Why now and why in record numbers?  Dr. Paul M. Parker of the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery in Paramus, NJ has a few ideas on this latest trend.

• Active Seniors are healthier and more fit today than ever in the past
• Seniors want to look as good as they feel
• The social stigma of having had surgery has all but disappeared. Plastic surgery is no longer just for celebrities
• Surgical techniques have improved, giving patients better results than in the past
• Anesthesia drugs and monitoring has improved making surgery safer especially for older patients

“I believe that physiological age is more important than chronological age.  If you have a patient who is in good health, motivated to have surgery and has a realistic expectation of what surgery can do for them, these patients can sail through the process,” explained Dr. Parker.

Having the support of loved ones and their medical doctor is very important to older patients.  They need to feel that they can count on their acceptance and assistance during the recovery process.

Dr. Parker has had patients in their 70’s and occasionally into the 80’s who have undergone facelifts, eyelifts, breast lift and tummy tuck surgeries successfully.  Many men also consult with Dr. Parker for eye, face and neck lift surgeries.

“As a yoga instructor, I believe in exercise, but there are some issues that exercise can’t fix.   Even though I was 79, I knew that a breast reduction surgery would help with my shoulder pain, that I would walk taller and it would increase my yoga abilities” – breast reduction New Jersey patient

Dr Paul M. Parker of the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery thoroughly evaluates all patients prior to any surgical procedure.  All patients, regardless of age, need to be physically healthy, properly motivated and have a reasonable expectation for results.

Procedures are performed by Dr. Parker in our on-site, state of the art, fully-accredited ambulatory surgical center, Surgiplex. Patients tell us time and again that they have never received or seen the degree of pre-op education and post-op care that they receive at the Parker Center.  Dr. Parker is a board certified plastic surgeon with over twenty years experience.

To learn more about any cosmetic surgical procedure visit our website www.parkercenter.net or call 201-967-1212 today for a free consultation.

New Jersey plastic surgeon, Dr. Paul M. Parker, explains the various ways in which facelift and neck lift procedures are used alone or together to give patients a slimmer and younger looking face.

Chronological and physiological aging, weight gain, weight loss and genetics are all responsible for issues around the face and neck that are often of concern to patients. These issues can be corrected with a New Jersey facelift, neck lift or both.

“When these patients come to see us in our office, I will ask them to prioritize what it is that bothers them. In some, it’s the aging changes of the face alone, neck alone or both. In examining these patients, I look carefully at their anatomy. Correlating their concerns and their anatomy allows us to discuss treatment options and evolve a treatment plan,” says Dr. Parker. “When addressing these facial and neck issues, there are a variety of approaches that we can take that fall under the category of a facelift or neck lift.”

For patients of The Parker Center in New Jersey, facelift and neck lift procedures are determined based on Dr. Parker’s discussion of options with the patient. “Face and neck lifts are pretty related and are often performed together for optimal results,” says Dr. Parker. “But, they can also be done separately depending on the specific needs and desires of the patient.”

Surgery time varies depending on what procedure is employed. For simple liposuction, it may take only 45 minutes but if a full face and neck lift is needed, the surgery may take up to 4 hours. Recovery for a New Jersey facelift and neck lift takes about 2 weeks when the patient can get back to normal activities and be out in public comfortably.

“While the patient will see a decided difference immediately after the surgery, she will have a very good preview of the final result within approximately three months,” says Dr. Paul Parker. “Final results can take approximately 6 to 12 months, depending on the patient.”

Carefully listening to and examining the patient are essential to Dr. Parker in formulating and discussing treatment options which are customized for each patient. Computer imaging can also be very helpful in giving the patients an idea of what they might look like after surgery.

All of New Jersey plastic surgeon, Dr. Parker’s procedures are performed in our state-of-the-art, fully certified ambulatory surgical facility, Surgiplex. Here, Dr. Parker has worked with the same team of excellent board certified anesthesiologists for over 20 years. They, along with their staff of highly trained registered nurses work hard to provide an exceptional experience for all of their patients.

Lynne, a 50 year old working mom of three, recently started to feel that her face had become very droopy and jowly.  Unhappy when she looked in the mirror, she made the decision to consult with Dr. Parker about a face lift.

“I was very unhappy with the way I looked.  I know I’m very critical of myself but I felt that my face no longer looked like me and I wanted to do something about it,” explained Lynne.

Lynne consulted with Dr. Parker because he had done an eyelift on Lynne a few years ago.  Lynne had lost some weight and developed bags under her eyes.  Lynne was so pleased with the results of that surgery that she knew that Dr. Parker was the only surgeon she would consider.

