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San Francisco Plastic Surgery

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San Francisco Plastic Surgery

Welcome to the San Francisco Plastic Surgery Page. San Francisco Bay Area, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Joseph A.

Mele MD FACS, is located in the East Bay city of Walnut Creek, California, and specializes in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery.

06/08/2026

Today, we review the Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions about Breast Augmentation. These questions come from my patients and from inquiries on sites like the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

FAQs answered include:

Am I a good candidate for Breast Augmentation?

What types of Breast Implants are available?

How do I choose the right sized Breast Implant?

How long is recovery after Breast Augmentation?

While the Internet cannot substitute for an in-person consultation, my goal is to provide you with accurate general information about Breast Augmentation and provide some background for you, prior to a detailed consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.To read today's San Francisco Plastic Surgery Blog follow the link:

https://www.sanfranciscoplasticsurgeryblog.com/top-10-breast-augmentation-frequently-asked-questions

04/27/2026

The Mommy Makeover remains one of the most commonly performed Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Procedure combinations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Today, on the San Francisco Plastic Surgery Blog, I answer the top 10 Mommy Makeover FAQs (frequently asked questions).

1 – What is a Mommy Makeover?

What is a Mommy Makeover? – The procedure is actually two procedures: one enhances the breasts while the other addresses the abdomen. Since both the belly and breasts are affected by pregnancy, this combination of repairs is coined the Mommy Makeover; however, the combination is also frequently used after weight loss for women and men (Daddy Do-over).

2 – Am I a Good Candidate for a Mommy Makeover?

For the answer to this, and there rest of the Mommy Makeover top ten frequently asked questions, check out the San Francisco Plastic Surgery Blog:

https://www.sanfranciscoplasticsurgeryblog.com/top-10-mommy-makeover-frequently-asked-questions-faqs/

04/13/2026

More and more patients are using GLP-1 medications to successfully lose weight. The advantage of GLP-1 treatment is the ability to maintain weight loss and improve the associated medical conditions, like diabetes and hypertension, that can lead to complications. Since this class of drugs is relatively new, the risks are still being worked out.

Many patients seek body contouring procedures for loose skin after successful weight loss from GLP-1 treatment, therefore it is important to further examine these novel weight loss therapies. What are GLP-1 medications, and how do they affect cosmetic plastic surgery are what we will discuss today on the San Francisco Plastic Surgery Blog.

It's all here: https://www.sanfranciscoplasticsurgeryblog.com/do-glp-1-medications-affect-body-contouring-risks

03/23/2026

People get Arm Lifts (medically known as Brachioplasty) primarily to address sagging, loose, or excess skin on the upper arms often called “bat wings“, that creates an undesirable appearance, discomfort or functional issues. This cosmetic plastic surgery procedure removes excess skin and fat while tightening the underlying tissues for a more toned, contoured look. Exercise and diet alone can’t fix significant skin laxity, so surgery becomes an option when nonsurgical methods fall short.

Arm Lift Consultations

If you are considering Brachioplasty in the San Francisco Bay Area, and want an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon, call (925) 943-6353. My Walnut Creek plastic surgery clinic has 30 years of experience with Post Bariatric Plastic Surgery, and can schedule a private consultation appointment.

Read more here:
https://www.sanfranciscoplasticsurgeryblog.com/who-needs-an-arm-lift-brachioplasty

03/10/2026

I am proud and humbled to receive the 2026 Talk Award for Service Excellence again this year. Awarded for excellence in patient satisfaction as rated online by The Talk Awards, we have received 5 stars for fifteen years in a row.

The plaque says it all:

“Fifteen consecutive years of service excellence presented to Joseph A. Mele, MD, FACS, Cosmetic Plastic Surgery. Award category: Plastic Surgeons | Walnut Creek, California. Five stars awarded for excellence in patient satisfaction as rated online by the Talk Awards.”

If you would like to experience Personalized Plastic Surgery from an award winning Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Team, call (925) 943-6363 today. My team and I are motivated to give you a five star experience. More information about specific procedures is available here on the San Francisco Plastic Surgery Blog and on my main site DrMele.com.

You can read more about the award here:

https://www.sanfranciscoplasticsurgeryblog.com/2026-talk-award-winner-joseph-a-mele-iii-md-facs/

02/23/2026

The Tummy Tuck remains one of the most frequently requested cosmetic plastic surgery procedures. About 175,000 Abdominoplasties are performed in the US each year, making it the third most popular cosmetic surgery. 98% Tummy Tucks are performed for women, with 2% performed for men after weight loss. If you are considering a Tummy Tuck, what do you need to know? Today, I am answering the top 10 frequently asked questions about Abdominoplasty.

