Practice News

The Plastic Surgery Center today announced that a New Jersey medical team led by Dr. Matthew Kaufman performed the fifth successful phrenic nerve decompression to reverse diaphragm paralysis. Immediately following the groundbreaking procedure, the patient, Julia Cooke, now breathes without complications, feels “20 years younger,” and leads a healthy, pain-free life.

Ms. Cooke, 57, from Grayson, Kentucky, was given six months to live due to her chronic pneumonia caused by a paralyzed right diaphragm, which lost function as a result of complications during a June 2009 surgery. Ms. Cooke was previously told no treatment existed for diaphragm paralysis and suffered severe shortness of breath, chronic fatigue and incessant bouts of double pneumonia. In addition to allowing Ms. Cooke to breathe normally, the procedure has also significantly improved her mental and physical well-being, helping her to fully recover.

In a highly complex procedure on May 11^th at Somerset Medical Center in Somerville, New Jersey, Dr. Kaufman performed a microsurgical decompression of the phrenic nerve to restore function to Ms. Cooke’s right diaphragm, providing her immediate relief. As part of the process, the doctors also took the sural nerve from her leg and transplanted it to the phrenic nerve in her neck.

“We are extremely excited about Julia’s successful results, as the procedure has proven to be life-changing for people with diaphragm paralysis who were previously told nothing can be done,” said Dr. Kaufman, who is currently the only known surgeon in New Jersey to perform this innovative surgical procedure. “Additionally, this represents a significant opportunity for patients with breathing difficulty caused by surgery complications, spinal cord injury, lung-related illnesses and other medical tragedies.”

About The Plastic Surgery Center

Dr. Kaufman is a part of the medical team at the Institute for Advanced Reconstruction at the Plastic Surgery Center, which 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 told there are no treatment options available. Some of these conditions include:

• Paralysis resulting from accidents and strokes
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Paralyzed diaphragm/ventilator-based breathing
• Facial reanimation
• Nerve decompression for migraine headaches

For further information, please visit http://www.advancedreconstruction.com/.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ThePlasticSurgeryCenter

Twitter: www.twitter.com/PlasticSurgNJ

About Dr. Matthew Kaufman

Dr. Matthew Kaufman is a board certified Plastic Surgeon and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS). He has the rather rare distinction of also achieving board certification in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, which gives 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 practices at the Plastic Surgery Center in Shrewsbury, NJ, and 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 is 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.

SHREWSBURY, NJ – MAY 27, 2010 – The Plastic Surgery Center today announced the successful results of a complex reconstructive surgery performed by Dr. Russell Ashinoff to repair a man’s injured hand. Following the two-stage procedure, Mr. John Johnstone reports that he has regained full function in his left hand, which was severely damaged in a November 2009 wood-cutting accident.

Mr. Johnstone commented, “As a New Jersey State Trooper for the past 24 years, having the use of my left hand is critical to the success of my job. I am thrilled with the results of the surgery, which has allowed me to return to my daily activities.”

On November 29, 2009, Mr. Johnstone suffered fractures, severed tendons and lost part of a finger in his left hand as a result of a backyard wood-cutting accident. A resident of Manasquan, New Jersey, he was taken to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune, New Jersey for emergency surgery. During the procedure, Dr. Ashinoff utilized advanced reconstructive techniques to re-attach the tendons and rebuild Mr. Johnstone’s hand. After the initial surgery in November, Dr. Ashinoff performed a second procedure in April 2010 to remove the remaining scar tissue, completing the process that successfully restored function to his hand.

About Dr. Russell Ashinoff

Dr. Ashinoff is highly skilled in all aspects of cosmetic, reconstructive, and hand surgery, and specializes in breast reconstruction and body contouring after massive weight loss. Dr. Ashinoff has expertise in the latest minimally invasive techniques for rejuvenation and reconstruction of the face, breasts, and body.