As Lynne was finding, the soft tissues of her cheeks and neck descend with age and gravity. A facelift counters this by removing excess skin and tightening the remaining tissues in the mid and lower face as well as neck.  Dr. Parker worked on Lynne’s neck in addition to her face.

Lynne had her surgery in September and said that the process was uncomfortable but not painful.  Dr. Parker’s facelift patients stay overnight in the Parker Center’s ambulatory surgical center, Surgiplex, monitored by registered nurses.  Surgiplex is a fully accredited and certified facility, with state-of-the-art equipment. Lynne described the care there as second to none.

“I was treated so well at the Surgiplex.  I cannot imagine how that experience could be better.  Everyone there was so attentive, caring and really professional.  They make you feel so comfortable,” said Lynne.

Patient safety is of the utmost importance to the Parker Center.  Dr. Parker is a board certified plastic surgeon with over twenty year’s experience.  His anesthesiologists are all board certified.  The registered nurses and surgical technicians are all highly skilled and work with Dr. Parker on a daily basis.

“I am so thrilled with the results.  Dr. Parker told me I would look “refreshed” and I do.  Now when I look in the mirror, I see me.  I look like myself again, not tired or angry looking,” said Lynne.

Facelift New Jersey cosmetic surgery patients at The Parker Center get customized care.  The goal of facelift surgery at the Parker Center is to restore your face to a more youthful, rested state with an aesthetically pleasing and natural-looking result.

To learn more about a face lift, New Jersey men and women should visit our website to see before and after photos and learn more about the surgery.  For a free consultation call the Parker Center today at 201-967-1212.

“When I saw Dr Parker online, saw his picture and read about him, I got a good feeling. Then when I met him, I knew right away this was the doctor to do my surgery.  I had seen about five other doctors but Dr. Parker was the only one who made me feel that he could do what I wanted,” she said.

Consuelo was unhappy that every time she looked in the mirror all she saw was the wrinkles in her neck, the bags under her eyes and her “tired” look.  “I’d be at work, feeling good and then someone would ask me if I was sleeping enough, saying that I looked tired,” she noted.  Not wanting to accept this, she started looking into having a facelift.

Dr Parker performed the surgery in July so Consuelo would be completely healed by the time school starts.  Now, just three weeks after surgery, friends, relatives and even her ophthalmologist are asking for Dr. Parker’s name and number.

The Parker Center staff are caring and professional, and they made Consuelo feel very comfortable about having her surgery.  They gave her detailed instructions to help her through her recovery and made her feel good even at her most nervous.

“The best thing is now when I look in the mirror, I see myself looking the way I feel on the inside,” she said.  Also all the compliments she has received have made her feel that choosing Dr. Parker for her New Jersey neck contouring and facelift was the best decision she could have made. “Now, I can’t wait for school to start,” says Consuelo.

All facelift New Jersey cosmetic surgery patients at The Parker Center get customized care.  Natural-looking results are achieved by Dr. Parker in his fully accredited, state of the art ambulatory surgical facility.  The Parker Center staff is fully trained and staffed by experienced registered nurses and board certified anesthesiologists.

No matter what your age, if you’re unhappy with the signs of aging on your face and neck you can benefit from a facial rejuvenation evaluation at The Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

“Frankly, I’m surprised by this conversation,” says Dr. Parker. “I would have thought something like this would have occurred years ago.” It looks like Hollywood is finally catching on to what the Parker Center knew along. For years, the two main goals here have been natural-looking results and a speedy and painless recovery. Dr. Parker calls this “plastic surgery common sense.”

In New Jersey, rhinoplasty, tummy tucks, liposuction, facelifts, and breast augmentations are the most popular
procedures. Dr. Parker uses computer imaging, patient education, an experienced team on registered nurses and board certified anesthesiologists- as well as his Rapid Recovery program- to achieve the above principles.

With procedures like breast augmentation, New Jersey patients are fully educated and sessions are performed preoperatively with the staff to help achieve results and a breast size with which they are comfortable. We often hear from our patients about these sessions and how helpful and comforting they are.

It would be disingenuous to say that Hollywood is completely against plastic surgery. However, as mentioned in the NY Times article, everything in moderation is ok. If casting directors can’t tell if an actor has had plastic surgery then it’s no big deal. It’s only obvious, over-done plastic surgery that catches their negative attention.

Now, Dr. Parker cannot attest to what is popular on the West Coast. We can speak to is that his New Jersey plastic surgery patients want a more natural, subtle appearance. They want to look like a better- not freakish- version of themselves.

