One look at a magazine shelf and you’re bound to see the latest fad diet being touted by a svelte celebrity figure. Ketogenic, Paleo, South Beach, Whole30, Anti-Inflammatory Diet…the list goes on. It’s no wonder so many of us feel overwhelmed by diet tips.

You’ve also likely experienced that what works for one body doesn’t work for you. Doctors and scientists are discovering reasons why that is the case—and in the process, have come across an approach to diet that might actually be useful for everyone.

Curious? MindBodyGreen recently talked with an Integrative Gastroenterologist about our personal microbiomes and how ideas about healthy eating might be shifting toward individualized recommendations.

The common denominator that makes each of us special

While it’s generally agreed that avoiding stuff like excessive sugar, overly processed foods, and unnatural preservatives supports good health, there is one big reason a given diet won’t provide consistent results across the population: each person’s unique microbiome.

Your gut’s microbiome consists of trillions of bacteria that help us digest foods and absorb vitamins and nutrients to help keep our bodies healthy and energized. We also have microbiomes in most other areas of our bodies, including our skin, mouths, and reproductive systems. And, according to the article, only about 10% of your microbiome is similar to others.

The uniqueness of the good bacteria in your system could be the key reason why a diet that works beautifully for some of your friends does nothing for you.

Microbiome tests—and diet recommendations based on them—might be the future of healthy eating

Given the importance of your body’s unique colonies of good bacteria, gastroenterologists are starting to recommend adjusting eating habits to support a healthy microbiome. If you’re curious to see if this newer approach might work for you, consider getting a microbiome test. You can talk to your doctor or look into independent microbiome testing services.

Gastroenterologists working in this area believe having this information could help you better understand what foods work best for you and make maintaining overall good health easier.

Individualized patient care may be the future, but it’s also time-honored

Here at the Parker Center, we’re big believers in the benefits of individualized patient care—so we won’t be at all surprised if fad diets become a thing of the past, having been replaced by recommendations that suit each person’s needs.

In the meantime, we’ll continue our 30+ year tradition of helping our patients look and feel their best by listening carefully to their needs and offering individualized care plans. If you are looking to improve your shape or optimize your appearance, we invite you to contact us for a .

Read the full article to get more details on the microbiome and healthy eating.

The post Should You Be Eating a Microbiome Diet? appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

For the vast majority of patients who want to improve their appearance, plastic surgery can be a great option to help them make desired changes and feel more confident in their own skin.

However, plastic surgery isn’t right for everyone, and on occasion, we have to tell a patient “no.” If you’ve been turned down for plastic surgery, you may wonder why. Alternatively, if you are in the early stages of research, you may wonder if you are a good candidate for cosmetic surgery.

In either case, understanding how a plastic surgeon evaluates potential patients—and what options you have if you’re told a procedure isn’t right for you—can help you move forward in a healthy way.

Reputable plastic surgeons aim to deliver on a patient’s goals while ensuring your safety and that results look natural. If we cannot achieve what you want safely or effectively, we won’t operate.

Why you may be turned down for plastic surgery:

Plastic surgeons determine a patient’s suitability for cosmetic surgery on a case-by-case basis. Below are some common reasons we may decide a procedure is not in your best interest.

You have unrealistic expectations

Reputable plastic surgeons want to deliver on a patient’s goals while ensuring your safety and that results look natural. If we cannot achieve what you want safely or effectively, we won’t operate.

Examples of unrealistic expectations may be a 60-year old hoping that a facelift will help her look 30 again, a patient with the figure of Kate Moss wishing for a derriere like Kim Kardashian, or a prospective body lift patient who can only take 1 week off of work. An experienced plastic surgeon will explain what a procedure can and cannot achieve and help you understand what results may look like on your body.

Underlying health issues could compromise your safety

A reputable plastic surgeon will carefully consider a patient’s medical history before agreeing to operate. Conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity, as well as lifestyle habits such as smoking or recreational drug use, increase risk of complications from surgery and anesthesia. If you exhibit these or certain other conditions, elective surgery is probably not worth the risk.

The good news is that many contraindicative issues can be improved through lifestyle changes or with a doctor’s care, allowing you to have your desired procedure in due time. In fact, improving your overall health can be a confidence boost on its own, helping you enjoy your results even more once your plastic surgeon agrees that surgery is safe for you.

