Puerto Vallarta Plastic Surgery Our Clinic

Excellence in Plastic Surgery in a Tropical Paradise
a profile of Dr. Carlos Gomez by Bob Cohen in Banderasnews.com

While still in high school, a near fatal injury and successful reconstructive surgery inspired Gomez to become a plastic surgeon - a decision that changed the course of his life.Dr. Carlos Gomez discusses aesthetic and reconstructive surgery from his clinic in Puerto Vallarta.

With the growing popularity of people coming "south of the border" for cosmetic and plastic surgeries, many of those experiences covered in Banderas News, I questioned my medical friends about the competency and quality of plastic surgeons in Puerto Vallarta. The response was similar; the best plastic surgeons were located in Guadalajara. I was informed that Guadalajara produces more plastic surgeries than any city in the world other than Rio de Janeiro.
Due to many letters sent to Banderas News requesting information about what is offered in Puerto Vallarta, I set out on a quest to meet with the most capable and competent plastic surgeons locally. Speaking with medical people, many were hesitant to recommend anyone, while some others sang the praises of just one plastic surgeon (never being the same surgeon.)

Then I met Dr. Carlos Gomez. We met a few times, each time Dr. Carlos impressed me immensely with his passion, dedication and unique ability for plastic surgery procedures. With full belief I had met the best, we scheduled an interview to be profiled in Banderas News as a service to our readers. The first obvious question was "Why did you choose plastic surgery?" Dr. Carlos lifted up his shirt and he showed me a horrendous scar that covered his chest, stomach, going around to the side of his torso.
In high school, his passion was racing sports cars, and he aspired to professionally race and study to be an engineer with an F1 license. Then came the accident and the successful reconstructive surgery and his future plans were immediately altered. Dr. Carlos has always owned the belief that any negative can be turned into a positive, a belief he still holds close to his being.

Still in high school, his future goal changed due to his injury and then aspired to become a plastic as well as a reconstructive surgeon. His own near fatal experience changed the course of his life. He began to help in the emergency rooms while in high school and became so excited about the field that he even recruited member of his own family to have plastic surgery done to enhance their appearance.

He went on to study undergraduate work at the Universidad De Autonomia in Guadalajara. He graduated with honors and went on to medical school at the same prestigious university leaving with the medical status as a General Practitioner. Many physicians in the United States as well as worldwide study at the university; the standards are extremely high, and the competition intense.

Dr. Carlos then went to Mexico City for his residence (internship) in General Surgery, spending his first year at Gustavo Vagande Vas Hospital. He was promoted as the head of all residents of plastic surgery at the end of his first year, chosen ahead of those with three years in residency. During the following three years as the Chief of residents, he spent time at Hermann Hospital in Houston, part of the University of Texas. He studied under the supervision of Dr. Parks and Dr. Wexler, two leaders in the field, while in Texas.

I asked Dr. Carlos why he didn't consider himself a cosmetic surgeon, rather than a plastic surgeon? My understanding was that a cosmetic surgeon was the politically correct term, but he explained the difference. "They (cosmetic surgeons) start working like they are their own society, that being together they are more powerful and can protect themselves. There is quite a bit more involved as a plastic surgeon."

Another question was about certification, and he responded; "the same certifications apply in Mexico as those in the United States, Canada and Europe. Everybody has to be board certified and there are some colleges of plastic surgeons also." Dr. Carlos serves on the Board of Plastic Surgery for the State of Jalisco. "The Board has to decide who is competent for performing plastic surgery. If one is not Board certified, it means that you are lacking some knowledge and/or skills."
Due to his own personal experience with reconstructive surgery, he immediately pursued the desire to learn and practice in the other side of plastic surgery as well as the field of enhancing one's looks. "I try to take the good of the worst experience. If you don't have a positive attitude about what you are confronting, sometimes you just lose the edge," he explained, "If someone now asks me if I want to race cars, I answer that I enjoy sports cars, but it is not as important to me. I am so happy with what I'm doing now. I enjoy my time with the patients in the office as well as in the operating room. It means so much more to me to have the patient smiling with their aesthetic or reconstructive surgery, that it feels better to me than being the Formula One champion."

Turning on his computer, Dr. Carlos showed me photos of many of his procedures; the before and after type that are dated to show the healing process over periods of times. His methods are different than most, as he specializes in minimal incisions, therefore allowing for much faster healing and fewer complications, although the time in the operating room might be a bit longer. He explained and showed me photos of a traditional face lift where all the skin is completely peeled back and the surgery needed is performed. Then we looked at photos of his minimal incision technique, prior to surgery, during surgery and follow ups after just three days, a week and three weeks.
The more rapid healing was an incredible sight to see. In just three days a complete face lift showed very minimal scarring and after a week all scarring was virtually impossible to see with the naked eye. Not only the face lift, but he showed me photos of almost every surgical technique and the rapid healing was a startling sight to see.

