Dr. Richard Ellenbogen is more active today in his cosmetic plastic surgery practice on Sunset Boulevard than he has been for the last 30 years. As director of a prestigious post graduate Ph.D program in aesthetic surgery for moe than 25 years, some of the top plastic surgeons in practice today learned their surgery techniques from him and frequently refer to him as “the master” when it comes to helping them with difficult surgeries or unhappy patients.

Dr. Ellenbogen’s numerous advances in plastic surgery have been published and practiced throughoutthe world including muscle tightening face and neck lifts, stem cell facelifts, stem cell breast augmentation, unsatisfactory nose revisions, armpit breast enlargement, eyelid and forehead improvement and facial reshaping. “I am light years beyond what I have done in the past and look to the future as I devise even more natural looking techniques.”

With extensive training as a portrait artist, Dr. Ellenbogen uses his knowledge of balance and proportion in his work.

“I’ve been dedicated to the creation of realism; creating noses that a person could be born with and doing facial aging surgery on all parts of the face that truly make the patient look younger and better—not different. In performing revisional surgery I realize that patient needs to trust me and my abilty to repair what another doctor has done. Trust is very important between a doctor and a patient and I never promise what I can’t do. I am a good listener and my extensive experience lets me know my limits.”

His interest for the past few years has been stem cells; the reparative cells used experimentally to heal spinal cords and increase pancreatic tissue. Stem cells were recently discovered in high concentrations within a patients own liposuctioned fat and when extracted and injected into the face for their reparative qualities have been miraculous. Another advancement came about when a patient’s own fat was injected into the breast tissue and continued to persist, groundbreaking in that perhaps in the future breast implants could be a thing of the past. The real secret to Dr. Ellenbogens success with the stem cell facelift is a technique to activate the stem cells when placed in the face.

“Trust is very important between a doctor and a patient and I never promise what I can’t do.I’m a very good listener to what my patients tell me and my extensive experience lets me know my limits…”

Considered by many the “Father of Fat Grafting” Dr. Ellenbogen realized some 30 years ago that much of facial aging was due to loss of facial fat and had to be corrected by adding fat not pulling skin tight. He mastered the techniques of replacing lost facial fat as well as creating high cheekbones, fuller lips and impoving facial lines.

A Board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Ellenbogen specalizes in rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty, miniincision facelift with and without stem cells, minilift, facial reshaping, necklift, facial fat grafting, jawline forehead and chin enhancement, upper and lower eyelid surgery, breast augmentation (without breast scar), liposuction, correction adult cleft lip deformity. In addition to his Beverly Hills medical practice, for many years Dr. Ellenbogen has worked pro bono in Guanajusto, Mexico offering his surgical expertise to people in need as well in Columbia operating in several childrens hospitals.

As the father of two grown sons (David a viticulturist and Steven who is currently serving in the army and will be entering medical school) these days Dr. Ellenbogen’s single life status is changing as well. He is engaged to Juli Lavene a Beverly Hills realtor with Keller Williams and the two are making plans for a walk down the aisle. When not in the office, Dr. Ellenbogen enjoys playing the trumpet (he owns an astounding 16 of them), he also writes lyrics and music and enjoys cartooning. A great passio is collecting nude figural antiques and art of the Deco and Nouveau periods. Getting out in the sunshine is also a top priority and as an avid gardener, his interests go to succulents, cacti and fragrant roses. His pride and joy is a completely restored 1948 Pontiac Woodie Wagon and a 1962 Corvette convertible—which he drives on the weekends. It’s a perfect picture life indeed: His life in the Hills with a bichon frise bloom and three rescue cats who amazingly all get along.

“I consider it a privelege for a patient to select me and permit me to perform surgery on them. It is an extraordinary trust and I take it very seriously. My life’s work has always been to help patients, the underpriveledged and give back to my medical specialty by instructing young surgeons. I can’t possibly explain the joy I feel when I see a cleft lip patient after they are grown and leading a normal life. Or restoring the beauty and self- confidenc to someone who may have aged, but still feels young inside. Speaking of age…who has aged? Retire? I have no time to retire.”