Here is a preview:

Whether you’re thinking about boosting your breasts, trimming your belly, reshaping your facial features or full body contouring, plastic surgery has something to offer. A simple surgical procedure can get you the New You that you’ve always dreamed of. The first step is to do your homework and get educated.

Let’s all return the favor and check it out on their site!
The post can be found at http://www.drzwiebel.com/2010/get-the-facts/

The consultation process is integral in determining what the right procedure would be for each individual mom. New Jersey breast enhancement, tummy tuck and liposuction are the three most common options for makeovers.

There are various forms of each of these procedures that one may take. Breast surgeries include augmentation, lifts, and reductions. These procedures are used to reshape the breasts after some of the less flattering effects of pregnancy. Some of the forms tummy tucks take are liposuction, a mini-tuck, or a Lipo abdominoplasty. Liposuction can be used to treat different areas of the body for excess fat that can be retained following pregnancy. Dr. Parker often reshapes the hips, thighs, buttocks, arms, back and/ or neck.

“The combination of procedures that each mom needs depends on their age, genetics and how parts of their body have aged due to pregnancy,” says Dr. Parker. “One mom may need a breast augmentation and a mini-tuck while another mom may need a breast lift with implants, lipo abdominoplasty and liposuction of her hips and thighs. There are quite a number of possible combinations.”

Facial procedures have increasingly become more popular with moms over the years. The effects of weight gain and loss after pregnancy can speed up the facial aging process, prompting these patients to seek face and neck lifts. Many moms requesting these procedures are in their 50s and 60s and want their face to match their younger-looking bodies. New Jersey plastic surgeon , Dr. Parker, performs all of his procedures in his state-of-the-art on site, fully certified ambulatory surgical facility. Here, his experienced team of board certified anesthesiologists and registered nurses have worked tirelessly with him to ensure a safe and comfortable environment.

Many moms are concerned about taking time away from their families to undergo and recover from these surgical procedures. The Parker Center’s Rapid Recovery program allows these patients to recover quickly, minimizing the pain associated with these surgeries.

These patients not only look great after, but they feel better too. Many women who waited years before getting the surgery often regret waiting so long. “If I had known I would look and feel this good, I would have done this sooner”.

“Whatever the age, when a patient comes to me wanting a facelift, I start every consultation by handing her a mirror,” he says. “Then I say ‘Show me what’s bothering you.’” He goes on to say that if the patient points out sagging jowls and lax skin of the face and neck, a facelift will help the situation. If the patient expresses concern about fine wrinkling of the skin, he recommends non-surgical treatments at The Beaura Spa, the onsite medical spa where Dr. Parker serves as Medical Director.

It is important to understand that the purpose of a facelift procedure is to reposition underlying fatty tissue that sags with aging along with sagging skin in the jowls, cheek and neck area. Dr. Parker’s biplaner Paramus facelift procedure ensures natural looking results, as opposed to other techniques that simply pull the skin tight. He uses carefully designed incisions which curve in front and behind the ear. Through these incisions, he lifts up the skin in the face and neck. The  fallen fat is lifted into a more youthful position with sutures. The facial skin is then re-draped over the fat, excess skin removed and incisions closed with sutures, so as to make them inconspicuous.

As women age, their skin loses key biochemical components such as collagen and elastin which allow gravity to cause a sagging of their facial and neck skin. This process is not confined to just the skin, however. The fibers holding the fat beneath the skin in place loosen with aging, causing a descent of facial and neck fat which contributes to this aged appearance. Women of all ages experience these physiologic changes due to genetics, environment and lifestyle. “I have seen an increase in younger patients who are good candidates for a facelift. The youngest patients I have treated have been in their mid-thirties.”

Dr. Parker admits that patients in their 30s and 40s have a bit of advantage over their more senior counterparts when it comes to getting a Paramus facelift. “For one thing, younger patients tend to have better skin tone and elasticity which leads to a faster bounce back of the skin,” he says. “I can also use shorter incisions than say, with a 70 year-old patient with poor skin tone.”

For a facelift or other cosmetic surgery, New Jersey residents can come in to the Parker Center for customized care with natural-looking results. Contained within the Parker Center is a fully accredited, state-of-the-art ambulatory surgical facility with a fully trained and certified staff of nurses and anesthesiologists.

The signs of aging do not discriminate and are not ruled by a number. Women in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond can all benefit from theParamus facelift procedure at the Parker Center.

We felt it was important to share this study with our Bergen County plastic surgery patients, as it shows people must take active and proactive steps to keep their face looking as young as possible.