About The Plastic Surgery Center

Dr. Ashinoff is a part of the medical team at the Institute for Advanced Reconstruction at the Plastic Surgery Center, which is comprised of a group of surgeons who are highly skilled in nerve transplantation, microsurgery and advanced reconstruction. They perform a number of unique operations to help patients suffering from life-altering medical conditions who are often told there are no treatment options available. Some of these conditions include:

• Lymphedema
• Paralysis resulting from accidents and strokes
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Paralyzed diaphragm/ventilator-based breathing
• Facial reanimation
• Nerve decompression for migraine headaches

For further information, please visit:

www.DrAshinoff.com;

www.advancedreconstruction.com;

www.facebook.com/ThePlasticSurgeryCenter;

www.twitter.com/PlasticSurgNJ

The Plastic Surgery Center today announced that reconstructive surgeon Dr. Andrew Elkwood has completed a week-long medical mission to East Jerusalem, where he provided highly specialized treatment to underprivileged children with congenital malformations and injuries.

As part of the mission, Dr. Elkwood lent his unique expertise in complex procedures involving advanced reconstruction to train local doctors and nurses.

“I feel very fortunate to help so many children requiring advanced reconstructive care,” said Dr. Elkwood, a board certified plastic surgeon and the Chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery at Monmouth Medical Center. “It was a very rewarding experience and I look forward to my next trip.”

Dr. Elkwood and pediatric surgeon Dr. Saad A. Saad co-led the mission, sponsored by the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF).

*Images are available upon request.

About The Plastic Surgery Center

Dr. Elkwood is part of the medical team at The Plastic Surgery Center in Shrewsbury, NJ, which is comprised of surgeons who perform a number of unique operations to help patients suffering from life-altering medical conditions often unaware a treatment is available. Some include:

• Paralysis resulting from accidents and strokes
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Paralyzed diaphragm/ventilator-based breathing
• Facial reanimation
• Nerve decompression for migraine headaches

For further information, please visit www.advancedreconstruction.com.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ThePlasticSurgeryCenter

Twitter: www.twitter.com/PlasticSurgNJ

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 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 has performed 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 ulcers.

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 can mitigate pain, restore sensation, and ultimately may 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 to 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

Shrewsbury, NJ – April 26, 2010 – The Plastic Surgery Center today announced that following an innovative triple nerve decompression surgery performed by Dr. Michael Rose, Mr. Arthur Staffin reports that he has been free of his prior neuropathy pain since undergoing the procedure in July 2008.

Mr. Staffin commented, “I can’t believe how significantly my comfort level and my life in general have improved from this procedure! For years, I had suffered uncontrollable pain in my lower extremities.  I sought pain management, orthopedists, and would take up to five pain killers a day, but none of it worked.  I am so pleased to have had this procedure – it changed my life!”

Triple nerve decompression surgery is an innovative procedure performed to re-establish nerve function throughout an arm or leg, in order to mitigate pain, restore feeling, and reduce the risk of amputation – commonly a result of diabetes.  It is an outpatient procedure that involves three small incisions and lasts approximately an hour and a half.  The surgery can provide immediate results including reduced pain and return of sensation. The procedure has up to an approximate 90 percent success rate in reducing pain and increasing sensation in properly selected patients and is covered by most insurance companies. 

“In addition to the surgery often providing immediate relief to the patient, postoperative discomfort is minimal, and results are long-lasting, almost never requiring a second procedure,” said Dr. Michael Rose.  “The success of this procedure and its ability to improve a patient’s quality of life are truly remarkable – especially given the conventional belief that there isn’t an existing treatment for Neuropathy.  As medical research and technological advancements further improve the field of diabetic neuropathy, ideally patients will undergo surgery before developing complications such as pain, ulcerations, and amputations.”

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 www.advancedreconstruction.com, www.facebook.com/ThePlasticSurgeryCenter, www.twitter.com/PlasticSurgNJ.