For Immediate Release

RARE NERVE TRANSPLANT PERFORMED FOR FIRST TIME ON STROKE PATIENT TO REVERSE PARALYSIS

44 Year-Old Stroke Patient Paralyzed On Right Side Undergoes Procedure Performed by New Jersey Medical Team

SHREWSBURY, NJ – December 18, 2007 – The Plastic Surgery Center today announced that a rare nerve transplant was performed for the first time on a stroke patient to reverse paralysis. The surgery was performed at Monmouth Medical Center by a team of NJ medical professionals led by Dr. Andrew Elkwood, M.D.

During the procedure, Dr. Elkwood and his team utilized advanced technology to take nerves from 44-year old Vincent Filipini’s legs and attach nerves from his working side to nerves on his paralyzed side to restore functionality of his arm.

Dr Elkwood is a pioneer in this procedure, cross chest brachial plexus neurotization, and has had great success in restoring functionality of patients who had become paralyzed from accidents.

Dr. Elkwood 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.

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For Immediate Release

19 YEAR-OLD FEMALE UNDERGOES RARE PROCEDURE TO REVERSE PARALYSIS

Father-Daughter Nerve Transplant Performed by New Jersey Medical Team

SHREWSBURY, NJ – May 17, 2004 – In a rare living-donor nerve transplant procedure that took place over the weekend at Monmouth Medical Center, a 19-year-old girl received donor nerves from her father to reverse the paralysis of her left arm.  The surgery was performed by a team of professionals led by Dr. Andrew Elkwood, M.D. of the Plastic Surgery Center in Shrewsbury, NJ.  Dr. Elkwood is scheduled to perform a living-donor nerve transplant on a second patient on Friday, June 4, 2004.

The nerve transplant is a complex procedure that utilizes advanced technology in order to reverse many life-altering paralyses.  This weekend’s surgery was performed on 19-year-old Melissa Gomez’s arm, which was left paralyzed from a car accident in December 2003.  As part of the procedure, the medical team surgically removed nerves from her father’s leg, and simultaneously transplanted them into Melissa’s arm.  The procedure also required the doctors to take nerves from Melissa’s own legs and transplant them into her arm.

“The living-donor nerve transplant is a medical breakthrough that will be helpful in reversing many debilitating conditions caused by accidents, strokes and other medical tragedies,” said Dr. Andrew Elkwood.  “Using a live donor for this complex procedure, particularly a family member, offers many medical benefits including improved outcome, advantageous timing and may also reduce the risks of complications from transplant surgery.”

In January 2004, Dr. Elkwood and his medical team made use of cadaverous nerves while performing the second nerve transplant to take place in the Tri-State area. Dr. Elkwood performed the first nerve transplant on the East Coast in March 2003, on a patient who was shot in the arm and leg. The patient has since regained near complete functionality of both his arm and leg.

About Dr. Elkwood

Dr. Andrew Elkwood, M.D., is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who performs unique operations involving nerve rebuilding and complex reconstruction. Dr. Elkwood and his team are among the few doctors in the country to perform operations such as brachial plexus reconstruction, facial reanimation, nerve transplantation, and nerve grafting to preserve erectile function after prostate cancer.   Dr. Elkwood is certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery in General Surgery and Plastic Surgery. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgery (FACS) and a Fellow of the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.  Dr. Elkwood practices at The Plastic Surgery Center, with offices in NJ and Manhattan. For further information, please visit the Plastic Surgery Center’s website at www.looknatural.com.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SECOND NERVE TRANSPLANT IN TRI-STATE AREA PERFORMED BY NEW JERSEY MEDICAL TEAM

26 Year-Old Monmouth County Male Received Transplant After Motorcross Accident Left Him With Paralyzed Arm

SHREWSBURY, NJ – January 22, 2004 – The second nerve transplant ever to be performed on the East Coast, took place yesterday, January 21, at 2:00 p.m.  The surgery was performed at Monmouth Medical Center by a team of medical professionals led by Dr. Andrew Elkwood, M.D. of the Plastic Surgery Center in Shrewsbury, NJ.

The nerve transplant is a complex procedure, utilizing new technology that enables doctors to make use of nerves donated by a deceased individual in order to reverse many life-altering paralyses. Yesterday’s procedure was intended to restore functionality of 26 year-old, Brian Blair’s arm, paralyzed in a motorcross accident last April.  The nerve donor was a 56 year-old male schoolteacher from the Philadelphia area, who died unexpectedly of a stroke.

“It is remarkable the extent to which recent advancements in medical technology have worked to improve patients’ quality of life,” said Dr. Andrew Elkwood. “And as the field of reconstructive surgery continues to evolve through medical advancements, we are confident that patients will continue to benefit from exciting new procedures.”

Dr. Andrew Elkwood, a New Jersey-based plastic and reconstructive surgeon, performed the first nerve transplant on the East Coast in March 2003, on a patient who was shot in the arm and leg. The patient, also of Monmouth County, has regained near complete functionality of both his arm and leg.

About Dr. Elkwood

Based in Shrewsbury, NJ, Dr. Andrew Elkwood is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who performs unique operations involving nerve rebuilding and complex reconstruction. Dr. Elkwood and his team are among the few doctors in the country to perform operations such as brachial plexus reconstruction, facial reanimation, nerve transplantation, and nerve grafting to preserve erectile function after prostate cancer.

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