Read all about it here:

https://www.sanfranciscoplasticsurgeryblog.com/abdominoplasty-and-tummy-tuck-frequently-asked-questions/

02/09/2026

The clinical management of children and adolescents presenting with gender dysphoria or gender incongruence has undergone rapid change, and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) wishes to offer guidance to members providing gender surgery services for this population. This position statement discusses the views of ASPS on breast/chest, ge***al, and facial gender surgery for individuals under the age of 19.

Today’s release is very similar to guidelines issued two years ago, and has been reinforced with continued clinical research into the well being of our patients.

It should be noted that ASPS members do the vast majority of gender affirming surgery for men and women, cis and trans. This position takes into consideration both the benefits and harms that irreversible medical decisions have, specifically for the treatment of patients below the age of 19.

https://www.sanfranciscoplasticsurgeryblog.com/gender-surgery-for-children-and-adolescents/

02/02/2026

Plastic Surgery includes a large variety of elective procedures designed to enhance appearance. Procedures like, Liposuction, Facelifts, Eyelid Lifts, Breast Enhancement and Tummy Tucks can improve self esteem, but how do you pick the best Plastic Surgeon? One that listens to your concerns and helps you achieve your desired results.

The Gold Standard organization certifying qualified Plastic Surgeons is the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). This ABMS certified board certifies the Plastic Surgeons have: 1) The proper prerequisite training by checking training programs 2) The proper knowledge base through written and oral examinations 3) Continued learning through CME requirements and yearly testing 4) Patient safety by requiring all certificate holders to operate in certified centers

But that's just the first step. For information on how to successfully choose your Plastic Surgeon check today's San Francisco Plastic Surgery Blog:

https://www.sanfranciscoplasticsurgeryblog.com/what-should-i-look-for-in-a-plastic-surgeon

01/26/2026

Patients increasingly prefer more proportionate implants that fit active lifestyles and leaner athletic body proportions over dramatic sizes. This includes popular taglines like "yoga b***s" and "ballerina breasts" for subtle enhancements. Big, bold looks are declining in favor of individualized outcomes. Many opt for modest sizing based on chest width, tissue thickness, and shape rather than cup size alone.

Hybrid approaches are also becoming more popular. Combining smaller implants with fat transfer (autologous fat grafting) for a more organic feel, shape, and modest volume increase, often avoiding overdone, rounder results.

On the other hand, much larger breast implants have also been approved by the FDA, primarily to match larger breast reconstruction after a mastectomy, with the maximum size currently set at 1445 cc.

For information about the recent advances in Breast Implants, read the latest San Francisco Plastic Surgery Blog post here:

12/22/2025

Infant Cured of Previously Incurable Disease with Gene Therapy

I’ve written about gene therapy in the past. Two years ago, I posted an article about the first FDA approved therapies to treat sickle cell disease. These therapies are aimed at preventing the severe complications of sickling and work by altering the hemoglobin inside red blood cells. For sickle cell, the therapy is ex vivo, the cells are edited outside the body and then returned.

A lot has happened in the field of gene therapy in the last two years. This year, gene therapy has become more personal, quicker to develop, and it is done in vivo, with the editing infused directly into the patient.

Earlier this year, an infant with a previously incurable and deadly genetic defect was cured by personalized gene therapy treatment. The infant was diagnosed with carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) deficiency. This enzyme is required to detoxify the byproducts of protein metabolism. Without CPS1, ammonia levels climb causing severe damage to the liver and brain.

Treatment of CPS1 deficiency includes a low protein diet until old enough for a liver transplant. While waiting, however, there is a significant risk of organ failure, brain swelling, irreversible brain damage, coma and death.

One of the most amazing aspects of this treatment is the speed with which it was administered. The in vivo CRISPR therapy was developed and delivered in just six months. This opens the door for early intervention for genetic diseases that lead to rapid decline early in life.

https://www.sanfranciscoplasticsurgeryblog.com/infant-cured-of-previously-incurable-disease-with-gene-therapy/

Address

130 La Casa Via, Bldg 2, Ste 206
Walnut Creek, CA
94598

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.DrMele.com/, http://www.CirugiaPlasticaSanFrancisco.com/, http://SanFranciscoBreast.com/, http://SanFrancisco

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