Practice News

For Immediate Release

TOP TEN PROBLEMS PATIENTS WITH DISABILITIES DO NOT NEED TO TOLERATE

World-Renowned Medical Team Uses Innovative Surgeries to Treat Conditions for which Paralyzed Patients Are Often Told “Nothing Can Be Done”

SHREWSBURY, NJ – April 15, 2009 – While many conditions associated with paralysis are typically considered untreatable, the Plastic Surgery Center, a New Jersey-based medical practice specializing in innovative nerve reconstruction, today announced several problems that can be mitigated or eliminated through rare nerve transplants or other surgeries.

“Many times paralyzed people are told that nothing can be done for their condition or related complications, and they must learn to live with immobility and pain,” explains Dr. Andrew Elkwood, a world-renowned plastic and reconstructive surgeon. “However, the Plastic Surgery Center utilizes nerve-related surgeries and other procedures that enable paralysis patients to live full, active lives.”

The Plastic Surgery Center’s top ten problems paralyzed patients do not need to tolerate:

1. Paralysis from a stroke. The Plastic Surgery Center has restored functionality of stroke patients through procedures including, “cross chest brachial plexus neurotization.”

2. Impaired breathing from spinal cord injuries. Phrenic nerve surgery may restore movement of the lungs and diaphragm impaired by spinal cord injuries. The Plastic Surgery Center’s Dr. Matthew Kaufman, who performs phrenic nerve transplants, has seen signs of success in helping improve a patient’s breathing.

3. Life-altering pressure sores. Taking nerves from a patient’s paralyzed leg and grafting from the rib to the sciatic nerve, the Plastic Surgery Center team may relieve and prevent life-altering paraplegic pressure sores.

4. Lifetime reliance on feeding tubes to swallow. To restore sensation and movement needed to eat and swallow – often a side effect of stroke patients and acute paraplegia – the Plastic Surgery Center team transfers nerves from within the neck to the throat to stop reliance on feeding tubes for survival.

5. Neuropathy pain and risk of limb amputation. Dr. Michael Rose of The Plastic Surgery Center performs a minimally invasive surgical procedure known as triple nerve decompression, which may mitigate pain, restore sensation, and possibly reduce risk of amputation.

6. Arm paralysis as a result of injury or medical problems. The most minimally invasive long-term solution may be to transplant nerves from the patient’s ankle to the damaged nerves to restore the arm’s functionality.

7. Foot drop. Foot drop may be treated by transferring nerves from the leg to the peroneal nerve area – the nerve that communicates to the muscles to lift the foot.

8. Partial facial paralysis. Sensation and movement may be restored in patients suffering from partial facial paralysis by transplanting nerves from the functioning side of the face.

9. Lifelong rehabilitation as the only option for paraplegics. Surgical options coupled with rehabilitation may yield even greater results than rehabilitation alone.

10. Dependence on splint. To eliminate patients’ dependence on splints to function, the Plastic Surgery Center uses several different techniques that may strengthen muscles and/or replace permanent use of a splint.

The medical team at the Plastic Surgery Center is comprised of a group of surgeons who are highly skilled in nerve transplantation and advanced reconstruction. They perform a number of unique operations to help patients suffering from life-altering medical conditions who are often unaware that a treatment is available. Some of these conditions that the Plastic Surgery Center treats include:

• Paralysis resulting from accidents and strokes
• Diabetic Neuropathy
• Paralyzed diaphragm/ventilator-based breathing
• Facial Reanimation

About The Plastic Surgery Center

Located in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, The Plastic Surgery Center’s team of doctors has more than 50 years of combined experience performing facial, skin, and body cosmetic surgery. They offer cutting edge cosmetic and reconstructive procedures and have developed a number of innovative surgical techniques offered at few other facilities in the world. The Plastic Surgery Center doctors are committed to excellence providing exceptional, personalized care in a friendly, comfortable setting using the most advanced equipment available. For further information, please visit the Plastic Surgery Center’s website at www.looknatural.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Berns Communications Group, LLC
Melissa Jaffin/Amy Kover
mjaffin@bcg-pr.com/akover@bcg-pr.com
212.994.4660

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THE PLASTIC SURGERY CENTER EXPANDS MEDICAL PRACTICE

Adds Two New Surgeons with Expertise in Vascular Surgery and Post-Weight Loss Body Contouring Names Dr. Matthew Kaufman Partner

Shrewsbury, NJ – May 21, 2009- The Plastic Surgery Center today announced that it has expanded its medical practice with the addition of two new surgeons, Dr. Russell Ashinoff and Dr. Jonathan Weiswasser. The practice also announced that it has named Dr. Matthew Kaufman a Partner.