Someone else is pushing you toward cosmetic surgery

Your motivation for pursuing plastic surgery is as important as your expectations. You should only have a cosmetic procedure for yourself, not to please anyone else. If we suspect that a patient’s significant other is pressuring her into breast augmentation, or if a patient thinks that getting a nose job will help them get a promotion at work, our answer will—and should be—no.

Your plastic surgeon suspects Body Dysmorphic Disorder

While the majority of patients turned down for cosmetic surgery are declined for one of the above reasons, a small percentage of men and women present with a condition called Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), which is characterized by an extreme preoccupation with a perceived physical flaw, often to the point where it interferes with their ability to lead a normal life.

Patients with BDD may seek cosmetic surgery, even multiple times, to perfect or “correct” their appearance, but the root of BDD is psychological and cosmetic surgery cannot address the issue. An experienced, reputable plastic surgeon will recognize signs of BDD and may suggest or refer a patient for psychological counseling.

If you suspect that you or a loved one might have BDD, seek the help of a qualified mental health professional, not a plastic surgeon. There are also good resources online for better understanding body dysmorphic disorder from the International OCD Foundation and the Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation.

I’ve been turned down by a plastic surgeon, now what?

It’s important to remember that there is a good reason the plastic surgeon told you no. If you truly disagree with a particular surgeon, it is reasonable to get a second opinion. However, while you may be able to find a different surgeon who is willing to perform the procedure, we highly discourage you from “doctor shopping” in attempt to find someone who will tell you what you want to hear.

Instead, take time to reevaluate your motivations and expectations and consider other ways to improve your look—perhaps taking up a new type of exercise to tone your abs, recommitting to a  healthy skin care routine to achieve a more youthful face, or consulting with a stylist to find clothing and hairstyles that better flatter your natural beauty.

Also, remember that “no” doesn’t necessarily mean “never.” If you’ve been turned down for medical reasons, ask your doctor what you can do to improve your health and eventually get the green light to have cosmetic surgery. You might also look into non-surgical cosmetic treatments, which may provide less dramatic results but also avoid anesthesia risks and usually require less recovery time—just be sure to choose a qualified medical provider for your treatment.

Learn more at a with Dr. Parker

The best way to find out whether you are a good candidate for plastic surgery is to meet with a trusted plastic surgeon. Here at The Parker Center in New Jersey, board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Paul M. Parker has more than 30 years of experience in plastic surgery for men and women and offers consultations for cosmetic procedures. Click here to learn more about our informative consultation process, or contact us now to schedule an appointment.

The post What to Do When a Plastic Surgeon Tells You “No” appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

Why Do Certain Skin Types Have More Scars?

In general, the darker the skin type, the more likely the body is to form a thicker scar. This is believed to be caused by genetics, skin coloring, and the area of the body in which the incision is made. (Earlobes, arms, the pelvic region, face, and collar bone are common areas for scarring.) Scientists are still researching the causes of scarring differences in ethnic patients, but in the mean time, patients can try the following methods for reducing the appearance of scars.

Are There Different Kinds of Scars?

Yes. Keloid scars are the most common form of scarring in African American skin. Keloids are overgrown scars that are hairless, somewhat shiny, and can feel rubbery or hard underneath the skin. Keloid scarring often expand beyond the confines of the original scar.

Hypertrophic scars, also known as thickened scars, are also common in patients with Asian, Hispanic, or African ancestry. These red, raised, and firm scars should become less visible within six months of surgery, but when this doesn’t happen, it is often due to immature collagen in pigmented skin. These scars are usually confined to the original incision point.

How Ethnic Patients Can Avoid Scars After Plastic Surgery

Dr. Parker has many techniques for reducing scarring in all skin types. First, he carefully prepares the skin so that it can glide more easily into position after surgery. He makes sure that stitches are placed in both the subcutaneous tissue and deep dermis for effective healing. He also uses dissolvable stitches to create tension-free closures that stay in place for several weeks or months.

About three weeks after surgery, Dr. Parker recommends that patients use specialized scar cream and/or silicon adhesives which are proven to improve the quality of the scar. He engages with the patient to make sure he or she is putting the scar cream on properly without pulling at the scar.

