This is a phenomenon that happens as our age really seems to be catching up with us. Symptoms include that sinking feeling when you know you have to schedule yet another visit to get “plumped” again; when the visits for filler injections seem to be closer and closer together. Age has caught up, too much “extra” skin sags, wrinkles get deeper and it becomes obvious that something more is needed. Often, that “more” is a procedure by a board certified plastic surgeon.

If you have been getting fillers for a long time, there is a good chance that you are ready for a lifting procedure. The surgical option list is long—face and neck lifts, brow lifts, eye lifts and nose jobs.

Incidentally, I love creating refreshingly beautiful faces. I enjoy hearing success stories from my post-surgical patients whose friends and families notice they look great … there’s something subtly different … something refreshed. This is the ultimate. This is the proverbial “home run.”

In essence, if you’ve had your fill of fillers, and you are exasperated by “filler burnout,” and you think it might be your time to learn more about the next step in your maintenance program, call us at (512) 732-0732 and set up a consultation to learn more about the myriad of options in facial enhancement surgery.

Communicating with soldiers half a world away has become commonplace with my staff. I’m constantly reading stories and reviewing photos in my email to determine if they are reasonable candidates for the procedures that they are considering. I also allow them significant financial courtesy as a “Thank You” not only from Westlake Plastic Surgery, but from our great nation as well.

I can only imagine what they must be going through. At a time of war, their personal sacrifice and courage is very inspiring to me. I don’t cry much, but if I do, it’s usually during a war movie or when I think about my dad.

So, my hat is off to all the wonderful men and women in our Armed Forces. It’s an honor and privilege to earn the trust of our soldiers. It brings a smile to my face knowing that I play a small part in making their day a little bit brighter.

A patient recently told the story of her breast enhancement and how she was experiencing a multitude of problems with the results. When she went back to her surgeon she was “assured that it was fine.” She told me, “After reading your website, I now know I’m not crazy”.

As popular as a breast enhancement is, it’s not uncommon to have some “issues” with your breasts. Most of the time they are minor and just “irritants” from an otherwise gratifying result. Sometimes, however, the problems are a bit more advanced and unacceptable according to my standards. What I have learned from doing hundreds of breast enhancements, and with my extensive experience in secondary breast work (fixing and dealing with problems from previous breast work), I have learned quite a bit about this relatively “simple” but tricky procedure.
Some problem issues with breast enhancement are predictable based on what was performed by your surgeon. If you want to essentially “sell” the procedure, you offer the patient whatever it is that they want. You want them big—no problem. Don’t want to go below the muscle—we will put it on top. Don’t want a lift—don’t get one. Don’t want to wear a support bra afterwards—burn your bras.

The problem is that all patients are different in terms of their anatomy. The plan for your enhancement is very much dependent on several factors that help me determine what will work best for you, both in the short and long term. Educating a patient about all the issues involved will help open your eyes to what YOU need to understand so you enjoy a long lasting enhancement.

If you are experiencing some issues with your breast enhancement and you want to know if you are crazy or not, visit www.westlakeplasticsurgery.com .

How do you know what you need? What alternatives are best to help you achieve your desired goals? Generally speaking, younger patients with fewer signs of aging do well with non-surgical alternatives, while older patients and those who are younger and have more advanced signs of aging benefit most from surgical alternatives. Oftentimes, a combination of both works best for the patient.

People would love to believe that non-surgical alternatives will achieve the same level of benefit compared to surgical options, but this is not the case. It is wishful thinking to believe that plumper’s and Botox will transform the aging face of a 54 year old woman who has sun damaged skin and whose face and neck have fallen with age. This is the time to consider the true benefits of a face and neck lift.

Patients have fears about surgery and anesthesia, realistic or not. If you want to drive business your way, all you have to do is tell patients that you will be able to achieve the beautiful results from surgical outcomes with non-surgical techniques! No surgery, no downtime, and no risk. Sounds wonderful indeed, but if you believe this you are not dealing with reality.

