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Welcome to Gemini Plastic Surgery

Changing Lives with Exceptional Care and Service

It's our pleasure to provide helpful information to those seeking an understanding of how to best achieve their personal aesthetic goals through cosmetic surgery. Of course, the best way to learn about the process is to meet board certified plastic surgery team, Drs. Bennett and Hardesty in person. Feel free to contact us and set up a friendly face to face consultation with our board certified doctors.

Your Consultation

We welcome you to our practice with the goals of getting to know you and for you to meet our doctors and staff. We want to provide you with a safe and comfortable environment as you learn about us and the plastic surgery procedures available to you.

The goals of your consultation include:

• Understanding your desires for rejuvenation
• Evaluating your medical history and physical condition
• Educate you about appropriate surgical options
• Create your personalized treatment plan
• Explain the entire process of the procedure and recovery
• Build a mutual trust

We have some medical history forms that can be completed once you arrive at the office, or you may download them from this website and complete prior to your arrival. The physician will review with you your medical information and goals for treatment. This information, combined with your physical exam, will guide the surgeon’s recommendations for surgery.

The consultation will then move to a discussion of the recommended procedures, the pre operative preparations, what to expect with surgery, and what to anticipate during the recovery process. In addition to the before and after photographs here on our website, we have more photographs available in our office. If the consultation is for a procedure that requires implants, we have various sizers available at the office for the patient to try. Sizing is very important and we recommend you bring additional clothing or even make a return appointment to make your decision.

Next you will meet with our patient coordinator to discuss scheduling and fee issues and arrange plastic surgery financing if you desire. Your consultation will take about an hour overall. We want you to feel comfortable with your choice of plastic surgeons, the environment, and our staff.

Our Doctors

Dedicated to providing experience, excellence, and commitment in “comprehensive cosmetic care”.

With over thirty years of combined experience, our plastic surgeons, Dr. Robert A. Hardesty and Dr. Della C. Bennett, specialize in your personalized surgical care from their practice in Riverside. Our surgeons are noted for their receptiveness to patient needs, thorough consultations, and attention to detail. Contact Drs. Hardesty & Bennett's office today to set up an initial consultation to discuss the best way for you to achieve your personal aesthetic goals through cosmetic enhancement.

Meet Our Team

Elizabeth Mellander – Administrator

Elizabeth has had the pleasure of working with Dr. Hardesty’s team since 1987. She is experienced in both front and back office as well as office management and has an intimate understanding of patients looking to enhance their appearance. She enjoys developing a trusting relationship with patients and works closely with them to help make decisions regarding surgery and achieve a pleasant experience. She has also worked in the field with medial insurance coverage and is an expert in assisting patients with authorization for medical procedures such as eyelid lift, breast reduction and excess lower body skin. Should you have questions regarding financial assistance, do not hesitate to ask and you will be kindly assisted. She is available to assist you from your consultation to scheduling your surgery and coordinating your pre and post operative appointments.

Leah Zalsman – Physician Assistant

Leah joined our practice in 2008 as Dr. Hardesty’s physician assistant (PA). She is a board certified health care professional licensed to practice medicine under the supervision of a physician. Leah received her training at Loma Linda University, earning her Master’s degree in 2006. She works closely with Dr. Hardesty in clinic, providing pre-operative guidance and post-operative care to our patients. She also assists Dr. Hardesty in surgery and minor procedures. Leah is also trained to provide non-surgical aesthetic treatments such as Botox, facial filler injections, laser treatments, spider vein therapy and Thermage.

Tammy Tufts, R.N. – Aesthetic Nurse Specialist

Tammy is a licensed registered nurse specializing in aesthetic treatments. She received her certificate to become an aesthetic nurse specialist and began working with Dr. Hardesty in 2004. Tammy’s focus is on non-surgical facial rejuvenation. She takes pride in helping her patients achieve a healthy, youthful appearance. Under Dr. Hardesty’s direction, Tammy provides injectable and laser services to clients of the Aesthetic Skin and Laser Center. Laser procedures include hair reduction and photo facial rejuvenation. Tammy is also certified to administer Botox and filler injection treatments such as Restylane and Radiesse.

Narsel Balingit – Medical Assistant/Medical Records

Narsel has been working with Dr. Hardesty for over ten years. In addition to being Dr. Hardesty and Dr. Bennett’s medical assistant in clinic, she is also in charge of medical records. Narsel is known by patients for her personable nature. She is extremely skilled and experienced in working with patients after surgery to ensure a pleasant recovery. Patients often comment on her caring attitude and how much they appreciate her warm and discreet approach while taking care of them.

Alicia Salazar – Aesthetician & Endermologist/Medical Assistant

Alicia has been working with Dr. Hardesty as a certified medical assistant for over ten years. In 2006, she became a certified endermologist providing anti-cellulite treatments to patients at the Aesthetic Skin and Laser Center. After years of seeing the benefits of good skin care, Alicia went back to school to become a licensed medical aesthetician. She received her license in 2007 and is certified by the La Roche-Posay and Obagi medical skin care product lines. Alicia provides a range of skin care treatments for our Aesthetic Skin and Laser Center clients as well as Dr. Hardesty and Dr. Bennett’s surgery patients. Alicia takes pride in helping her clients achieve healthy skin and minimizing the signs of aging. Her skin care advice: Protect! Protect! Protect!

Stacy Hartgrave – Patient Care Coordinator/Endermologist

Stacy has been working with Dr. Hardesty for six years. She is our front office patient care coordinator, silicone implant study coordinator and medical biller. For our breast augmentation patients, Stacy is known for encouraging patients to take their time when selecting a breast implant size, creating a fun and exciting experience. She spends as much time with a patient as they need to assist them in making their decision. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of skin care products and filler injections with patients to ensure they achieve their goals. Stacy is also a certified endermologist, providing anti-cellulite treatments to patients both pre and post-operatively.

Surgical Facilities & Aesthetic Skin and Laser Center©

Most surgical procedures can be accomplished at an outpatient (same day surgery) facility. Dr. Hardesty and Dr. Bennett operate primarily at Premier Outpatient Surgery Center located in Colton, California (approximately 10 minutes north of our office) and DeAnza Surgery Center in Riverside, California.

Premier Outpatient Surgery Center and DeAnza Surgery Center are multi-specialty free standing ambulatory surgery centers. They are California State Certified and Accredited. Their medical staff is highly qualified and trained to ensure quality care.

"Comprehensive Cosmetic Care ©" is a term we coined to create an environment that has all the “tools” (both surgical and non-surgical) to reach your aesthetic goals. The old adage goes “if you only have a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail.” Thus, we not only focus on the latest surgical procedures and technologies, but we also have most of the non-surgical enhancement technology in one location to provide optimal and total care. These services may be all you need or they will improve any surgical procedure.