For Over 20 years, Dr. Melinda Lacerna has proven time and time again to personally provide exceptional cosmetic services to her patients. She personally consults with each patient and cares as much as her patients do about their upcoming procedure, the results and post surgery progess.
Dr. Melinda Lacerna is double board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery. She is a fellow the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). Dr. Lacerna obtained her medical degree from the University of California, Irvine. She received her general surgery training at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles and her plastic surgery training at Temple University in Philadelphia.
Dr. Melinda Lacerna is a distinguished figure in the field of plastic surgery, holding double board certification and based in Bradenton, Florida. With over 20 years of dedicated practice, she is the founder and owner of LA Plastic Surgery, The Skin Plasma Center, LA Skin Med Spa, and Elite Aesthetic Surgery Center. Her specialization in facial plastic surgery and skin resurfacing has positioned her as a leading expert, notably authoring significant works such as the “Non-surgical Facial Rejuvenation and Skin Resurfacing” chapter in the 9th edition of Grabb and Smith’s Plastic Surgery. Additionally, she is in the process of co-editing and contributing to “The Skin Book,” aimed at offering an exhaustive guide on skin and procedures for plastic surgeons. Her prolific output includes numerous publications and ongoing research, further solidifying her reputation in the field.
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In her extensive 20 year experience, she specializing in facial aesthetic surgery (face and neck lifts, Browlifts, eyelid surgery, rhinoplasty, fat grafting and plasma skin resurfacing).
She is a sought after national and international speaker, and within the last year has delivered over 20 invited keynote lectures in 5 countries, namely Greece, South Korea, Colombia, Canada, and the US. She is actively involved in plastic surgery research and is the Principal Investigator for two current IRB approved studies with APYX Medical, namely “Minimally invasive browlift with Renuvion” (retrospective), and “Skin Quality Improvement with facelifts and Renuvion” (prospective). She serves as consultant, key opinion leader (KOL), speaker and physician trainer for multiple aesthetic industry partners including APYX Medical (Renuvion), Energist (Neogen), Cytrellis (Ellacor), Evoloutionary Biologics (exosomes) and Allumiere MD (skin care). She is the author of “Non-surgical Facial Rejuvenation and Skin Resurfacing” Chapter 46 of Grabb and Smith’s Plastic Surgery, a classic textbook with worldwide distribution. She is the Editor in Chief of “The Skin Guide: Aesthetic Dermatology for Plastic Surgeons”, a textbook to be published in 2026 by Springer Medical. She has multiple publications, including “Helium plasma dermal resurfacing:Consensus guidelines” (Dermatological Reviews.2020:1-11), “Helium Plasma Radiofrequency Brow Lift: Description of a Novel Technique and Retrospective Study on Safety, Efficacy and Long-term Durability”, and “Take your facelifts to the next level: Safety and Efficacy of PLASMA Resurfacing with face and neck lifts”.
Dr. Lacerna is passionate about combining classical surgical techniques such as deep plane face and neck lifts, with the latest and best technological devices such as helium and nitrogen plasma, and regenerative medicine (fat grafting, Stromal vascular fraction or SVF, PRP, exosomes) to deliver the best, safest and most lasting results for facial and neck rejuvenation. She pioneered a new minimally invasive browlift technique and has recently trademarked her PLASMA LYFT™ face and necklift. These result in award-winning outcomes: she has won multiple awards and recognition from her peers, including “The Best Face presentation” gold medal award at ISAPS World Congress in Athens (Sept. 2023) for her scarless blepharoplasty techniques, “The Best Surgical Facial Rejuvenation” for The Aesthetic Awards 2023, and a finalist for “The Best Surgical Facial Rejuvenation” and “The Best Surgical Reconstruction” for The Aesthetic Awards 2024. She enjoys sharing her new techniques with colleagues and has been invited faculty to teach courses by ASPS, ISAPS and the Aesthetic Society. She is visited by plastic surgeons from the US and internationally (Canada, South America, Mexico) to observe and train on her latest minimally invasive surgical techniques and plasma skin resurfacing.
