Dr. Deniz Gocken, MD

Dr. Deniz Gocken, M.D.

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

Dr. Gocken comes from a “medical family”. His father was an anesthesiologist, and his mother was a nurse, so becoming a surgeon was a natural choice. His education began in a very competitive, combined/accelerated Bachelor of Science/Medical Doctor degree program through Gannon University and Hahnemann University (now Drexel University) in Philadelphia. Less than 10% of those beginning this rigorous curriculum completed it. He stayed in Philadelphia while training in both general surgery and anesthesia.

He continued to excel, being accepted early to plastic surgery training at the prestigious Loma Linda University Medical Center. Training there allowed him the opportunity to present his research at regional and national meetings, as well as participate in medical mission trips to third-world countries.

After being Chief Resident there in 1995, Dr. Gocken opened his private practice in La Jolla, California. He has been in practice in Southern California for more than thirty years and holds medical licenses in California, Utah, and Florida.

Although he is skilled in both reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, having been interviewed many times by news programs, including being featured on the Discovery Channel, Dr. Gocken now restricts his practice primarily to aesthetic surgery. During his nearly three decades in practice, Dr. Gocken has focused on natural appearing and brief recovery face-lifting techniques. He has personally done more than three thousand five hundred face and neck lifts! That is nearly the equivalent of four times the number that a typical plastic surgeon completes in his entire practice lifetime! This allows Dr. Gocken to claim particular expertise in all aspects of facial rejuvenation surgery.

Rhinoplasty (cosmetic nose reshaping) is Dr. Gocken’s favorite procedure. His interest here began during training, where he performed many reconstructive rhinoplasties on children with cleft lip, a very challenging procedure, and has continued throughout his career, with a specific interest in revision rhinoplasty.

Other areas of concentration in cosmetic surgery include breast augmentation and abdominoplasty, making Dr. Gocken the natural choice for “the mommy makeover”.

His skillset in breast augmentation allows him to offer his patients the widest variety of choices possible, including both silicone and saline implants, as well as the trans axillary (armpit) technique. Why let a surgeon who is only comfortable with one technique decide where your scar has to be? Much better to go to a surgeon who has completed thousands of augmentations through all four approaches, who will help guide you to your best personalized result. Dr.

Gocken also has significant experience in tumescent liposculpture and the “Brazilian butt lift”. Because of his training in anesthesia, he has done thousands of cases under local anesthesia with only mild sedation, opening up many procedures to those who wish to avoid general anesthesia.

Dr. Gocken became a Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery in 1998. He has held memberships in The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, The American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and was named a Fellow of The American College of Surgeons, which requires recognition and election by surgeons both in and out of one’s own subspecialty.

Dr. Gocken is not a one-dimensional person, so his patients are not treated that way either. Deciding on improving your appearance is a very personal decision, so Dr. Gocken spends the time to find out about what’s important to each and every patient, helping to personalize his or her care.

​​​​​​​His interests outside of surgery focus primarily on his two daughters (who are also pursuing careers in the medical field), but also include cars, motorcycles, and expeditionary mountain climbing.