One amazing groups of photos quickly taught me the other side of his profession; the reconstructive side. About 15 years ago a m an came into a hospital where he was then the Chief of Plastic Surgery, with his hand and wrist wrapped in a newspaper, bearing his arm where it became detached with tendons, ligaments and the such dangling from his bloody arm. The time since the accident was two hours and Dr. Carlos was summoned to surgery where he spent the next 12 hours, intricately reattaching the wrist and hand to his arm. Photos told the whole story and to this day the man has complete use of that hand.
The doctor is not all about money either, and for that reason he chose to open his own clinic in Puerto Vallarta. He turned down offers to work in the United States and was recruited by the finest hospitals locally and graciously turned down the offers. He is able to do much pro bono work, another passion of his. The wa y he described feeling after performing cleft and lip palate surgery to young needy kids, at no cost, has given them an opportunity to succeed in life without such obvious physical drawbacks. Being unaffiliated also affords him the opportunity to take on extreme cases when all else fails.

Some affiliates of his question him when he takes on a patient that will need half a day in the operating room, while he could easily perform multiple simple cosmetic surgical procedures. Thus, his philosophy on life and remembering what was what he once thought was a personal catastrophic injury that he turned into a career that he loves. Had he not had a competent surgeon to put him back together, he would not be able to learn and professionally practice a profession that he feels was his destiny. Dr. Carlos, in turn, will not turn away any procedure that is at all reparable.

"Cosmetic surgery is really having a big boom around the world, but is really a very small part of plastic surgery," Dr, Carlos continued, "but to do a real reconstructive surgery, such as a cleft lip or palate or someone that has a huge defect from cancer and the such, does require more skill and knowledge. When I was a resident in Mexico City, many doctors wanted to do just cosmetic surgery, which was ok with the chiefs of surgery, but it is just the tip of the iceberg." He continued, "Just an average surgeon can do a cosmetic surgery, but in more intricate plastic surgeries there is so much more involved. If I move this tissue from here, am I lacking something? One always has to pay a price as you are moving tissues from one place to another, so you have to be very clever or you will lack."

"Many of my patients are those that have had surgeries done by someone else and are told that there is nothing else that could be done by that surgeon. People come to our office because they know that we take on those cases, where there is more work to be done. We do a lot of pro bono work in this area as well, as often a surgeon's work is lacking and leaves more to be done for a complete and successful aesthetic or reconstructive surgery. The point is that if you really enjoy and love what you are doing, you don't always have to charge all the time for doing that."
An obvious question that needed to be asked was, why open a clinic in Puerto Vallarta, while your career is thriving in Guadalajara? Dr, Carlos responded; "It's a very different kind of practice, I can be much closer to my patients, spend more time with them in both pre and post op. In Guadalajara, at a huge hospital where I am the Chief of Plastic Surgery, it is like watching the television show ER, changing scrubs in one minute, and going from one surgery to another, while in our clinic in Vallarta, it is a more casual environment, getting better contact with patients, getting closer to them in a friendlier way."
There are always patients visiting Dr. Carlos at his clinic or his office just around the corner, all of which appear to be happy to just stop by and chat with him. "What started as a professional relationship often changes to a close friendship with a patient, as I get the time to know what their needs are. Above all the friendships are in accordance with professional ethics, which are most important to honor."

"Knowing and understanding the needs of patients is extremely important, especially here in Mexico, where about 40% of my patients are from foreign countries with different cultures. Those different cultures produce different needs in the appearance of one seeking plastic surgery. As a surgeon, I am very sensitive to those needs; patients from Japan, for example have different values culturally and I need to tailor those values in the planning of the surgery. Many women from Brazil desire breast reduction for one simple reason; they don't wear tops on the beach. Almost every culture has different standards and ethics and we need to be sensitive to each individual case."

"Puerto Vallarta is a more appealing place for one to have plastic surgery and one can come here for surgery, a short recovery and enjoy a week long vacation, which is why I decided to open a clinic here," Dr. Carlos stated. "Many of my patients come to Guadalajara on a Friday for a couple of days and fly back to the U.S. or Canada to have dinner with their family on Sunday night. Although Guadalajara is a beautiful city, many people do not choose the city as a vacation spot due to the large size, and the enticement of a comfortable and beautiful place like Puerto Vallarta, leads many to make this a destination package as a surgery/vacation."

Dr. Carlos has practiced has in Puerto Vallarta for six years and opened his clinic 2 1/2 years ago. Three blocks away is a beautiful all inclusive casa where patients stay for three days while recuperating, and he can easily visit them for after surgery follow-up. In the vacation package, one can extend their vacation for another week or more at any one of a number of facilities, depending on their wants and desires. Comparing prices for surgery only in the United States or Canada, one can fly to Puerto Vallarta, have surgery and follow-up care, and enjoy a vacation for about the same price.

Dr. Carlos resume appear to be a "who's who" in plastic surgery and he currently is the Coordinator of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Puerta de Hierro Medical Center in Guadalajara. The huge medical center is considered by many professionals as one that has the best technology and knowledge in all of Latin America.

Before one chooses to have plastic or aesthetic surgery in Mexico, be sure to check with Dr. Carlos Gomez and consult with him via email, telephone or in person before making a final decision. His expertise, along with his minimal incision technique allows for better results, and also offers you the chance to enjoy a vacation in Puerto Vallarta.