This study specifically followed groups of twins that happen to share the same DNA, yet were exposed to different stressors such as divorce, antidepressant use and weight fluctuations.

The following is a snippet from the actual study results:

Results showed that twins who had been divorced appeared nearly 2 years older than their siblings who were married, single or even widowed. Antidepressant use was associated with a significantly older appearance and researchers also found that weight played a major factor too. In those sets of twins who were less than 40 years old, the heavier twin was perceived as being older, while in those groups over 40 years old, the heavier twin appeared younger.

According to Dr. Guyuron, “the presence of stress could be one of the common denominators in those twins who appeared older.” Additionally, researchers suspect that continued relaxation of the facial muscles due to antidepressant use, could account for sagging. And though they do not advocate gaining weight to look younger, researchers note that losing abnormal amounts of weight not only have harmful effects on a person’s health, but on their appearance, too.

And while technology now offers us the ability to fight aging through plastic surgery, it’s important to be proactive and keep life stressors to a minimum for those that truly want to look their best.

However, if the presence of stress is something non-negotiable in your life, it’s also important to take a variety of other steps to ensure your skin stays as elastic and young as possible. This would include drinking a full 6-8 ounces of water a day, taking plenty of vitamins and supplements, avoiding excessive sun exposure and stopping unhealthy habits such as smoking.

Alternatively, if you’re reading this article and think “The damage is done-years of stress and weight problems have aged met dramatically,” realize it’s never too late to get started with Dr. Parker, a Bergen County Plastic Surgeon and member of the ASPS.

There are a variety of techniques, ranging from full-face lifts to Botox treatments that can instantly turn back the hands of time.

So to get started with a free consultation with our Bergen County plastic surgeon Dr. Parker, or to find out further information on cosmetic anti-aging procedures, please call (201) 967-1212.

I was actually chatting with Liz about how nerve wracking it must be for patients at other cosmetic surgery practices that have to cut out pictures, bring them in and hope that the doctor’s plan for their face or body matched the post-op image they had in their head.

To me—that is a terrifying thought.  Especially when it comes to my face!

Then Liz made the following statement which really solidified my belief as to why choosing a practice that uses digital imaging is so important in this day and age.  Liz said,

“Bringing in pictures of a celebrity nose, chin, body, etc., is like brining in pictures of a certain hairstyle to a salon.  Unfortunately, if the client doesn’t have that kind of hair, no matter how bad they want the cut, it’s never going to look right against their face.

The same is true with plastic surgery.  If a patient brings in a nose they like and we create that image on the screen, sometimes they realize that their nose wasn’t the problem in the first place–it was their chin or other features that just made the nose stand out more.   Or maybe a woman thinks she only wants a full B cup breast augmentation, but when she sees that size on her own body and not a 95 pound model, it’s immediately clear that a C cup is the best way to go.

These are all problems that we can address and fix before surgery—which is important to ensure there are no surprises or disappointments in the recovery room!”

And really, in contemplating what Liz said, I think our use of digital technology is what makes  patients so comfortable with Dr. Parker and the practice.  They realize that we’ve invested in this equipment because we take their procedure very seriously.  We aren’t here just to take their money- we are here to make sure that they look the best they possibly can be.

That’s also why we allow patients to partake in a digital imaging session during their free consultation.  It’s important to us that our clients feel confident and secure before signing up for elective surgery.  We want them to make a truly informed decision, and viewing digitally altered pictures of themselves is one way to achieve that goal (in addition to the many other steps we take to ensure our patients are informed and educated prior to surgery).

So if you’re a potential New Jersey cosmetic surgery patient that’s still clipping pictures and struggling to explain how you want to look following the procedure, let us make the process easier for you through a digital imaging session.  We’re confident that one consultation with our practice will leave you feeling educated, empowered and secure about your new look and future results.

Pat:
Supportive? My opinion is that men view cosmetic surgery the same way they view marriage. Left to their own devices, nothing would ever happen. They don’t decide until someone straight up tells them what they need to do. I knew Gary would look much better with some facial rejuvenation.

Gary:
I thought about it for about 4 months. We have relatives in the medical business and asked them to give us some recommendations. New Jersey cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Parker was one of the doctors they suggested. We were immediately impressed with the staff and the professional atmosphere. Dr. Parker’s manner, explanation and presentation was more thorough and complete than the others. After evaluating my face and neck, he did a computer image showing me a mock up of the potential results. They looked good. I was never anxious about being over corrected or pulled too tight.

