You're listening to the Confident Choice Podcast with me, Dr. Roberto Garcia, a double board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon.
Honest conversations and expert advice about the decisions that make you feel your best.
So, welcome everybody to Episode 8 of The Confident Choice. We're really excited today. I have to say, I've been jumping out of my seat for the last week.
I have Dr. Patrick Basil, a board-certified plastic surgeon. He has a beautiful practice here in the Jacksonville Beach area. He's been in practice—how many years now?
Dr. Basil: A long time. Out of training since '09, but we just had our 10th anniversary for our practice.
So, 10th anniversary. I remember when you moved here.
We're going to get into how we met—that's a fun story.
It's a good story.
We're really honored, and I really appreciate you taking the time to come visit with us.
The idea behind our podcast up to this point has really been centered around our patients gaining the appropriate information—whether they decide to use our practice or not. I don't care about that part. But what I don't want is patients seeking the wrong information and, more importantly, asking the wrong questions when they see a surgeon.
So, I want patients to challenge the surgeon and really test if that's the right fit. One of the episodes we talked about in the past was the duality of the consult—the interview that goes back and forth. It's not just us being interviewed. Right. We're looking for certain things as well.
What do you find are some of the things that really turn you off in a consult?
Dr. Basil: I think you brought up a good point. In this day and age with social media, people are getting most of their information, unfortunately, via TikTok and Instagram. Interestingly enough, the people in our professions doing the most promotion on there aren't necessarily the best or giving the best information. So you're getting skewed information.
The hard thing is when a patient comes in already convinced of what they need and how they want you to do it. Whether it's breast surgery and CC size because their friend had this, or a facial procedure based on what they saw online or what a celebrity had done.
That kind of certainty—and then afterward, questions that don't make sense, or they're not really listening to you or trusting what you have to say. They're listening more to social media.
They'll say, "After our consult, I went home and saw things online you didn't bring up." And when I ask what they are, they often have nothing to do with their procedure.
So unfortunately, the public doesn't always know what's real and what isn't.
Do you think that when you're posed with that scenario, you kind of step back?
I find myself saying, "Let me understand what you've seen," but also explaining that it may not apply. I had a patient bring in a rhinoplasty photo of an actress. Beautiful result—but it wouldn't work for her.
I used the example: I'd love to be Brad Pitt, but my parents weren't Brad Pitt's parents.
Dr. Basil: Exactly. Your anatomy is different.
You'll get different results from the same surgery on different patients.
Dr. Basil: I do like photos, though. When patients say, "I want to look like this," you can tell right away if expectations are realistic. Or you use that opportunity to educate them—find examples of people closer to their age and body type.
If they don't understand after that, then there's a communication problem.
It's okay to say no. I tell young surgeons that all the time. You worry about success and income early on, but it's okay to say no.
A good baseball hitter knows which pitches to swing at.
You don't get into the Hall of Fame by hitting home runs—you get there by hitting singles and getting on base.
And as you gain experience, you learn to say no—for the patient's benefit.
But one fear I still have is that if I say no, someone else will say yes.
Dr. Basil: I actually tell patients that. I say, "Someone will take your money." And that sticks with them.
I tell them I'm here to advocate for them. If I don't feel comfortable, I won't do it.
At the end of the day, you don't want a patient who's had surgery, lost money, and is unhappy. That's the worst outcome.
Sometimes patients go somewhere cheaper, have a bad experience, and then come back needing a revision—which is more difficult and more expensive.
There's always that balance in practice: do you start conservatively or go straight to surgery?
Dr. Basil: It's a dance. I tell patients they have three options:
It depends on their lifestyle, time off, and goals. Some patients need surgery. Others benefit from minimally invasive options.
It's about education and listening.
We talked about treatments like Kybella. Initially, it seemed like a game changer—but the reality was different.
Some patients spent a year doing treatments when surgery could fix it faster and more effectively.
That's where patient selection matters.
There's also the issue of non-surgical overuse. Sometimes, patients look worse from too many injectables than they would with surgery.
Everything should be about balance and natural results.
Facial rejuvenation starts with skin health.
Dr. Basil: The biggest advancements have been in lasers and skin treatments. We can now personalize treatments based on the patient's needs—whether it's light refreshment or more aggressive correction.
That flexibility is exciting.
But there's also a lot of gimmicky technology marketed toward med spas.
Some of these have high complication rates.
Training and board certification matter.
Patients should look at real patient results—not marketing pamphlets.
Expectations are everything.
Most of the consult is managing expectations—based on the individual patient, not someone else's results.
Dr. Basil recalls meeting Dr. Garcia as a medical student in 2002 during an ENT rotation in Syracuse.
He saw Dr. Garcia take command of a trauma room and was immediately impressed.
Their friendship grew over the years through shared connections, church, and family.
Dr. Garcia shares a lesson inspired by his father and the concept from The Tipping Point.
Success comes from consistent effort. Even when it feels like nothing is happening, progress is being made beneath the surface.
Failure isn't failure—it's learning.
Stay true to your philosophy rather than constantly changing direction.
Thank you again for listening. Stay tuned for next week's episode featuring Dr. Philip Garcia, where we'll discuss how to choose the right facial plastic surgeon.
Under the direction of visionary double board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Roberto Garcia, Contoura Facial Plastic Surgery offers the latest surgical and non-surgical procedures in a relaxed and serene setting. Schedule a virtual or in-person consultation today to get the first glimpse of your future self.
230 A1A N, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082