Carlos Farias, MD
Nearly two decades of experience have enabled Dr. Carlos Farias to become a nationally recognized plastic surgeon who has transformed the lives of thousands of patients.
As the founder of ilumaForma Aesthetic Surgery Center, Chicago and Downers Grove plastic surgeon Dr. Carlos Farias has honed thousands of hours in operating and consulting rooms towards helping patients uncover beauty that is more than skin deep. This enables them to turn back the hands of time and get a new lease on life anchored in a realistic perception of themselves. He is dedicated to providing patients with superior plastic surgery through personalized treatment plans and safe surgical practices based on a value-driven practice model.
Experience is a given. Dr. Farias has put the time in to be designated a highly qualified cosmetic surgery expert, with over 6,000 facelifts, 6,000 eyelid surgeries, hundreds of Brazilian Butt Lifts, and years of experience doing Liposuction and Tummy Tucks. He is also an expert at Mommy Make-Overs and breast surgeries.
Dr. Farias is known nationwide as being a true pioneer in the field of body cosmetic procedures and minimally invasive facial procedures. With his use of local anesthesia (or a “Total IV Anesthesia, TIVA), rather than general anesthesia, patient recovery time is cut down, allowing them to get back to their everyday life in a shorter period of time. Dr. Farias was also one of the first plastic surgeons in the country to perform minimally invasive facial rejuvenation procedures.
More than just a plastic surgeon, Dr. Farias is a teacher who has guided countless surgeons by overseeing their work in providing quality service to patients across the country. As an educator, Dr. Farias has served as chairperson for the Annual Lifestyle Lift Physician Clinical Symposium, a two-day clinical meeting that earned attendees Continuing Medical Education credits necessary for the maintenance of their state medical licenses. He has also taught plastic surgery residents in St. Louis, MO at various institutions including St. Mary’s Health Center, St. Louis University Hospital, and Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital.
Meaningful connections are earned. Dr. Farias works hard to create relationships with his patients that allow them to be vulnerable about their desires, confident in the guidance provided, and calm when getting procedures done. Leveraging a uniquely empathetic approach focused on uncovering the real person, his surgical transformations enable his patients to look as good on the outside as they feel on the inside.
You’re born into your culture. As a second-generation Latino doctor, Dr. Farias has a special ability to understand his patients’ motivations and drivers, no matter their cultural background or upbringing. He is able to communicate with people at his practice with an empathetic understanding of their hopes, fears, and desires. Dr. Farias is among the few bilingual cosmetic surgeons in Chicago able to communicate in Spanish.
Dr. Farias previously was the co-founder of InsideLook MD (2014-2018). He also spent five years as medical director at Lifestyle Lift (2010-2014), a national recognized facial rejuvenation practice with over 100 plastic surgeons. His vast surgical knowledge and renown reputation allowed him to train and guide surgeons all across the country in this role.
His award-winning skills have resulted in outstanding patient satisfaction scores and numerous accolades and recognition. The American Institute of Plastic Surgery awarded him the 10 Best Plastic Surgeon Award in 2018. As someone who is committed to treating patients with the utmost kindness, Dr. Farias has been particularly honored to be a consistent recipient of the Vitals Compassionate Doctor Recognition (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017), an award for outstanding overall and bedside manner scores as voted on by patients. His near perfect patient satisfaction scores related to the difference he has made in the lives of his patients have also earned him a Vitals Patients Choice Award in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Vitals has also honored Dr. Farias during those years with the On-Time Dr. Award , reflecting consistent high ratings for timeliness.
Dr. Farias completed his undergraduate education at the highly-esteemed University of Texas at Austin in 1993. In 1997, he earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Sciences Center – San Antonio. From 1997-2003, Dr. Farias completed his 3-year general surgery residency, 1-year microvascular surgery fellowship, and 6-year plastic surgery residency all at the University of Missouri, Columbia. He is a member of the American Medical Association, as well as the Illinois State Medical Society and Missouri Medical Association.
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