Dr. Michael I. Echavez is a double-board-certified facial plastic surgeon practicing in San Francisco, California. Though he is most renowned for his expertise in performing cosmetic surgeries of the face and neck, he is also highly skilled at administering minimally- and noninvasive aesthetic treatments, including laser skin resurfacing, body contouring, Botox, and dermal fillers such as Juvéderm, Restylane, Sculptra Aesthetic, and Radiesse. In addition to his warm, patient, and attentive bedside manner, Dr. Echavez is known for his perfectionism. His loyal clients travel from throughout the West Coast to be treated by him at his Bay Area practice. His meticulous, artistic eye and precise hands make Dr. Echavez exceptionally talented at providing subtle yet powerfully transformative results, enhancing the appearance and confidence of every patient he touches. Dr. Echavez is a native of the Bay Area who graduated with his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley. He went on to earn his medical degree from University of California, San Francisco, where he also completed his residencies in general surgery and otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. Dr. Echavez then temporarily relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he completed a rigorous fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery before returning home to open private practices in San Francisco, California and Seattle, Washington. Dr. Echavez is one of a select group of physicians who has been certified by not one but two medical boards: the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. This dual board certification, coupled with over 28 years of experience, means that Dr. Echavez has a comprehensive mastery of anatomy from the neck up, making him a highly sought-after provider of both aesthetic and reconstructive care to patients in the Bay Area. Passionate about advancing cosmetic surgery techniques in the medical community, Dr. Echavez is on the clinical faculty at University of California, San Francisco, where he teaches future generations of physicians. He also frequently teaches other physicians around the country how to best administer facial contouring fillers as a trainer for several injectable companies. Many of Dr. Echavez’s patients cite his talent at administering injectables. He was one of the very first plastic surgeons to treat patients with Sculptra in the United States and is very skilled at using this product, as well as other dermal fillers and injectables. Dr. Echavez not only performs facial surgeries and treatments, but also offers noninvasive fat reduction treatments, including CoolSculpting and SculpSure, and skin tightening treatments like Fractora and FaceTite. Dr. Echavez stays active professionally as a frequent guest lecturer at conferences nationwide, sharing his injectable techniques. He is also a current member of the American Academy of Facial and Plastic Reconstructive Surgery.
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I am very happy to find Dr. Michaels Echavez, after my extensive online search for my (Asian) eyelid surgery. I decided to choose Dr. Echavez after my comparison online shopping. Dr. Echavez impressed me the most, his very reasonable price, his respectful manner and professional quiet strength of confidence. I especially like his not talking big and flashy. I feel very comfortable with Dr. Echavez' reassuring down to earth manner, and humble, modest with great professionalism. Dr. Echavez eased my mind in hypertension before the surgery prep. He also made me feel very comfortable throughout the surgical procedure, despite my natural distress when inside a medical facility. He had a very caring, reassuring and respectful bedside manner, including before and after with follow up appointment care. Dr. Michael Echavez proved himself to have the superb world's first class surgical skills - exquisite with precision! I was so happy with the result Dr. Echavez performed on my lower eyelid surgery that I just went back to him last week to have my upper eyelid done. And again, I am elated with a greatest satisfaction! Dr. Michael Echavez is simply the best facial surgeon. I high recommend Dr. Echavez to whoever needs a facial surgery. Dr. Echavez is definitely a go-to surgeon. Thank you, Dr. Echavez, for your excellent work on my eyelids.
Dr. Echavez has been my Doctor for over 15 years. He has treated me for facial Wasting due to a health condition. I have nothing to say other than he’s the best there is. Not only has he restored my face to a natural appearance but he’s been the kindest and most considerate physician I have ever known. Key point for me is that I know other people who have had the same procedure done with other Doctors and their results are FAR from mine. It’s all in the hands of the physician and Dr Echavez is truly an artist and a surgeon. He has helped me with my confidence and I can’t thank him enough. I would recommend him to anyone thats looking for a surgeon or to have a cosmetic procedure. Hi . Without a doubt he’s the best!
Due to a medical condition, I have been fortunate to have Dr. Michael Echavez assist me with sculptra treatment. I have always been very satisfied with the results. Excellence and professionalism stand out.
I've been seeing Dr. Echavez for years for Sculptra treatments and decided to try Voluma. The results are pretty much the same but it is more immediate rather than taking a week for full results with Sculptra. Dr. Echavez said both will last about a year to 18 months.
