Orange County Plastic Surgery

11/18/2025

Blurring the details because the real reveal happens soon…✨

One of our biggest aesthetic savings of the year – for one day only!!

• Call in on Cyber Monday, December 1st 2025, to secure✨ Open from 8:30am - 5:00pm PST ✨
• Injectables must be redeemed by 12/31/2025
• Surgical Consultations must be scheduled by 01/31/2026 & surgery to be scheduled by 02/28/2026💉
• No banking & no pre-purchasing 💌

Turn on post notification so you don’t miss the reveal!!

11/18/2025

Priecīgus Valsts Svētkus!
Happy Independence Day, Latvia

11/17/2025

The Role of Optimism in Healing and Recovery - By Dr. Deborah Ekstrom
Orange County Plastic Surgery, Corona del Mar/Newport Beach,

Let’s start with a quick quiz:
Which of the following statements about optimism and healing is true?
A. Optimism only affects mood, not physical recovery.
B. Optimists tend to experience slower healing due to higher expectations.
C. Optimism has been linked to faster recovery, less pain, and greater satisfaction after surgery.
D. Optimism is determined entirely by genetics.
E. Optimism has no measurable impact on inflammation or immunity.
✅ Correct answer: C. Numerous studies show that optimism is associated with faster healing, less need for pain medication, fewer complications, and higher patient satisfaction.

I learned the importance of optimism, growing up on a dairy farm in Minnesota, while dreaming about becoming a physician. I studied the effects of optimism, or lack thereof, during my psychiatry training, before I embarked on a career as a plastic surgeon. In aesthetic surgery, we often focus on technical precision and post-operative care—but a vital ingredient in recovery is often overlooked: the patient’s mindset. Optimism isn’t just a pleasant attitude; it’s a measurable factor that directly affects physical healing.

A systematic review of patients undergoing heart bypass surgery found that those with higher levels of optimism had fewer complications, less rehospitalization, and improved quality of life (PubMed, 2022). Another meta-analysis of over 80 studies reported a consistent positive link between optimism and better overall physical health outcomes (Oxford Academic, 2009).

For aesthetic patients, this translates into several meaningful benefits:
Faster healing and reduced pain: Optimism is linked to lower pain scores and quicker recovery after surgery. Optimists have lower inflammation markers and better immune responses, as shown in studies on stroke and surgical recovery (American Heart Association, 2020).

Less dependence on pain medication: Patients who expect to recover well often perceive less pain and use fewer analgesics.
Higher satisfaction with results: Optimistic patients focus on long-term improvements rather than temporary swelling or bruising, leading to greater overall satisfaction.
Optimism also promotes practical healing behaviors—better nutrition, exercise, sleep, and adherence to post-operative instructions. Patients with a positive mindset tend to follow through on wound care, attend follow-up visits, and engage proactively in their recovery.
If you’re preparing for any aesthetic procedure, consider cultivating optimism as part of your surgical preparation. Here are three simple exercises:
Visualize your successful recovery each morning.
Keep a gratitude journal—write down three good things daily.
Use positive self-talk: “I am healing well. I am improving every day.”
For you, our patient, this means that cultivating a positive outlook matters — not superficially, but as part of your preparation and recovery framework. We invite you to orient your mindset toward the future you want (vibrant, rejuvenated, active), rather than the short-term discomfort.
In my practice with Dr. Bunkis, we emphasize not only the technical excellence of facial rejuvenation, but also the environment and mindset in which healing takes place. As my colleague often says: we perform beautiful surgery — and optimism helps turn that into beautiful living.
Optimism is not just “thinking good thoughts.” It is a practical, evidence-based adjunct to surgical recovery that each of us can encourage and embrace.
At Orange County Plastic Surgery, Dr. Bunkis and I believe that surgery restores form—but optimism helps restore spirit. By combining precise technique with a hopeful outlook, our patients truly experience beautiful healing from the inside out.