If the scar starts to thicken, he will inject the area with a steroid to break down the scar tissue. Micro-needling is also an option. This collagen induction therapy punctures the skin with very fine needles to create a controlled skin injury and improve collagen production.

Learn More About How to Reduce Scars

Dr. Parker can explain several ways to avoid unnecessary scars and improve scar tissue during a personalized consultation. He will discuss ways that patients can improve recovery and reduce scars in every skin type. Scarring is an especially big consideration for breast enhancement surgery; you can see before and after photos of African-American breast augmentation in our gallery.

The post How to Avoid Scarring in Ethnic Patients appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

If your teenager has expressed interest in having cosmetic surgery, how do you know if he or she is ready to talk to a plastic surgeon? While the answer is unique for every parent and child, the following are signs that cosmetic surgery may be worth considering:

Your teen—not you or anyone else—is the one who wants plastic surgery. It’s important that your teen has your support if plastic surgery is what she wants, but you should not get the feeling she’s being talked into the idea by anyone else—her friends, a boyfriend or even a physician.

She wants to have plastic surgery for the right reasons. Teens often want to fit in; this includes having a body that is well-proportioned. They may feel self-conscious about having protruding ears, overly large breasts, or an unusually shaped nose. Plastic surgery can help correct these issues and restore more natural proportions, which in turn brings about positive changes in self-image.

However, be wary if your teen’s desire for plastic surgery seems to have come on suddenly. Make sure that this isn’t a reaction to a current beauty trend or because someone else she knows had surgery and seems happier now. In our experience, the best teen candidates are those who have had consistent, lasting desire to change a particular aspect of their appearance, regardless of outside influences.

He understands what is and isn’t possible with plastic surgery. Make sure your teen has realistic expectations about what cosmetic surgery can achieve, which is improvement, not perfection. The goal of surgery is not to help him look like someone else, but to make changes that enhance his own natural appearance. If your teen is under the impression that having plastic surgery will make him instantly popular or solve all of his problems, this is a sign that he isn’t emotionally ready for surgery.

She has matured enough physically to have the procedure. For a safe surgery and successful outcome, patients must have finished developing in the area they want to change. For ear pinning surgery, this can be as young as age 5 or 6. For most other procedures common with teens, such as rhinoplasty or breast reduction, patients usually need to wait until they’ve reached the end of puberty. Your pediatrician can help determine if your child is ready to undergo a plastic surgery procedure from a physiological standpoint.

Your teen is willing to take time out of life for recovery. Any surgery will require some recovery time, which for teens often means missing out on school, sports or other social events. Many teen patients choose to have surgery during their summer vacation, when they can recover while school is out and return in the fall for the new school year, a natural time for teens to make a fresh start.

Once you and your teen have decided to look into plastic surgery, the next step is to consult with a plastic surgeon. Look for a board certified plastic surgeon who is experienced in the procedure your teen is considering and familiar with the special needs of teen patients.

Plastic surgery can have tremendous benefits for the right teenage patient, helping to improve one’s appearance and self-confidence. If you have any questions about plastic surgery for teens, contact us. We’d be happy to help.

The post 5 Signs Your Teen May Be Ready for Plastic Surgery appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

At the Parker Center, we’re all about making our patients feel special, giving you the individualized attention you deserve at every visit. So we decided to redesign our website to make your experience here feel just as personal.

To help you get started, we’ve put together a short video showing how our before & after gallery and Wishlist features work together to let you build your own personalized portfolio.

We wanted to make it easy for you to get all the information you want about the procedures you’re most interested in and find out about other patients who are just like you. And we can’t wait for you to check out our fabulous new features!

• A before & after gallery that’s better than ever. Search for patients who look the most like you before surgery, so you can get an idea about what a procedure might do for you

• A build-your-own wishlist, complete with pricing & monthly payment info that automatically recalculates as you add procedure options

• A patient experience library with hundreds of videos, stories & reviews, so you can learn from real patients what it’s like to have cosmetic surgery.

Have fun exploring our new site! When you’re ready to discuss your wishlist with Dr. Parker, contact us for your consultation.

The post Plan Your New Look on Our New Site appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

“I’d been so lucky so far—I didn’t want to wake up one morning to find something had deflated!” Jill said.

