• Kelli Rivera has been a Registered Nurse since 2005 after receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from The University of Michigan After graduation, she began to build a cache of incredible experience and knowledge in the field. She initially worked in the operating room with the Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery team at The University of Michigan. Her time there included working with some of the true legends and pioneers in the field of Facial Plastic Surgery, experiencing first hand the full scope of facial plastic surgery and human facial anatomy.

    Her passion for surgery, along with a desire for a challenging, fast paced and highly specialized career led her to take a job in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at The University of Michigan. It was here that Kelli worked with some of the most advanced, state of the art medical technology to treat some of the most critically ill patients in the entire country. Here, she developed skills in critical thinking, communicating and teamwork that will last a lifetime. This also cemented the importance of sound nursing principles, particularly the practice of evidence-based medicine, patient advocation and patient education.

    Kelli proudly brings her incredible nursing experience and knowledge of treating patients with her into the current phase of her life. She listens to her patients concerns and gives them detailed information, and will work with them to come up with the most appropriate treatments to meet their skin rejuvenation goals and to fit into their lifestyle. Her treatments are 100% individualized to each patient.

    Kelli is licensed in both the State of California and Michigan. She is a member of the American Society of Lasers in Medicine and Surgery and also a member of the International Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Nurses. She continues to expand her knowledge base to improve patient outcomes and safety by staying up to date on the latest advances in field.


  • Dr. Rivera was born and raised in Southern California and completed his undergraduate education and the University of California, Los Angeles. He completed Dental and Medical School at The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He stayed at The University of Michigan to complete his general surgery training and and residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. While in Ann Arbor, he gained immense clinical knowledge in medicine, surgery, anesthesia, head and neck oncology, reconstruction and microvascular surgery. After completing his formal training, he elected to pursue additional fellowship training in Craniofacial Surgery and Pediatric Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, where he further elevated his insight into treating complex craniofacial conditions.

    Dr. Rivera is double board-certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and the National Dental Board of Anesthesiology, and he is a proud Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He has a Certification of Added Qualification by the ABOMS in Craniofacial Surgery.

    His clinical passions include comprehensive surgical care from birth to adulthood for children with cleft lip and palate and craniofacial differences,, facial trauma and facial reconstructive surgery, head and neck pathology, and facial esthetic surgery. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed papers during his career, and is a reviewer for multiple medical journals. He has taken various cleft lip and palate mission trips to provide much needed care to children in other countries, and works with local cleft lip and palate teams.