The true “art” of plastic surgery is the ability to rejuvenate without the signs of plastic surgery at all—the younger version of YOU, without the stigmata of poorly-performed surgery (windblown face lift appearance) or the inexpert use of non-surgical techniques (duck lips, frozen face from Botox, alien like facial appearance).

Find yourself a great plastic surgeon who educates, listen with an open mind to the various alternatives, and decide what is best for you based on your goals, the potential risks, your recovery time, your finances, and your lifestyle. You can always “test the water” with non-surgical treatments and graduate to more transforming alternatives when you are ready.

That’s where plastic surgery comes in. An investment in yourself is for you and for you to keep always. It’s a great way to invest in the most important person in your life—you. You get to choose the best surgeon to help you with your investment decisions, you get to pick from a menu of investment options and you get to take it home with you to enjoy each and every day!

Best of all, no one can take it away from you!

Your investment will pay many dividends as well — how about feeling good and looking good? Got a problem with that? There are many ways that plastic surgery can enhance the human spirit and make your days a little bit brighter.

If you are ready to invest in yourself for a change, give us a call at 512-732-0732 and set up a visit with me to explore options. Make sure you spend some time on my website checking out my before and after photos and reading individual patients’ stories. See how others have successfully invested in themselves!

• A fully certified and credentialed private in-office operating facility.
• A full-time board certified anesthesiologist, Dr. Diane Keeler-Boysen.
• Three full-time, experienced, registered nurses.
• A Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with over twenty years experience, whose credentials and reputation are second to none and whose judgment is highly valued.
• A proven track record of safe outcomes.

Part of maintaining a boring practice is the need to just say no. If I feel that a patient is not a suitable candidate for plastic surgery, I will simply say so and avoid the potential for events or outcomes that can fill my practice with drama. I sleep very well at night, and I plan on keeping it that way.
Keep Austin Weird and Keep Westlake Plastic Surgery boring!
Robert Caridi, MD

As we get older, we start to notice wrinkles around our forehead and eye area, and why is that? The answer is muscle activity, and the finest way to treat the problem is through Botox injections. It is one of the most impressive additions to the plastic surgery tool chest in the past ten years, and it is a great way to look younger than your peers.

Throughout my career, the results from Botox injections have fascinated my patients. For those who are not pleased with their treatment, I can only blame scammers. If Botox is given in a random manner without a true comprehension of muscle anatomy and facial expression, the looks will be offsetting.

Scammers trick patients in two persistent ways. First, you must know that Botox works best when it is sold in “units,” the common measure of the amount of Botox. If Botox is diluted, there are fewer units, and therefore you are getting less than what you pay for. To avoid this problem, make sure you buy Botox by the unit, and have the “provider” specify how much you are getting and what you are paying.

Second, there is this issue of paying by the “area.” How many units are you actually getting? Paying by the area is vague, and if you don’t ask how many units you are getting, you simply won’t know if you’re getting enough Botox. Who cares how many areas are treated if the amount of units of Botox was simply not enough to work?

At Westlake Plastic Surgery, we offer Botox by the unit. It is provided by my partner, and Board Certified Anesthesiologist, Dr. Diane Boysen. Believe me, Botox works, and it works very well. Trust Westlake Plastic Surgery.

Robert Caridi MD

It wasn’t until about eight years later that I truly comprehended what she meant. The aging process is inevitable, but it seems to have a day when it is truly obvious — when all of the sudden you see what’s coming as clear as day. It’s the “OMG” moment! It’s the realization that your time has come and that yes, you are going to age just like your parents even though you thought it was something that happens to others and certainly could not happen to you.

It sucks! Aging is not fun, yet we all have to deal with it at a certain point. No one escapes the process of aging. It doesn’t have to be all that bad; this is where a great plastic surgeon can help give you plenty of options to make the transition as smooth as possible.