Florida Plastic Surgeon - Dr Clevens

Many patients are curious of how a fat transfer procedure is done and how it is used during a facial implant. The fat transfer procedure uses fat from one part of the body where there is excess and places it in another part of the body.

A fat transfer, also known as fat grafting or microlipoinjections, is used in facial plastic surgery to restore volume that has been lost to the face. A youthful face is round, full, and heart shaped whereas the aged face becomes more gaunt, deflated, square shaped, and bottom heavy. The fat grafting procedure helps achieve a more youthful face through volumization. It may be performed alone of with other traditional procedures such as a facelift.

There is no question that fat is the ideal material for soft tissue augmentation, and that the results obtained with fat grafting are the most natural-appearing. This procedure is not too difficult and will only take a few hours. During a fat transfer, we will remove the fat cells from the abdomen, thighs, or buttocks. Then we must isolate the fat cells from the other fluids that were initially collected by centrifuging (spinning very quickly) the collected tissue. Now we will use the isolated fat cells and inject them under the facial skin. This creates the desired younger looking face.

Call our office at 321.727.3223 to schedule an appointment. We would love to meet with you and discuss the best treatment options available to you.

Ross A. Clevens, MD

Melbourne Florida Facial Plastic Surgeon 

Anyone considering blepharoplasty or "lower eye lid surgery" because they aren't happy with they way they look or feel because of sageness of the eyelids, bulging skin or bags around the eyes cause a tired or sad appearance, may be a great candidate for the procedure.

Blepharoplasty has other benefits that aren't purely cosmetic as well.  In some situations, the patients field of vision may be improved.  If they upper eye lids are heavy that they obstruct vision, blepharoplasty can make dramatic improvements.  The patient often experience an increase in comfort of their eyelids after healing from the procedure.

Blepharoplasty is often performed on its own, however I generally recommend a brow lift, facelift or skin surfacing to help achieve the best results.  It is very important to seek out a highly recommended professional and meet with them to discuss your goals and what you would like to accomplish with your procedure.

Please call our office at 321.727.3223 to schedule an appointment. We would live to meet with you an discuss the best treatment options available to you.

Ross A. Clevens, MD
Melbourne Florida Facial Plastic Surgeon

Q: Am I too old to get a facelift?

A: It is not a question of how old a person is, rather how healthy a person is.  A physically healthy person at any age can receive great results from a facelift.  Patients of all ages should be realistic in their expectations as it pertains to loose facial and neck skin. Many healthy people over the age of 80 have enjoyed the benefits of a facelift.

Please call our office at 321.727.3223 to schedule an appointment.  We would love to meet with you and help decide the best treatment options available for you.  

Ross A. Clevens, MD
Melbourne Florida Facial Plastic Surgeon

Q: When Should Facelift Sutures Be Removed?

How Many Days Post Op from a Facelift Should Sutures in Front of Ears Be Removed, for the best possible chance of limited scarring? Thank you.

Q: Is it Possible to have a upper lip lift done at the same time as a facelift?  I am 60 year old and planning a Facelift this year. Is it possible to have an Lip upper Lift done at the same time as a Facelift? My lip upper is too long.

A: Lip Lift combined with Facelift Procedure

A Facelift rejuvenates the lower two thirds of the face and neck. It lifts the cheeks creating an uplifted appearance to the cheeks and mid-face, smooths the nasolabial folds, lifts the jowl thereby defining the jawline creating a more youthful and angular jawline and neck line. 

In my practice, i often perform Facelift surgery in conjunction with other surgical procedures. Most commonly with eyelid surgery, skin resurfacing and lip enhancement. Patients find these additional procedures are necessary to achieve a balanced improvement and optimal results.  From your photo, you appear to be an excellent candidate for a sub-nasal lip lift.

Please call our office at 321.727.3223 to schedule your appointment and see if you are a good candidate for a Facelift.

Ross A. Clevens, MD
Melbourne Florida Facial Plastic Surgeon

Q: How Long Does a Deep Plane Facelift Last? A deep plane facelift really just lasts 5 - 10 years? I read this somewhere. After 5 - 10 years will I look as old as before the lift? 

A: Deep Plane Facelift for natural and long lasting results. The deep plane facelift is an advanced surgical technique that achieves a natural looking and long lasting result. This technique represents the state of the art in facelift surgery. Rather than just tightening the skin, this procedure lifts and tightens the underlying muscle while repositioning fat to achieve a three dimensional rejuvenating result. This procedure is best performed by an experienced facial plastic surgeon who performs facelift surgery as a routine part of his or her practice.

Please call our office at 321.727.3223 to schedule your appointment and see if you are a good candidate for a Deep Plane Facelift.

Ross A. Clevens, MD
Melbourne Florida Facial Plastic Surgeon

Q:  I've heard about a "one hour face lift" but I don't know how effective it is or what it involves...is it surgery?  What sort of facelift is this and is it as good as a "traditional" facelift?

A: One Hour Lift is too good to be true

Q: Does Analogous Fat Transfer Lead to Sagging Facial Skin?  Once the injected fat dissipates, will the skin then sag?  It stands to reason that delicate facial skin can remain stretched out after the injections are reabsorbed.  Typically, what percentage of the transferred fat will remain permanently?

A: Fat grafting and the deflated beachball of age.

Since fat grafting adds volume, it does not create saggy skin.  Rather, the opposite is true, it adds volume and 'inflates' the saggy skin.  We often remark that the aging face is like a deflated beach ball, but the youthful face is full and round like and inflated beach ball.

Essentially, the fat transfer procedure harvests fat from one part of the body where an excess exists and then places it in another part of the body where the additional bulk is used for cosmetic and aesthetic purposes.  Fat transfer - which is also known as fat grafting, fat autografts, autologous fat transplantation, fat injecting or microlipoinjections is utilized in facial plastic surgery to restore lost volume to the face.  The youthful face is round, full and heart shaped.  The aged face becomes more gaunt, deflated, square shaped and bottom heavy.

Fat grafting achieves a more youthful volume and fullness to the face.  Fat grafting may be performed alone or in conjunction with other more traditional rejuventative procedures such as a facelift.

Please call our office at 321.727.3223 to schedule your appointment and see if you are a candidate for one of these procedures.

Ross A. Clevens, MD
Melbourne Florida Facial Plastic Surgeon

Q: I am 76 Years Old, Can I Get a Facelift?  Since I am quite old and have lots of wrinkles will it be worth my while and how successful will the results be and how long will they last?