With some money saved up and in great physical shape, Jill decided to undergo her second breast augmentation. She knew just who to call. Dr. Parker had done her first surgery, and she knew she’d picked the right surgeon from the get-go. For years she’d received compliment after compliment on the natural appearance of her breasts and attributed that to Dr. Parker’s expertise.

“When I would go in for a physical or a mammogram, doctors always said to me, ‘Oh my God, your breasts look so natural,’” Jill said. “My own primary care physician told me he wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t told him, and you know when it’s coming from a doctor that that’s a real compliment. So of course I went back to Dr. Parker.”

When Jill underwent her first breast augmentation, saline was her only option. This time she had choices and knew she wanted to switch to silicone. Now that she did, she can’t imagine ever going back. The even more realistic feel of her breast implants blows her mind.

“There’s a huge difference between saline and silicone. Huge,” Jill explained. “When I first met with Dr. Parker to talk about it, he said that if I was happy with the saline—which I was—I was going to love the silicone. He was 1,000% right. There’s no comparison. The way they move, the way it feels, it’s so natural. They feel like real breast tissue, like a part of me.”

And it’s not just the new material she’s thrilled with. Jill decided to go a little bigger, thanks to a special fitting session at the Parker Center. The day before the surgery, Dr. Parker deflated one of her implants so she could try on different sizes with the gel bra. This allowed Jill to pick out just the right size for her new implants. With an added boost, she now has her desired look as well as the natural feel she always wanted!

Interested in learning more about breast augmentation and implant options? Visit the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery for before and after galleries, more patient stories, and greater details about the procedure.

The post Making the Switch to Silicone appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

The word “together” is especially important for our patients. Outlining a plastic surgery and beauty plan is a collaborative process that we’re happy to take on with our patients. We go through a comprehensive review of each patient’s case to help determine the right path for his or her personal situation. This means that patients don’t have to have all the answers when they come to our office for a consultation. They may be considering one or two procedures, but unsure of the details or what would give them the results they’re looking for.

Plastic surgery is a big decision, and we work with you through any questions or concerns you have. View our video for more details about Dr. Parker and the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Paul Parker patient reviews

The post New Video Highlights Our Commitment to Individualized Care and Attention appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

Legs just don’t seem to get enough attention in the cooler winter months. It might have something to do with the fact that they’re so frequently covered up with pants or thick stockings. Whatever the reason, why not make a promise to spend a little “me time” on your legs this winter? Here are some tips to help you kick things off and get your legs in beautiful condition.

Do: Exercise

Just like most other parts of the body, your legs depend on getting regular exercise in order to look their best. The good news is that even simple exercises, such as daily walking, can help keep legs slim and sleek. If you’re looking for more dramatic results, try leg focused exercises such as squats, lunges and calf raises.

Don’t: Shave On Cold Skin

The steam from the shower will help make shaving easier, so hold off until the end before grabbing your razor.

Don’t: Trust Cheap Razors

Four-blade razors work the best. When combined with a quality shaving gel or cream, they’re the least likely to cause razor burn or other bumps keeping your legs’ appearance in top shape. do

Do: Exfoliate and Moisturize

A natural exfoliant, such as a sugar-based scrub, is a great way to get rid of dead skin cells and reveal a glowing, fresh layer of skin. Use a generous amount of the exfoliant and apply it in a small circular motion. You should rub firmly to make sure you get the best results. Be sure to follow up with a moisturizer, such as one that has Shea butter. You can also get a firming lotion to use on those special occasions when you want to put a temporary stop to loose skin.

These tips are easy things that can be worked into your daily routine seamlessly. By the time spring rolls around, you’ll be ready to show off your beautiful legs!

The post Do’s and Don’ts for Beautiful Legs appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

By choosing a board certified plastic surgeon, patients can be assured that the doctor has graduated from an accredited medical school and has completed at least three years of training as a surgical resident. A plastic surgery residency follows this, usually two to three years in duration. An additional year of fellowship in microsurgery, craniofacial surgery, or aesthetic surgery is obtained by some.  A plastic surgeon’s residency is devoted entirely to learning the craft of plastic surgery.  These sub specialized surgeons must then pass written and oral exams to become board certified. Board certification is important because it holds doctors to a higher standard of skill, judgment, knowledge, ethics and safety.

In comparison, cosmetic surgeons are typically doctors who hold a specialization in another area of medicine like gynecology, dermatology, ear nose and throat, ophthalmology, internal medicine, emergency room medicine or even family practitioners that have branched into cosmetic surgery.

