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Shrewsbury, NJ 07702
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Practice News
Dr. Russell Ashinoff Featured in Asbury Park Press
January 31st, 2012
The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction’s own New Jersey plastic surgeon Dr. Russell Ashinoff was featured in the Asbury Park Press for his work with Long Branch, NJ train accident victim Michael Villafuerte. Read the full article here.
Whiting, New Jersey Woman Has Radical Body Sculpting Surgery
January 30th, 2012
For Helen Lockhart, it was a near death experience that resulted in gaining a new life. Lockhart, who has been overweight her entire life, had reached a high of 370 pounds (she is 5’2 ½” tall) resulting in a series of infections in the skin of her lower abdomen. In May, 2011, one of those infections resulted in a 104-degree fever, a subsequent week-long hospitalization and I.V. antibiotics. “It almost killed me,” declared the 45-year-old Whiting, New Jersey resident.
That’s when her primary care doctor told her, “I think I know someone who can help you.” That someone was New Jersey plastic surgeon Dr. Russell Ashinoff of The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction in Shrewsbury, NJ.
Lockhart described her first meeting with Ashinoff, “He spoke to me for a few minutes, and asked to see the infection. Most doctors would just pull off the cover and look, but he took care to place a blanket over me.” His kindness immediately impressed her.
Following her recovery from the infection, she went to the offices of The Plastic Surgery Center, where Dr. Ashinoff explained to Lockhart, her mother and sister, the operation that would remove the excess skin of her lower stomach and repair her abdominal hernia. This skin, which hung to her knees, was the site of recurrent infections and severely restricted her ability to move around.
On September, 27, 2011, Helen Lockhart had her post-bariatric surgery. The surgery was designed to take off the excess skin and fat from her lower abdomen. The weight Dr. Ashinoff took off, coupled with what she has lost through subsequent diet and exercise, accounts for 86 total pounds.
According to Dr. Ashinoff, “When a patient has a large amount of skin and fat of the lower abdomen, it is really a vicious cycle. It prevents her from exercising and leads to more weight gain. This procedure allows us to break this cycle and give patients their lives back. Helen is an amazing woman who always puts others first. The first thing Helen asked me when she woke up was, “How are you feeling Dr. Ashinoff?” Her great attitude really helped the recovery process.”
Following the surgery, she spent nearly three months Laurelton Village Rehabilitation Center in Brick, New Jersey, where they offer all types of physical therapy. Her experience led her to plan on returning to volunteer to assist with other patients. “They called me the cheerleader of the floor, since I was always encouraging other patients.”
Currently, Lockhart walks outside a half-hour daily, supplemented with a build-up of more walking time on her indoor treadmill—all which she has been able to do as a result of her surgery. “I can walk better, breathe better. I can do everything better,” she testifies.
“The surgery was a lot to do, but I’m glad I did it, and I’d do it again. I’m very happy,” says Lockhart.
As for Dr. Ashinoff, Helen Lockhart reserves the highest praise, “He’s the most kind and compassionate man ever.”
Dr. Kaufman Has Phrenic Nerve Manuscript Published by Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery
January 5th, 2012
Dr. Matthew Kaufman of The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction in Shrewsbury, NJ, has had his manuscript “Diaphragm Paralysis Caused by Transverse Cervical Artery Compression of the Phrenic Nerve: The Red Cross Syndrome” accepted by Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery for publication.
Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery is devoted to publishing papers and reports on the clinical aspects of neurology and neurosurgery. It is an international forum for papers of high scientific standard that are of interest to Neurologists and Neurosurgeons world-wide. Professor Peter Paul De Deyn, Scientific Director of the Institute Born-Bunge at the University of Antwerp, Belgium, is the Editor-in-Chief.
Dr. Kaufman has continued to expand his unique expertise in the area of phrenic nerve surgery. Recently, he has also been published in the CHEST journal and presented a paper at October, 2011 CHEST seminar in Hawaii.
Long Branch, New Jersey Boy Can Dream of Holding a Girlfriend’s Hand
December 30th, 2011
Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon Dr. Russell Ashinoff from The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction Performs Complex Hand Surgery
“I can tell the time of day by the sound of these commuter trains. They run like clock-work”, explains Susan Villafuerte, mother of seven. One year ago, her 15-year-old son Michael was on his way home from school, taking the short cut alongside those familiar railroad tracks. He glanced down at his watch; five minutes until the next train arrives. He turned to walk over the trestle bridge towards his house. But suddenly something made Michael turn around. He turned just in time to see the train bearing down on him. He instinctively dove out of the train’s path. The train came screeching to an emergency halt, with the wheel resting directly on top of Michael’s right hand.
“Something told me to go look for him. I still have the mental image of when I found him,” Susan recalls. “It’s a mother’s worst nightmare.” Michael was immediately medevaced to the Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he was fortunate that Dr. Russell Ashinoff, Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon was on call that day.
When he arrived in the emergency room, Dr. Russell Ashnioff found that Michael had no blood flow to his hand and a very severe soft tissue injury. He was taken immediately to the operating room where Dr. Ashinoff used microsurgical techniques to restore blood flow and save his hand.
Over the course of his subsequent treatments, Michael required five additional surgeries to reconstruct the tendons, bones and nerves of his hand. He has made a remarkable recovery to date, but still had a ways to go. He is set to undergo a procedure to rebuild his tendons, joints and soft tissue on the back of his hand. His youth and motivation in therapy have made a tremendous difference in his successful recovery.
Michael’s mother still struggles with the memories from that day. One thing is certain, though, they have found the right surgeon in Dr. Ashinoff. “I’m very confident in his expertise, and his bedside manner is wonderful,” Susan says. Dr. Ashinoff tells Michael, “In the end, I hope to give you the ability to turn a key in a door, or to hold a girlfriend’s hand.”
New Jersey Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon Dr. Russell Ashinoff Featured on 1450 WCTC
December 29th, 2011
New Jersey Reconstructive Plastic Surgeon Dr. Russell Ashinoff from the Institute for Advanced Reconstruction was recently featured on AM 1450 WCTC, The Voice of New Jersey, for his miraculous reconstructive surgery on a 15-year-old boy who had his hand mangled by a commuter train. The podcast for Dr. Ashinoff’s interview is available here.
