Practice News

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.  

Nerve Decompression Surgery is an innovative, minimally invasive procedure performed to relieve the symptoms of neuropathy and reduce the risk of amputation – a common side effect associated with Diabetes.  It is an outpatient procedure that involves three small incisions, lasts approximately an hour and a half and is accepted by most insurance companies. Most patients are back to basic activities in two to three weeks. In addition to the surgery providing immediate relief to the patient, postoperative discomfort is minimal, and results are long-lasting, almost never requiring a second procedure.  In 75% of properly selected patients there will be a significant increase in sensation, and decrease in pain.

“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.” – Dr. Michael Rose, MD

About the procedure

Decompression surgery has been performed for more than 15 years to relieve pressure on the peripheral nerves as they pass through three different passageways or tunnels on their way to each extremity.  By releasing the swollen, damaged nerve, doctors allow room for the nerve to “breathe” and remove compression.  In addition to restoring sensation and reducing pain, the surgery also reduces the future occurrence of ulcers or amputations to nearly zero. Dr. Michael Rose, MD is among a select group of surgeons to perform the procedure.

Who is a candidate for surgery?

• Have neuropathy
• Have good enough circulation to allow for surgery
• Are in good enough health to undergo the surgery
• Have been examined for a “Tinel Sign,” which indicates to the doctor that the nerve will respond to surgery

Surgery Success

The success of this procedure and its ability to improve a patient’s quality of life are truly remarkable.  While the procedure is most often used to treat neuropathy from diabetes, it will also relieve the symptoms of neuropathy from many other causes such as alcoholism, lead poisoning and chemotherapy. Ideally patients will undergo surgery before developing complications such as pain, ulcerations and amputations.

How to avoid neuropathy:

Blood glucose testing → participate in physical activities → choosing the right foods

The best way to prevent neuropathy is to keep blood glucose levels as close to the normal range as possible.  Maintaining safe blood glucose levels protects nerves throughout the body.

For more information, please visit www.advancedreconstruction.com or call The Plastic Surgery Center at (866) 263.9123.

SHREWSBURY, N.J. – October 20, 2009 – The Plastic Surgery Center today announced that a 57-year-old Plainfield man reports he is free of constant headache pain after undergoing a new cutting edge nerve procedure to permanently eliminate pain caused by migraines. The procedure was performed by plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Matthew Kaufman, of the Plastic Surgery Center in New Jersey on August 4, 2009.

 The surgery was performed on Mr. Edgar Freire, a constant migraine sufferer, who was not obtaining pain relief from medication.  As part of the procedure, Dr. Kaufman released muscle tissue around Mr. Freire’s supraorbital nerve (upper eyelid area) to relieve the tension causing his severe migraine pain. The surgery, called “nerve decompression,” is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure and took approximately one hour.

 “I was very pleased to hear of Edgar’s results,” said Dr. Kaufman. “As migraine headaches are often difficult to treat with medication, we are encouraged by the success of nerve decompression surgery around the peripheral trigger sites of these headaches. In fact, as recent studies have shown (as published in the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery), the surgery has proven effective in eliminating the pain in patients suffering from chronic moderate to severe migraine headaches.”

Dr. Kaufman is part of the medical team 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 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.

For Immediate Release

NEW JERSEY SURGEON RESTORES DIAPHRAGM FUNCTION TO 43-YEAR OLD PATIENT AFTER TEN-YEARS OF BREATHING PROBLEMS

First Known Case in which Nerve Decompression Stimulates Movement in Phrenic Nerve

SHREWSBURY, NJ – June 24, 2009 –The Plastic Surgery Center today announced that Dr. Matthew Kaufman restored breathing function to a 43-year old man who suffered from paralysis in the diaphragm for over ten years.

In the first known case of its kind, Dr. Kaufman utilized a rare procedure known as phrenic nerve decompression, in which he removed scar tissue from the site of a prior injury.  By releasing pressure caused by the scar tissue, the phrenic nerve, which controls movement in the diaphragm, had the space to resume function.

“We are very pleased with the outcome of this rare procedure, particularly considering that reversing paralysis from an old injury is extraordinarily unusual and this patient endured breathing paralysis for over a decade,