, Dr. Phillip and Roberto Garcia of Garcia Facial Plastic Surgery are specialists in plastic reconstructive and cosmetic surgery for aging face procedures, rhinoplasty (nasal surgery), and eyelid plastic surgery.