Florida Plastic Surgeon - Dr Clevens

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A Thanksgiving Message
Posted November 29, 2008 11:04 AM

Thanksgiving is a time for thoughtful reflection.  This holiday provides the opportunity to think about who we are and to express our gratitude for what we have.  We are so blessed to live freely amidst family and friends within a social and political system that encourages us to pursue our dreams.   Although we are facing an economic downturn, most of us live wonderful lives in America surrounded by liberty and plenty.

Last summer, our family traveled through Africa where we met kind people who prosper without electricity, running water or indoor plumbing.  We met citizens who lack a formal educational system yet flourish under political oppression. So many people were so rich in family, friends and community.  There is a rhythm and beauty to the land of Africa that is inspiring and highlights the splendor in our lives.

The United States is the most successful experience in democracy.  After a contentious presidential election, the transfer of power is orderly and collegial without protest.  Regardless of the outcome of the political contest, not a single American should fear that their liberties would be encroached upon with the presidential succession.   Every day we are blessed to have laws and infrastructure that preserve order, sidewalks that ensure safe passage, paved roads that are maintained, police to protect us and firemen to guard our homes.

I have many blessings for which I express my love, especially my family, my friends and the successes that I have experienced in my practice over the past twelve years.  I wish to thank my patients for allowing me the opportunity to share in your lives and may all of your blessings continue as we celebrate this most important day and may your dreams come true.

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Faster Healing with Platelet Gel
Posted November 25, 2008 5:58 AM

--Advantages of Platelet Gel

For the past 12 years, Ross A. Clevens, MD, has specialized in facial plastic surgery. Dr. Clevens lectures nationally on achieving faster healing and recognizing less bruising and discomfort when platelet gel is used during surgery.

At the Center for Facial Cosmetic Surgery in Melbourne and Merritt Island, FL.  Dr. Clevens has used the gel extensively (in an estimated 300 to 500 cases per year) and sees evidence of less bruising and swelling after nasal surgery, eyelid lift and facelift or local and regional flap reconstructive surgery. In addition, patients may also have decreased discomfort after their surgery, Dr. Clevens noted.

The advantage to platelet gel, said Dr. Clevens, is that you are introducing into the wound a higher-than-native concentration of growth factors and angiogenesis factors, and other factors involved in the coagulation cascade, that facilitate the healing. Although the wound-healing cascade is still not completely understood, laboratory-based research has shown that platelets play a key role in hemostasis and wound healing. When activated, platelets release secretory proteins which drive the complex wound-healing cascade. Many studies have established that platelet concentration procedures can cause a three- to eight-fold increase in platelet concentration ratios.

Clinical use of platelet rich plasma has been reported in the spine, periodontal, cardiovascular, and craniofacial literature. In the orthopedic surgery literature, platelet gel has been used to increase the take of bone grafts. Clearly, said Dr. Clevens, platelet gel is growing in popularity in the orthopedic surgery world. When he performs laser skin resurfacing, Dr. Clevens also has seen a faster re-epithelialization rate when using the gel. Several studies, he noted, have demonstrated a markedly faster rate of re-epithelialization-sometimes as much as 40% faster, he said.

Results reported in other specialties appear to demonstrate strong justification for the use of PRP. For example, patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass given PRP used 65% less banked blood products during their treatment; grafts for mandibular bone augmentation matured faster with PRP; diabetic foot ulcers treated with PRP were 14% to 59% more likely to heal; and patients with decubitous ulcers who were given PRP also had faster healing than those who did not receive PRP.
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Facelift Alternatives
Posted November 15, 2008 3:20 PM

Facelift alternatives rid patients of neck 'wattle' without the downtime of surgery

Ties, turtlenecks, jewelry worn more comfortably

On the show Ally McBeal, a character was romantically pursued because of her neck "wattle" or loose skin – a scenario that would only happen on television, right? In reality, many people want to rid themselves of neck "wattle" to look younger or to wear certain clothes or accessories more comfortably, without having facelifts. They may feel they are too young or old for an invasive procedure, are not able to afford the prolonged recovery time, or only want targeted improvement of their neck region. Patients have less invasive options to rid the "wattle," reports a study in May's Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), through targeted neck rejuvenation techniques.

Dr. Clevens recognizes that not every patient who seeks to correct facial aging wants or requires a facelift. Today's patients are extremely active and may not want to undergo invasive surgery where they are unable to work or play for several weeks. With this alternative, many patients look younger without the financial cost and downtime associated with a standard facelift.

As people age, they often loose definition in their chin and jaw line due to fatty deposits, weakening muscles and loose skin where the neck and chin once made a right angle. By improving the neck region, patients' profiles look years younger and clothes and fashion accessories such as ties, turtlenecks, and necklaces are worn more comfortably.

Skin in the neck region differs from skin on other parts of the body because it maintains its elasticity and will contract after it is released from underlying muscle. Fat removal through an incision under the chin and behind the ears can be combined with muscle tightening and freeing the skin from the muscle, depending on the degree of aging and individual patient characteristics.

Younger patients, who generally have more skin elasticity and have a "wattle" because of an overload in fat deposits just under the skin, often benefit from liposuction alone. Middle-aged patients generally have fat deposits, as well as, loose neck muscles and skin, requiring the fat removal and muscle tightening technique. Patients older than 75 usually need more contouring in the neck region and require a facelift where excess skin is removed.

According to AAFPRS statistics, more than 114,000 facelifts were performed in 2007.

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Patient Testimonial
Posted October 11, 2008 4:34 PM

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