11/15/2025

Mentor MemoryGel Smooth XTRA implants are engineered for patients seeking a soft, cohesive silicone feel with added projection and upper-pole fullness. This design allows natural movement while the higher fill ratio of the XTRA line helps reduce visible rippling & maintains long-term shape stability 🍒

For a personalized implant consultation, book with us at Orange County Plastic Surgery💌 Your surgical plan is tailored with precision, safety & long-term outcomes in mind🤍

11/13/2025

Meet the team✨
The hands, hearts & minds behind your transformation🤍

Come say Hi to the faces you’ll be seeing at your next visit!! Or give us a call to book a consultation if you don’t have one already💌

11/12/2025

November is your month to turn back time✨
Enjoy $750 off Facelift Surgery this month only — our most refined approach to restoring youthful contour and natural confidence!

Lift. Refine. Rejuvenate.

Offer valid through November 30th! Consultation must be booked before then💌

Tap the link in our bio to schedule!
Any questions? Give us a call: (949) 888-9700

11/11/2025

November 11 is Veterans Day in America and "Lāčplēšu" Day in Latvia – a day to thank millions of veterans for their patriotism and bravery.

The service and sacrifice of these Americans and Latvians is a big part of what makes American and Latvia extraordinary. Please join me in honoring them.

11/10/2025

Otoplasty - Big Results from a Little Procedure By Dr. Deborah Ekstrom, Orange County Plastic Surgery, Corona del Mar/Newport Beach, California

Let’s start with a quiz:
What is the primary goal of a setback otoplasty?
A. To make the ears smaller
B. To reduce hearing sensitivity
C. To move prominent ears closer to the head for a more natural appearance
D. To tighten the earlobes
E. To remove cartilage from the ear tip
Correct answer: C — to move prominent ears closer to the head for a more natural appearance.

Protruding ears can cause significant self-consciousness, especially in children, but also in adults who may have spent years trying to hide their ears with hairstyles or hats. The good news? Otoplasty — sometimes called “ear setback surgery” — offers big results from a little procedure.

Candidates for otoplasty include anyone with prominent ears, asymmetrical ears, or ears that have lost shape due to trauma or prior surgery. Children as young as five or six can be considered, once the ear cartilage has matured, but adults of any age can benefit as well.

The desire to correct prominent ears isn’t new. The first documented otoplasty procedures date back to the late 19th century, when surgeons began reshaping ear cartilage to create a more natural contour. Over the decades, techniques have evolved significantly — today’s procedures are safe, refined, and produce predictable, long-lasting results.

Modern otoplasty typically involves sculpting and repositioning the ear cartilage through a small incision behind the ear. At Orange County Plastic Surgery, we tailor the procedure to each patient’s anatomy and goals, using gentle and precise methods to achieve a balanced, symmetrical, and natural appearance.

The procedure can be done comfortably under local anesthesia with oral sedation for many adults, or a light general anesthetic for children or anxious patients. Most surgeries take about an hour and a half, and recovery is straightforward — most people return to work or school within a week.

The best part? The results are life-long. Once the cartilage is reshaped and secured, the ears maintain their new position permanently.

Whether for a child starting school or an adult ready to shed years of self-consciousness, otoplasty offers a subtle but powerful transformation — restoring balance, harmony, and confidence to the face.

11/06/2025

11/06/2025

✨ Pumpkin spice & everything nice … including refreshed skin! ✨ Fall is one of the best times to book your facelift, chemical peel, or Botox treatment! 💖 Cooler weather and less sun exposure mean your skin heals beautifully - so you can glow just in time for the holidays! Treat yourself with that fall glow up that you’ve thinking about!

11/06/2025

✨ Pumpkin spice & everything nice … including refreshed skin! ✨ Fall is one of the best times to book your facelift, chemical peel, or Botox treatment! 💖 Cooler weather and less sun exposure mean your skin heals beautifully - so you can glow just in time for the holidays! Treat yourself with that fall glow up that you’ve thinking about! 💉 glow