Most importantly, Dr. Lacerna believes in a healthy lifestyle, maintaining a sound mind and body, and in looking our best and living our best life. She is happily married for 22 years to Dr. Brian Kimbrell, who recently joined the practice and performs body contouring, hair rejuvenation, weight loss, regenerative medicine and hormone restoration. She is a published artist and her mixed media paintings grace the halls of our beautiful facility. She works out regularly, and is also a certified advanced open water scuba diver. She is passionate about animal welfare and is involved with charitable activities benefitting the Big Cat Habitat in Sarasota, and Honor’s Animal Rescue and the Humane Society of Manatee County.
Face Lift/Neck Lift/Deep Plane Facelift and Necklift
“Scarless” Face Lift and Neck Lift with VASER and RENUVION
PLASMA LYFT ULTRA™ , PLASMA LYFT CLASSIC™, PLASMA LYFT LITE ™
Minimally Invasive Browlift with RENUVION
RENUVION Skin Resurfacing and Tightening
NEOGEN PSR Skin Resurfacing and Tightening
C02/Ablative and Non-Ablative Erbium/IPL/VIVACE RF microneedling
Facial Reconstruction after MOHS/skin cancer or Trauma
MINT PDO threads, Silhouette Threads
VASER HI DEF Liposuction/RENUVION skin tightening
Brazilian Butt Lift (surgical and non-surgical)
Tummy Tuck with 360 Lipo/VASER + RENUVION
Arm Lift , Thigh Lift (Full brachioplasty, Short Scar, or Scarless with VASER + RENUVION)
Vaginal Rejuvenation (Internal tightening, Labiaplasty, or Scarless with RENUVION)
Dr. Lacerna has been invited to speak at this world congress event in Tokyo, Japan.
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Dr. Lacerna has been invited to teach at this online webimar on July 9th.
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Dr. Lacerna has been invited to deliver three keynote presentations.
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Dr. Lacerna is part of this year’s renowned faculty, leading the discussions about success
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International Conf. of the Korean Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
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Accolades for "Best Surgical Facial Rejuvenation Enhancement"
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Dr. Melinda Lacerna: Gold Medal Winner for the "Trifecta Facelift" Procedure."
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Curriculm Vitae
Melinda Lacerna, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Education
Doctor of Medicine University of California, Irvine
College of Medicine (1994-1998) Irvine, CA
Bachelor of Science Biological Sciences California State University, Fullerton (1990-1994) Fullerton, CA
Board Certifications
Board Certified, Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeryBoard Certified, General Surgery
Volunteer Experience
Oil painting, running, scuba, volunteer mission trips, travel, interior design. Married to Brian James Kimbrell, MD, FACS
Surgical Training
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Temple University, Philadelphia, PA (2003-2005)
General Surgery Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles, CA (1998-2003)
Work Experience
Attending Plastic Surgeon Channel Islands Plastic Surgery Medical Group Ventura County Medical Center (2007-2011)
Attending Plastic Surgeon Kaiser Permanente, Woodland Hills, CA (2005-2007)
Publications
Lacerna, M, Spears, J, Mitra, A Avoiding free nipple grafts during reduction mammaplasty in patients with gigantomastia. Ann Plast Surg. 2005 Jul;55(1):21-4Kaminski, A., Amr, D., Lacerna-Kimbrell, ML Lymphatic Mapping in patients with breast cancer and previous Augmentation Mammaplasty. Am Surg. 2007 Oct;73(10);981-3Puopong, D, Terasaki, K, Lacerna, M, Applebaum, H Splenic artery embolization in the management of an acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura-related intracranial hemorrhage. J Pediatr Surg. 2005 May;40(5):869-71.ElTorai, I, Wong, Lacerna, M Surgical aspects of autonomic dysreflexia. J Spinal Cord Med. 1997 Jul;20(3):361-4.Lacerna, M Les Fleurs de La Chateau, original oil painting Cover, The Kaiser Permanente Journal, Fall 2006 issue
Professional Memberships
American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons Fellow,
American College of Surgeons California Society of Plastic Surgeons
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Dr. Melinda Lacerna is the founder and owner of LA Plastic Surgery, The Skin Plasma Center, LA Skin Med Spa, and Elite Aesthetic Surgery Center. She has positioned herself as a leading expert, notably authoring significant works such as the “Non-surgical Facial Rejuvenation and Skin Resurfacing” chapter in the 9th edition of Grabb and Smith’s Plastic Surgery.
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