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R. Black, 50, hit her half-century milestone the same year she got divorced. The customer-service representative didn't let those things hold her back from investing in herself, though; she was ready to schedule both a lower face lift and repair of a previous breast augmentation within months of each other.

There was just one hesitancy: Finding the right doctor. "I live in San Diego and I was ready to drive anywhere," says the mother of two. "I didn't care about distance, but I needed perfection when it came to results and service." After reading hundreds of reviews, analyzing an equal number of before-and-after photos and interviewing doctors throughout So Cal, Black found herself in a consultation with Dr. Justin Heller of Heller Plastic Surgery in Valencia.

"What first made an impact on me is that the office staff is so incredibly professional; because of my career in customer service, that was a necessity. I'd give them a 12 out of 10 when it comes to patient care!," she says. "But what sold me was Dr. Heller. His work is brilliant and he is so up to date on the latest methods and procedures. I ended up driving three hours each way to see him and it was worth every mile and minute!"

The board-certified surgeon first performed a lower facelift on Black. "What I love is that people say, 'Whatever you are doing, keep doing it! You look amazing!' They can't tell that my neck wrinkles and jowls are gone; they just know I look fabulous." Black, who now often is confused as her 30- and 20-year-old daughters' sister, continues: "For the few folks who know what I had done, they immediately scrambled to get into Dr. Heller's office! They can't believe how natural and perfect I look and they want to look like this, too. I'm still totally 'me,' I don't look pulled at all. Just younger and better!"

A few months after her facelift, Black returned for a revitalization of a previous breast augmentation. "If you could see the before and after shots of my breast aug, you'd never think to go anywhere else but Heller Plastic Surgery. My first surgery turned out horribly. They looked deformed. Dr. Heller totally fixed everything and we went with Gummy Bear implants. They look natural, feel totally natural and are entirely imperceptible. It's only been a couple months and really, you would never think I had implants. The tiny scars are the width of a hair and are hidden where my breast naturally folds; you'd have to really, really search to find them. They are perfect!"

Elated with her two surgeries, Black decided to try Botox with Dr. Heller. "I've had Botox before, but always stopped because I wasn't achieving the look I was going for. I even went to a famous surgeon who has a TV show, because he was highly recommended. I didn't like the results. But when Dr. Heller explained how most Botox practitioners don't have an expert understanding of the minute muscles in the face, and how the injection can affect them, it made sense - so I gave him a try." Now she refuses to go anywhere else. "Dr. Heller's Botox injections lifted my brows beautifully and totally relaxed the lines around my eyes. He's very conservative in his use and just brilliant with Botox. I look like I've had an upper facelift and eye lift when he's done!"

"I feel like part of the Heller Plastic Surgery family now," says Black. "If my daughters or friends ever want anything done, they're planning on going to him. He's just so incredibly talented and takes such a warm, personal interest in his patients. Dr. Heller performs with integrity and so does his staff. There's no reason to ever go to anyone else!"
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

Dr. Heller's Education and Experiences
American Board of Plastic Surgery Board Certification
MOHS Fellowship
University of California Irvine Orthopaedic Hand & Microsurgery Fellowship
University of Texas Southwestern Plastic Surgery Residency with specialization in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
UCLA Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Craniofacial Research Fellowship
Yale University School of Medicine