I began Sculptra treaments with Dr. Echavez after moving to California and looking for a cosmetic procedure that would fill out gaunt cheeks. My reseach indicated that Sculptra was very effective in adding roundness to sunken cheeks due to aging. Additionally, the results lasts for months, as opposed to other fillers, which generally last for a much shorter period. I understand this is because of how Sculptra reacts with existing tissue in rounding out the cheek area. I am extremely happy with the results and the professional coutesy and advice of Dr Echavez. I initially found Dr. Echavez through the Sculptra website when looking for providers and learning that he instructs other physicians on the proper use of Sculptra. A recent photo is provided after treatment. I am 73.
I am 28 years old, an age I thought was too young to consider any type of procedures. After recently losing 20 pounds and back to the weight I was in my early twenties, I was shocked at what the fat loss did to the contours of my face! I have been feeling SO desperate and wanting to return to how I once looked. I look SO GAUNT now. After much research I finally pulled the trigger with injectables. Dr Echavez seems almost indifferent and business-like, he was not pushy at all. He is not what you would call warm. I felt like I had to ask a lot of questions he should have offered up, but thankfully I had done my research. He was honest about his opinions; consultation very brief. I relied on his expertise on my hollow tear trough for recommendation: Restalyne. I had to be the one asking about Sculptra and Juvederm Voluma, but he probably would have recommended. He told me both would end up having the same results. At the last minute, I changed my mind about my appointment for Sculptra (they need to know in advance because it takes a day to mix the Sculptra) and switched to Juvederm Voluma. Sculptra provides gradual results and I honestly want immediate ones. I hated looking in the mirror. Procedures: The doctor was professional, though once again I had to ask and ask nervously about the procedures. It didn't take long at all and didn't really hurt that much at all. Just pokes, and he numbs you before the HA filler. He used one syringe per cheek. Very pleased with the Juvederm Voluma results on my cheeks! He rounded out the apples of my cheeks, near my nose which I wasn't expecting but I'm not the expert; I would have just filled in the sunken hollows. The effect has the area around my nose and upper lip thicker than I'm used to but ultimately I'm happy. I was told there shouldn't be much swelling, so I will update and be hopeful for the following days. No bruising. Am able to put on makeup and am going to work 3 hours after. As for the under eye tear troughs, his expertise led him to use not even a full half-syringe for both. He is saving the rest for when I come back again, which I'm certain I will. Well....It is less hollow under my eyes to be sure, but it's hard to tell with the light bruising. So far, the results aren't dramatic but improved. I didn't expect to be blown away, recalling other reviews of under-eye fillers used for volume. I'll keep updated. He also did inject under the muscle! I've read terrifying reviews about doctors who injected too shallowly, and not under. I will see how it is after 2 weeks of settling. I am still considering a couple rounds of Sculptra as well. He explained the longevity of Sculptra but also how many sessions it would take. I'm glad I decided to get the results today instead of being disappointed about Sculptra after the first week's swelling went down, and having to go back again and again. Definitely returning as needed, though. Updated on 4 Oct 2018: So happy I made this decision. So worth it. I feel so much more confident! I had looked so wasted! Let's see how it is after settling for a week or two. I am expecting the swelling? to go down but hopefully not much. Updated on 15 Oct 2018: Still happy with my face! I've been socializing again the past 2 weeks and feeling much more confident. I truly have no regrets. I even told my parents of my decision and showed them pictures and they approved- they are oldschool people who were once very against the decision in theory. My under eye areas do the best when I get a lot of sleep. It is pretty crazy how just one day with less sleep can wreak havoc now. That's aging for you. Updated on 16 Apr 2019: It has been six months, and the Juvederm ia still holding up! About a month ago I started noticing my undereyes being more hollow. It is probably time for another Restalyne injection. Ultimately, I still have zero regrets getting these procedures. Updated on 6 May 2019: I set an appointment almost exactly 6 months to the day, it turns out, for my under eyes. It turns out that I still had Restalyne left over from the first procedure, so the entire thing was FREE! I appreciate that of Dr. Echavez. As usual, he did no upsell attempts when I asked questions about other potential procedures. I wish that there was a way for my under eye troughs to be more full, but it's pretty impossible with fillers. Restalyne is the best bet, slightly plumping out and smoothing out wrinkles- it's mainly for wrinkles, which I don't actually care about that much. There is a difference with the wrinkles for sure, I'm not sure if I'll spend the money again for it again since my issue is more with the hollows. AFTER: PLEASE READ After a couple hours afterward, there was dark bruising as to be expected. HOWEVER, I want to note that I noticed a lump at the injection site which freaked me out. The doctor made sure to massage the areas afterward, and I also had been (stupidly!) vigourously rubbing my eyes because of allergies all day after,. I don't know if that affected it. I was very worried. It didn't look noticable or anything, but I could feel it. However, I alcohol swabbed the site and my fingers and massaged the area and it's gone down. So make sure not to rub the area afterward, just in case! I am still happy with Juvederm. I am thinking of Sculptra next time, since Juvederm I just wanted instant results and Sculptra is supposed to build up on itself over a series of months. I've stopped working out every day and losing weight, and having more rest, so I'm sure that plays a huge part with how sunken my face looked.
