Florida Plastic Surgeon - Dr Clevens

One procedure many people are interested in learning more about is Sculptra. Sculptra works by replacing lost collagen and fills in shallow to deep facial folds and wrinkles. The results of Sculptra are subtle and it gives you a natural and youthful look. We recommend that you have three injectable sessions over a few months. These injections will give you a gradual result that can last up to two years.

Some clients wonder if it is possible to have sterile water injections to remove Sculptra if you have lumps afterward. We do not believe that injecting sterile water will help. In most cases, with our proper injection technique, lumps and bumps are avoidable. Re-injecting Sculptra in this area may be helpful in smoothing the contour of this area so the bumps are not perceptible. Massage or steroid injections may help if for some reason you are unhappy with your results.

Good candidates for these injections are people who are physically healthy and are realistic in their expectations to improve the appearance of facial fat loss. These injections can take anywhere from fifteen to forty minutes to complete depending on the number and size of areas being treated.

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

Q: What's the best way to plump hollow spots on my face?

A: As we age, the face tends to become more bottom heavy, morphing from a heart or triangular shape to a more square faced appearance. I agree with the remarks of the other doctors who have answered this question. Sculptra is a wondeful filler to address facial hollows and contour deformities as a result of aging. In the hands of an experienced user, Scuptra successfully restores volume to the upper and mid face in just several office treatments over a couple or few months.

Sculptra may last up to 3-5 years, but more commonly, once the desired result is achieved, we suggest that the patient return every 12-18 months for a touch up treatment in order to maintain their result over the long term.

Call our office at 321.727.3223 to schedule an appointment to discuss treatment options.

Ross A. Clevens, MD
Melbourne Florida Facial Plastic Surgeon

Q: Radiesse Vs. Sculptra, Which is Best for Cheek Enhancement?

A: I prefer Sculptra for cheeks. Both Sculptra and Radiesse work exceptionally well for augmentation of the cheeks in the hands of an experienced surgeon.

The key advantage to Sculptra is its longer duration of action. After a series of three Sculptra treatments resulting in a full correction, many patients will have results that last 2-3 years whereas Radiesse generally lasts about one year. The Sculptra results can be maintained over the long term with annual touch up treatments.

An advantage to Radiesse, though, is the immediate results while the outcome with Sculptra takes months to evolve.

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

Ross A. Clevens, MD
Melbourne Florida Facial Plastic Surgeon

Q: Are Sculptra Injections Permanent?

A: In my experience, Sculptra lasts about 2-3 years if a proper and full correction is achieved with a set of injections. Most patients require a series of 3-4 treatments spaced out at monthly intervals to achieve their desired result. Once this is accomplished, many patients return for an annual touch up and then the result lasts for many years.

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

Ross A. Clevens, MD
Melbourne Florida Facial Plastic Surgeon

Q: How does Sculptra work?

A: Sculptra is an injectable filler able to restore volume and correct the signs of facial fat loss. Sculptra is made of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), a synthetic material that is biocompatible and biodegradable. Sculptra is injected beneath the skin's surface, resulting in a gradual and significant increase in skin thickness, and may be used to treat sunken cheeks, hollow eyes, indentations, folds and other sunken areas.

Good candidates for Sculptra injections include individuals who are physically healthy, realistic in their expectations and looking to improve the appearance of facial fat loss. Sculptra is not appropriate for those who are allergic to any of the ingredients in Sculptra or have an active skin infection or inflammation in the treatment area. Sculptra can provide results lasting up to two years.

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

Ross A. Clevens, MD
Melbourne Florida Facial Plastic Surgeon

The hype on fillers has confused physicians and consumers making honest comparisons difficult.  Non-plastic surgery specialists from unrelated medical disciplines further muddy the waters by promoting simplistic makeovers which are quickly performed and claim to provide instantaneous results.

Remember though, if it is too good to be true than it probably is. As circus promoter P.T. Barnum stated, "there's a fool born every minute."

These marketeers can get away with such obfuscation by exploiting the difference between the forest and the trees.  As the saying goes we tend to focus on the trees and not appreciate the forest much as we might not recognize the elephant in the room.

A typical patient complains about a line around her mouth and misses the point that her cheeks and eyes are sunken-in which not only causes the line but is the real reason she is looking older.  Don’t fall for the “I will just inject filler under your eyes and your circles will go away."

Manufacturers and medi-spas also promote differences in products in order to justify more and less fee schedules for products. They do this primarily by claiming that different products have different longevities which is a concept that is easy for the public to understand.

Longer duration of correction should provide lower cost over time and less need to retreat. They conveniently do not explain that in areas of the face with more muscle contraction fillers have shorter duration of action and vice versa.

Therefore Restylane and Juvederm placed in the cheek may last 2 or more years and Sculptra may last up to 6 years.  Whereas same products placed around the mouth may last up to 70% less.

Rejuvenating eyes, cheeks, and temples not only lasts a relatively long time, the results do make one appear more youthful and healthy. The first step in facial rejuvenation is appreciating why one looks older before it is possible to resolve the problem.