Biography
James Richard Payne was born in Gainesville, Florida on July 24, 1953. His father was a history professor at the University of Florida. His mother was the youngest of 3 children born to a Stanford trained missionary general surgeon. Her father devoted his entire career to the medical care of the poor Mayan Indians of Guatemala. Dr. Payne’s family relocated to Stockton in the early 1960’s where Dr. Payne attended Lincoln High School. In 1972 Dr. Payne entered the University of the Pacific where he majored in English and Chemistry. While in college Dr. Payne spent a winter term working in a remote part of the Guatemalan highlands at a missionary clinic. This experience strongly influenced his decision to pursue a career in medicine. He next graduated from the University of California at San Francisco Medical School (one of the top 3 medical schools in the country) in 1980. He then spent 2 years training in general surgery followed by 3 years in ENT (Ears, Nose, and Throat) at the University of Arizona in Tucson. This provided in-depth exposure to the anatomy and surgery of the face and neck. Dr. Payne is Board Certified in ENT.
Next, it was on to Louisville, Kentucky where he completed his residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in 1987. When he graduated he was awarded the Louis Broehm Award for the Outstanding Graduating Surgical Resident (out of a class of over 50 young surgeons in multiple specialties). Dr. Payne next completed a 1 year Fellowship in Microsurgery in Louisville. He then spent 6 months studying with a variety of experienced cosmetic surgeons including some nationally recognized figures. He then moved on to Oakland, California to spend 1 year training in Surgery of the Hand and Upper Extremity. Including medical school this period of formal training in medicine and surgery lasted almost 14 years. Dr. Payne is Board Certified in Plastic Surgery.
In 1990 Dr. Payne moved to Modesto and began his private practice in Plastic Surgery. Initially his practice was quite broad and included most areas of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. As time passed his practice became centered around 3 areas.
These include the face and neck, breast, and body contouring including tummy tucks and liposuction. At the current time his practice is exclusively cosmetic in nature. For established patients Dr. Payne continues to do reconstructive breast surgery such as breast reduction or breast reconstruction where new breasts are made following mastectomy for breast cancer. He usually will provide other plastic surgery services of a non-cosmetic nature (those covered by insurance plans) as a courtesy to them as well. His practice is closed, however, to most insurance plans otherwise.
Two new dimensions of our practice include surgical treatment for Massive Weight Loss patients and our Spirit Laser and Skin Care Medispa.
Although surgical procedures aimed at producing weight loss for obese patients have been around for many decades in recent years newer procedures have produced better results with less risk and complications. Obesity is a national epidemic and is associated with multiple medical problems and early death. Many patients nationwide are now having operations such as gastric bypass surgery done resulting in massive weight loss. This usually leads to a dramatic improvement in health and lifestyle but leaves patients with excess skin and soft tissue in most or all body parts. The Plastic Surgery treatment of these patients has literally created a new subspecialty of doctors who then provide cosmetic surgical services aimed at correcting oftentimes severe soft tissue contour deformities. This includes treatment of the face, arms, breast, tummy, back, hips, buttocks, and legs. Dr. Payne treats many Massive Weight Loss patients and very much enjoys this additional patient care dimension in his Plastic Surgery practice. This component of his practice continues to expand year by year.
Dr. Payne’s cosmetic practice is now complemented with the recent opening of our SpiritLaser and Skin Care Medispa which provides extensive products and services aimed at improving the appearance of your face and other body parts. He has been intimately involved in skin care medicine since its inception and with the recent purchase of multiple state-of-the-art lasers and light therapy devices we can now offer our patients correction of many skin-related problems. The Spirit Laser and Skin Care Medispa is sophisticated, diverse, and multi-layered so that no matter what your need we can likely help. Our Skin Care Program now dovetails with the surgical practice and provides beautifying options for women and men that are safe, easy to use, and reasonably priced.
We can arrange a consultation for you with Diane Payne, RN (Spirit Laser and Skin Care Medispa Director) so that you can decide for yourself what you think would be best for you.