Conducted CoolSculpting and then followed up with SculpSure. This was focused on my abs as well as my inner thighs. Much better impact/results on the abs and faster changes than any diet and exercise alone had provided for me over the years. Glad I made the move and will continue over time as I feel it is helpful.
My dermatologist in San Francisco recommended Dr. Echavez for filler and botox, and I am very happy with him. He listens to what I am looking to do (I don't want to look like a different person, rather just my younger self) and is very careful, attentive, and knowledgeable. I had filler in my lips for the first time and it enhanced my look without being artificial in any way. I have had some less than favorable experiences with other providers when it comes to filler in the past, and I definitely trust Dr. Echavez with my face.
I've tried to stay in relatively good shape most of my adult life after being overweight throughout my childhood and teen years. My whole family is very overweight and we've all battled our weight most of our lives. Over the years, no matter how much I exercise or maintain a good eating regime, I've always had a protruding belly and love handles except for a few times when I did some extreme weight loss which was impossible for me to maintain. This year I started researching things like Lipo because I was tired of my waist always looking larger than my chest. Lipo just didn't feel right for me. Then I stumbled across CoolSculpting and was intrigued. And it turned out that one of my best friend's plastic surgeon whom he swears by - Dr. Michael Echavez - performs it. I read dozens of the reviews on here before making the decision to go for it. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I had mostly no pain, (though the procedure itself at the beginning of the treatment is a bit uncomfortable for about 15 minutes), very little bruising (some on my flanks, none on my belly) and no nerve pain in the days/weeks following and really no need for any pain killers. I definitely had all the swelling and numbness for several weeks. I didn't see any results until about 8 weeks after the procedure. Then I really starting noticing the difference. The very noticeable "ridge mound" between the flat part of my pubic bone and the bottom of my protruding abdomen really began to shrink and flatten out. That was a big deal for me. And my love handles began to become smaller. I'm very happy with the results. I'm going back for a second round of treatments to get rid of the elongated "doughnut" of fat around my navel and to take away more of my love handles, especially around on my back now that the fat on my two sides has reduced. Updated on 26 Sep 2014: I'm so happy and amazed at how different my midsection looks these days. Clothes fit me so much better. Shirts hanging straight instead of bulging out around the midsection. I can even wear close fitting tank tops for the first time since I was in my 30s-and they actually look good on me. I might do one more touch up on my left side because that side has always been a little bit larger than my right and then I'm done. And I really couldn't be happier.
Facial wasting prematurely made my face hollow and sad. Dr. Echavez was kind and sensitive to my particular needs. I supplied him with picture of my face before facial wasting. My wasting had been asymmetrical. After a few treatment, Dr. Echavez restored my face with a his precise and artistic hand. He gave me my face back! I am very happy with his work. Dr. Echavez is a Restoration Artist.
A facelift can be done without general anesthesia, but it would be up to the surgeon as to which type of anesthesia to use. Some surgeons may not do a facelift without general anesthesia, but some may. You would need to discuss this with your particular surgeon.
In general, losing weight will normally cause some loss of fat in the face as well as the body. This would be true in someone who has not had buccal fat removal and in someone who has had the procedure. So, I would expect that if you lost weight, you would see your face become less chubby.
Just based on your photo, I would say that you appear to be a good candidate for a facelift. This procedure tightens the neck and lower face. Your photo shows skin laxity in the neck as well as along the jawline. A facelift would improve both these areas.
Based on your photos you do appear to have ptosis. This condition can normally be improved with a surgical procedure on the upper eyelid. I would recommend seeing an oculoplastic surgeon or a surgeon experienced in ptosis repair surgery.
Based on your photos, I would say that dermal fillers could help improve the sagging that you see in your face after weight loss. There are a variety of fillers that could be used, but restoring volume to your face should help.