Pat:
We noticed lots of things with Dr. Parker that were missing in other practices. For instance, you can take the measure of a practice by who is at the front desk. Even some surgeons who charge much higher prices didn’t offer half the professional atmosphere Dr. Parker has created. Other practices can scare you off by their attitude alone.

Gary:
We scheduled surgery and Dr. Parker lifted my upper eyelids, mid face and neck. My incisions are in front and behind my ears and on my lids. It’s been almost 6 weeks post op and I am healing really well. There was more bruising than I anticipated, but very little discomfort overall. I would say I took it easy for about a week. I’m a pretty good Marine.

Pat:
Gary is an amazing patient. No complaints. Our biggest surprise was the incredible follow up from The Parker Center in New Jersey. Cosmetic surgery was something I experienced several years ago and although I am happy with the results I never knew what a poor experience I had until I saw how Gary was treated. The phone calls and appointments and massages—all designed to speed up recovery and check in with you. It’s still going on. It’s remarkable.

Gary:
I’m really pleased I did this. I would encourage any man who is interested to go ahead and give yourself a gift that lasts. With the economy the way it is, some guys won’t spend the money, but when you get such value and a great result it’s money well spent. I’m glad I went ahead and did it before the aging got too pronounced.

Pat:
Honestly, I was looking at some photos the other day and I swear Gary looks a minimum of 15 to 20 years younger. It took so much aging off his face. And yet he looks so natural. Not like someone who goes in Irish and comes out looking Chinese—pulled as tight as you can go. I can hardly see the scars even after only 6 weeks. No one would ever know he had something “done.”

Gary:
I’m happy I’m not going to look like my father…or my aunt! It’s satisfying when you get exactly what you wanted. People still recognize me.

Pat:
The whole experience…not just the outcome…it’s exactly what we were looking for and thought we would never find. It lifted our spirits.

Though combining procedures does cut down on some expenses, such as anesthesia fees, Anne still needed some financing help to pay for the entire surgery. After consulting with Angela at the Parker Center, Anne decided on a fixed rate payment plan through CapitalOne plastic surgery financing. New Jersey’s Parker Center offers clear, up front pricing to their clients with no surprise fees. This helped Anne choose a financing option she could afford, and felt great about scheduling her surgery.

Anne is now seeing the results of her face and necklift. She is very happy with the outcome and is glad she was able to have her procedures together. She is grateful to Dr. Parker and the Parker Center staff for their patient consultation on both her medical and financial issues. She admits she loves seeing herself in the mirror now and couldn’t be happier with her surgical results.

The field of cosmetic plastic surgery has evolved significantly in recent years. Patients presenting for procedures have an increasingly wide array of options available to them. New Jersey plastic surgeon, Dr. Paul M. Parker believes Computer Imaging is an important visual tool which allows each of his patients to gain a realistic understanding of these possibilities.

Each patient presenting to the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery first undergoes a thorough consultation with Dr. Parker. He will initiate each consultation by carefully listening to the patient’s concerns about the area or areas they wish to improve. Next, Dr. Parker will perform a physical examination in order to determine what options for treatment are possible. Both non-surgical and surgical options will then be discussed with the patient by Dr. Parker.

Following the consultation with Dr. Parker, the patient will be brought into an adjacent photo room. Liz, Dr. Parker’s very experienced professional photographer, will obtain a series of digital images, or photographs of all facial or body areas which the patient is seeking to improve. These images are obtained from multiple camera angles to ensure optimal accuracy. Based on the discussion Dr. Parker had with the patient, he will direct Liz to make certain changes to the pictures. Liz will “morph” or “image” the patient’s pictures to resemble Dr. Parker’s anticipated post-procedure appearance. These images will then be carefully reviewed by Liz with the patient.

Because Dr. Parker is making visual changes to the patient, Computer Imaging allows the patient to preview these proposed changes before they are actually made on the patient. For example, the appearance following non-surgical treatment with “fillers” versus the patient’s appearance after a surgical facelift can be understood and treatment choices made in an educated way. Further, how a patient would look following liposuction to different body areas can help them decide whether to have those areas treated.

Dr. Parker will review the patient’s pictures and computer images the night before surgery. He will have them hanging next to him in the operating room during the procedure and refer to them as a sculptor does his sketches. Following surgery, postoperative pictures are taken at intervals of patients during the first year of their recovery. Once the patient has healed, pre-operative “imaged” pictures are compared with the actual results. Patients all heal somewhat differently, making a guarantee of results impossible. However Liz and Dr. Parker have been impressed with the high correlation between imaged and actual surgical results. This is a tribute to their individual skills and their working closely together for several years. Even more importantly, patient satisfaction has been high with the use of Computer Imaging.