Dr. Ashinoff, 35, specializes in breast reconstruction and body contouring after massive weight loss. He is also skilled in minimally-invasive techniques including endoscopic browlift, short scar facelift, autologous fat grafting, liposuction, blepharoplasty (eyelid rejuvenation), short scar breast lift/reduction, and hand rejuvenation. Dr. Ashinoff received his medical degree from the State University of New York at Syracuse. He completed his residency in General Surgery at New York University and Bellevue Hospital program in Manhattan, where he spent an additional year performing research in the Laboratory for Microvascular Research and Vascular Tissue Engineering. As a Fellow in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Emory University in Atlanta, Dr. Ashinoff learned the most advanced techniques, including TRAM and Latissimus flaps, and cutting edge perforator flaps. Dr. Ashinoff currently resides in Little Silver, New Jersey.

Dr. Weiswasser, 41, joins The Plastic Surgery Center with extensive experience in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency, a disease in which blood does not return from the legs properly. He was one of the “early adopters” of minimally invasive, endovascular techniques useful in the treatment of varicose veins, venous stasis ulcers, and other venous disorders in the legs and arms. Dr. Weiswasser was formerly Chief of Vascular Surgery at the Washington Veterans Administration Medical Center in Washington, DC.

He holds a medical degree from New York University School of Medicine and trained in General Surgery and in Vascular Surgery, both at the New York University Medical Center.  Dr. Weiswasser underwent additional training in specialized endovascular techniques and carotid stenting at the Lenox Hill Hospital. Dr. Weiswasser currently resides in Montclair, New Jersey.

“We are very pleased to welcome both Russell and Jonathan to The Plastic Surgery Center,” commented Dr. Andrew Elkwood of the Plastic Surgery Center. “They both bring unique surgical talents that will further define us as a world-class medical practice. What’s more, their commitment to adapting the most innovative approaches to cosmetic and reconstructive surgery is a perfect match for our practice.”

The Plastic Surgery Center Names Dr. Matthew Kaufman Partner

The Plastic Surgery Center also announced the promotion of Dr. Matthew Kaufman to Partner. Dr. Kaufman originally came to the practice in 2005.

“Since joining The Plastic Surgery Center, Matt’s experience and talent have proven to be invaluable to the team,” said Dr. Michael Rose of the Plastic Surgery Center. “Matt’s highly developed set of skills in reconstructive surgery for conditions related to the head, face and neck has further enhanced the capabilities of our practice. We congratulate him on his promotion to Partner.”

Dr. Kaufman, 36, is a board certified Plastic Surgeon and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). He has the rare distinction of also achieving board certification in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, which provides him the added expertise necessary to deal with complex cosmetic and reconstructive problems of the head, face and neck. Dr. Kaufman has special interests in reconstructive surgery for cranial nerve disorders, skin and head & neck cancer and vascular malformations. He is a Cancer Reconstruction and Microsurgery Consultant for the Head and Neck Oncology Group of Central New Jersey based at Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick.

Dr. Kaufman serves on the advisory board for FM World Charities http://www.fmworldcharities.org, a not-for-profit organization devoted to promoting public health and improving the quality of life in underserved communities throughout the world. He currently resides in Colts Neck, New Jersey.

The medical team at the Plastic Surgery Center is comprised of a group of surgeons who are highly skilled in nerve transplantation and advanced reconstruction. They perform a number of unique operations to help patients suffering from life-altering medical conditions who are often unaware that a treatment is available. Some of these conditions that the Plastic Surgery Center treats include:

• Paralysis resulting from accidents and strokes
• Diabetic Neuropathy
• Paralyzed diaphragm/ventilator-based breathing
• Facial Reanimation

About The Plastic Surgery Center

Located in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, The Plastic Surgery Center’s team of doctors has more than 50 years of combined experience performing facial, skin, and body cosmetic surgery. They offer cutting edge cosmetic and reconstructive procedures and have developed a number of innovative surgical techniques offered at few other facilities in the world. The Plastic Surgery Center doctors are committed to excellence providing exceptional, personalized care in a friendly, comfortable setting using the most advanced equipment available. For further information, please visit the Plastic Surgery Center’s website at www.looknatural.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Amy Kover/ Melissa Jaffin

Berns Communications Group

akover@bcg-pr.com/ mjaffin@bcg-pr.com

212-994-4660