Richard Ellenbogen, M.D.
9201 West Sunset Blvd., Suite #202
Los Angeles,CA 90069
310-276-3183
http://www.beverlyhillsbody.com
http://www.revisionnosesurgery.com
http://www.revisionbreastsurgery.com

For more than 25 years Dr. Richard Ellenbogen has been at the forefront of Plastic Surgery innovation. A noted author, television personality and teacher, his surgical procedures and techniques are used by surgeons around the world. 

Why Does Plastic Surgery Go Bad? 

“In my opinion, there are two primary reasons why surgeries go bad:

1. A large number of practitioners are not board-certified and lack experience.  

2. Patients aren’t comfortable questioning a surgeon’s qualifications and move forward with unnecessary surgeries. 

A great deal of expertise is necessary to successfully complete all aspects of plastic surgery, including what are often considered simple injectibles.  In addition to unskilled practitioners, patients find it difficult to question a doctor’s recommendation; some doctors recommend surgeries which appeal to a patient’s underlining desire to better themselves, however, the surgery may not be necessary or provide a patient with results that they desire.” 

What To Do When Revision Surgery Is Necessary? 

“Find an experienced plastic surgeon with a history of completing revisions on surgeries without positive results.  Revision surgeries are a substantial part of my practice.  I use photos of patients then ‘correct with computer imaging’ the bad results to show there is hope.  I  confirm with patients what they have in mind, if it’s something I can do and some- thing that looks aesthetically pleasing.  A qualified surgeon knows that beauty is based on symmetry.”

Rhinoplasty (nose)

“It’s estimated that 15-25% of people who have aesthetic rhinoplasties in the U.S. have them redone; less than 50% are satisfied with results they get. Visit

www.RevisionNoseSurgery.com which shows how we revise bad nose surgery.“

Breast Augmentation

“Breast augmentation surgery is the most revised surgery in the U.S. for reasons such as hardness of the implant or because the implant moves.  Visit www.RevisionBreastSurgery.com view breast-surgeries-gone-wrong; see options to correct unsatisfactory results.”  

Liposuction

“Liposuction surgery can turn out to be asymmetrical or have a lumpy look that requires fat grafting to fix bad results.  Estimates show 30% of all liposuction surgeries require a revision.  Most surgeries that require an incision leave a scar and some patients develop wider, unsatisfactory scars which need to be repaired.  BEFORE surgery make certain your surgeon has experience and proven ability to create a natural result that can’t be visually seen as a ‘re-do’. In revising bad liposuction some patients need a surgeon with extensive experience using a laser that can also remove excess fat to smooth an area, or add fat to an area.”

Injectibles

“Qualified physicians know for patients over-injected with Restylane or JuvaDerm there are injectable substances to correct  or dissolve mistakes almost immediately.  When Botox has been over-done a patient has to wait it out until it goes away; but if an eye is droopy there is an antidote.” 

Unrealistic Patient Expectations

“Everyone considering plastic surgery should be informed by their surgeon of complications which can occur.  Qualified surgeons must speak with patients about  unrealistic revision surgery results.  Not all revision surgery turns out to be what a patient or for that matter a surgeon feels is ‘perfect’ and that can occur if an initial surgery produced devastating results difficult to revise.  It’s vital that people do their homework finding a qualified surgeon BEFORE they move forward with a surgery they later regret. One of the most retarding aspects of my practice is helping patients disappointed by a surgery-gone-bad then give them realistic and natural revision results.”  

For information about plastic surgery email: info@beverlyhillsbody.com.  Include your name, email address/phone number and a question you would like discuss to the attention of Deborah Canter Head Consultant and Director of Beverly Hills Body.  Dr. Ellenbogen’s radio show ‘Body Beautiful’ will debut in October and he address plastic surgery questions. Dr. Ellenbogen & State of The Art Surgery Center will host a Red Carpet event in October open to the public  to meet the doctor and tour his newly renovated 5,000 square foot surgery center.  RSVP at info@beverlyhillsbody.com