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"I chose to invest in my appearance at a younger age because I take pride in looking my best," says S.S. of Valencia, when asked why she chose to have a "half" face and neck lift at 46 years old.

The petite, pretty woman in front of me had plastic surgery in May of this year; I would never have guessed had she not told me directly. Even then, I insisted on seeing the "proof" - two miniscule scars, one behind each of her ears. "They're hardly noticeable now, and it hasn't been that long since my surgery. They'll go away," she informs me confidently.

As I gaze upon her neck, smooth and taunt, my eyes travel up. Her jawline is perfection; it's tight, not pulled - like a much-younger woman's. The nasal folds, those vertical lines that run alongside our noses next to our cheeks, are nearly imperceptible, thanks to fat injections. Her skin looks luminous and I hypothesize that it's the work of the stem cells that were transferred from her stomach to her face via a micro-liposuction. She looks 30... 32 tops.

I can't believe it - but then again, I can. I've been working with Dr. Justin Heller's patients for months now, each with results more impressive than the last. The board-certified plastic surgeon and owner of Heller Plastic Surgery in Valencia is known for his conservative aesthetic and resounding results.
"That's why I chose Dr. Heller," says S.S., when we chat about Dr. Heller's reputation. "I didn't want everyone to know that I had this done; only very close friends and family. He is a very conservative surgeon and his work looks so natural. That was very important to me. And, when I met him, I just felt something in my gut - I knew he was the right one. And I was right!"

The procedure was pleasant, says S.S., whom speaks highly of Dr. Heller's office staff. "It was a pretty fast recovery, too," she says. "I wanted to do this before I 'needed' it - before the change was night and day, very noticeable. I knew it would be easier on me in every way to do this now and I'm very glad I did. I think it took eight years off my face. He did a beautiful job. I don't look like I've had a facelift at all. I don't look pulled. I look like me, just younger!"

"It's not unusual for a patient in their mid 40s to want surgery on their neck and lower face," says Dr. Heller. "Many see it as a preventative, as a way to address minor droop and jowels before they become quite obvious. The younger you are, the more collagen naturally occurs in your skin. There's still natural bounce and stretch there, so surgical results are especially pleasing to patients in this age group."

That doesn't mean you can't wait until your 50s, 60s, even 70s to experience the benefits. "Today's patients don't want to look like they've had 'work' done - they want to look refreshed, not pulled. My facelifts engage the tissue below the skin, lifting it internally back to it's most aesthetic position, so even older patients will be able to realize very impressive results that still look perfectly natural," explains the Ivy-league-educated surgeon.
Heller Plastic Surgery is located in the Atrium Building next to City Hall in Valencia. The comfortable, well-appointed office is now accepting patients and scheduling complimentary consultations. 661-233-4949