“While I’m sure many of these surgeons can and do an okay job with plastic surgery, it isn’t their specialty, and they don’t have the background and training of a plastic surgeon.  If you take 10 plastic surgeons and 10 cosmetic surgeons and compare results, I’m sure the plastic surgeons will win every time.  Plastic surgery is what we were trained to do and what we do every day,” said Dr. Paul M. Parker.

Patients are told to ask questions before agreeing to surgery, but what exactly should they ask? Dr. Parker has developed a convenient checklist for patients to use when they have their consultations.  The checklist outlines the key areas that can help patients evaluate a surgeon and the practice.  The checklist includes questions about the surgeon, their credentials, their office, the staff, and specific procedures and how surgery is handled.

Patients at the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery are offered consultations that take 45 minutes to an hour.  Potential patients meet with Dr. Parker and his nurse coordinator, visit the imaging center to see computer generated before and after photos, and meet with the patient coordinator.

The Parker Center for Plastic Surgery and its staff members pride themselves on providing high-quality care, in a warm, professional atmosphere.  For over 20 years Dr. Parker has worked hard to give his patients beautiful, natural looking results with minimal downtime.

The post Why a Cosmetic Surgeon is NOT a Plastic Surgeon appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

“While I’ve always hated my nose, I didn’t seriously start thinking about fixing it until I was in college. I knew that as soon as I had a full-time job I was going to undergo a rhinoplasty procedure,” said Megan.

Megan babysat a lot in college, and two of the women she sat for had surgery with Dr. Parker. Knowing that Megan was interested in a nose job, one of the women brought Megan to her appointment to meet Dr. Parker. As a medical professional, Megan really liked what she saw and how Dr. Parker’s patients were treated. Besides her in-person meeting with Dr. Parker, Megan also conducted a little research online. Megan believes that before and after photos are very telling of the type of work a plastic surgeon does. Megan was impressed by the natural looking results Dr. Parker was able to achieve with his patients.

“With all the women I knew personally who had very good results and the photos and information available on the website, I was confident that Dr. Parker was the surgeon for me,” explained Megan.

While Megan didn’t hide the fact that she was having plastic surgery, she didn’t really advertise it either. She was hesitant about telling her family, fearing that they wouldn’t support her decision, but they proved her wrong. Family, friends and co-workers were very supportive and made her feel even more confident about her decision.

Megan is absolutely thrilled with her new nose. She believes that it’s the nose she should’ve been born with originally. She loves that when she looks in the mirror she doesn’t see her flawed nose; she sees her whole face.

“The best part is the people who I didn’t tell I was having surgery. They look at me like something’s different, but they really can’t tell what it is. I love that! I think that it shows what a great job Dr. Parker did. I still look like me, just better. That’s exactly what I wanted,” Megan said.

As a registered nurse, Megan especially appreciated the Rapid Recovery Program that Dr. Parker has developed for his patients. A unique set of protocols, the program is designed to allow patients to return to their normal activities as soon as possible.

The Rapid Recovery Program includes a combination of treatments:

• Oral medications given pre- and post-operation to reduce swelling and bruising

• Short acting anesthetics to improve recovery time

• Topical skin creams and manual lymphatic massage to decrease recovery time.

“My recovery was amazing. I was so fearful that it would be painful. I’ve told people that getting my ears pierced hurt more than this. I had very little bruising, and I really felt okay. I went home the first day and slept. Day two I hung around the house, but on day three I was out at the mall, shopping and lunching with friends,“ said Megan.

Megan was unbothered by her splint and had it removed one week post-operatively. She returned to work the following day. She believes that the Rapid Recovery Program really helped with speeding her healing and getting her back to normal quickly with almost no bruising and just minor swelling. Dr. Paul M. Parker and the staff at the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery have developed the Rapid Recovery Program with their patient’s busy lifestyles in mind. Their primary goal is to get you back to your demanding life with a minimum amount of downtime, little to no pain, and beautiful results.

To learn more about rhinoplasty or any other cosmetic procedure visit our website at dev.parkercenter.net. To schedule a consultation, please call our office at 201-967-1212.

The post Nurse Megan Has Perfect Rhinoplasty Results appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.