Hidden Gems: Meet Juris Bunkis of Orange County Plastic Surgery

Today we’d like to introduce you to Juris Bunkis.

Hi Juris, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born of Latvian parents fleeing Communism, in refugee camp in Germany, after WWII. I emigrated with my family to Canada in 1951, grew up in mining towns in Northern Ontario. I went to University of Toronto for undergrad and medical school, to Columbia University in NY for general surgery residency and Harvard University for plastic surgery residency – seven years of post graduate training after medical school. I have published some 50 peer reviewed articles in medical journals and chapters in medical text books. I taught at the University of California San Francisco, went into private practice in 1983 and have specialized in aesthetic surgery since then. I have made many medical mission trips to Guatemala, caring for children with birth defects – for these efforts, I have been knighted in Italy and received the Orange County Man of Character Award and the Angel Wings Award in the Bay Area. Now I am the owner and medical director of Orange County Plastic Surgery, one of the most successful aesthetic plastic surgery practices in Newport Beach/Corona Del Mar. I specialize in facial rejuvenation. My partner, Dr. Deborah Ekstrom, one of Orange County’s best body contouring surgeons and microfat grafters, is also my life partner. Since 2002, I have also been a volunteer deputy with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department. Since 2011, I have been the Honorary Consul for the Republic of Latvia in Southern California and am on the Executive Committee of the Los Angeles Consular Corps and heavily involved in Consular activities. Dr. Ekstrom and I enjoy our many trips around the globe related to our consular activities and travel in general, our grandchildren and life in general.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There have been many challenges along the way but somehow we have managed to overcome them. Economic crises including the Dot Com Bubble Crisis in 2000, the Great Recession of 2008 and the COVID crisis were all overcome with extra energy and effort. I have had challenges as a pilot and once, due to a malfunction, had to land an aircraft with the gear still up. We have both persevered through relationship breakups and are delighted to have found each other back after meeting in our 30s, but going different ways. Fortunately, both of us have been blessed with excellent health.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Between Dr. Deborah Ekstrom and I, we offer the full array of aesthetic surgery services. We frequently scrub together (“team surgery”) on more complex cases, thus shortening operative time for patients and giving them the experience of two seasoned surgeons. We also do “team surgery” where we can combine our personal interests can help the patient the best (for example, Dr. Ekstrom will scrub in on some of my facial rejuvenation cases and perform the microfat grafting portion of the procedure, while I focus on rejuvenation the eyes or neck. We each offer our patients 40+ years of experience and surgical expertise. We offer a concierge service to our patients and leave them feeling pampered and well cared for.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Professionally, nothing pleases us more than a happy patient. Personally, nothing beats a quiet relaxing moment with Dr. Ekstrom, travelling to new places or visiting old friends…….or best of all, sharing special days with our families, parents, children and grandchildren.

Pricing:

• Full facelift about $20,000
• Mommy makeover about $20,000
• Eyelid rejuvenation $7.000
• Facial Microfat grafting about $5,000
• Tummy tuck with lipo about $15,000

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.orangecountyplasticsurgery.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbunkis
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OCPlasticSurgery
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjurisbunkis
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@oc.plasticsurgery
• Yelp: www.tiktok.com/@oc.plasticsurgery
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/LatvianConsul