Before & After: Tummy Tuck*

before                                                  after

Great tummy tuck results begin with a personalized treatment plan that aligns with your goals.

In the first part of our tummy tuck talk with Dr. Parker, we learned what special steps he takes during an abdominoplasty procedure to ensure the most beautiful results possible for his New Jersey tummy tuck patients. But how does he determine whether a tummy tuck—or another body procedure—is what a patient needs to get the results they want?

Today, we talk to Dr. Parker about what he looks for during a patient consultation to help him design the appropriate treatment plan and learn more about his unique and popular Parker Tummy Tuck procedure.

What are some of the main concerns your tummy tuck patients have when they first come in to see you?

These patients simply don’t like the appearance of their tummy. Typically, they feel it is either too full or, if they’ve had children or gained and lost a significant amount of weight, they’ve got loose skin. The first step in the process for me, as the plastic surgeon, is to examine the patient and determine where the problem or problems lie—in the skin, the fat, or the muscles?

What do you look for in each of these areas?

First, I will look at a patient’s skin. I want to see whether the skin is smooth and contracts well, or if they have stretched-out skin, stretch marks, or loose skin folds. I’ll also assess the underlying fatty tissue, which sits beneath the skin and above the abdominal muscles, to determine whether they’ve got too little fat, just the right amount of fat, or as is often the case, more fat than what is desirable.

The next thing I’ll do is evaluate the underlying muscles, or what are anatomically called the rectus abdominus—a pair of muscles that have their beginning up on the rib cage and run vertically from the rib cage down to the pubic bone. These are commonly referred as our “abs,” as in, “I’m going to go do crunches and work out my abs.” When you’re young, these muscles are held tightly together in the middle by a ligament. After pregnancy or significant weight gain, that ligament can weaken, causing those muscles to drift outward to either side.

So that’s the next thing that we’ll look at—do they have any separation of those rectus abdominus muscles? Medically, that separation is called diastasis recti. Sometimes, a significant muscle separation can cause a weakness right in the area around the belly button, called an umbilical hernia. We want to know about that beforehand as well.

Possible treatment plans vary from doing nothing to choosing something non-surgical like CoolSculpting or surgery including liposuction or tummy tuck.

After evaluating these factors and also hearing what concerns the patient has, we will sit and talk about possible treatment plans. These vary from doing nothing, to losing weight first if a patient is above his or her goal weight, to choosing something non-surgical like CoolSculpting®, or of course surgery such as liposuction or a tummy tuck.

Can you give some examples of situations where you might recommend a certain treatment?

Sure. Let’s say a patient has just a little localized fullness in the lower abdomen. We can usually deal with this non-surgically using CoolSculpting. Liposuction alone can also be a good option if the patient has good skin tone and if those rectus muscles aren’t too separated.

But, if somebody has significantly stretched-out skin, then liposuction is not going to work. If somebody’s got significantly stretched-out muscles, again, neither liposuction nor CoolSculpting is going to work. If we need to address either or both of these issues—loose skin or loose muscle—then we’ll do a tummy tuck. Typically, at the same time we do the tummy tuck, we’ll address some of the extra fat with concomitant liposuction.

This led us to ask Dr. Parker about the Parker Tummy Tuck, which combines targeted liposuction and abdominoplasty for enhanced results…

How do your specific tummy tuck techniques help patients get better results?

I think our results are enhanced by performing liposuction at the time of the tummy tuck when it’s appropriate. Because the hips live right next door, if we can rejuvenate them at the same time, we can improve the whole circumference of the torso, not just the tummy.

Patients who opt for both hip liposuction and a tummy tuck say they fit into swimwear and tight-fitting clothing so much better.

I probably do liposuction to a patient’s hips, thighs or lower back over 90% of the time with tummy tucks. This helps to create some nice sculpting, sort of an hourglass figure to the waist area. So we remove fat in the hips—the so called “muffin top” area—and then we tighten the skin in the hips as well as the tummy.

Patients who opt for both say they fit into swimwear, workout clothing, and tight-fitting clothing so much better. Because it’s not just about the tummy; it’s really about the whole torso. Obviously if a woman comes in and she doesn’t have fat to be removed, well, of course we don’t do that. But appropriate liposuction is I think very helpful in improving our results.

What if a patient has already had a tummy tuck without additional hip contouring?

Well, I just saw a lady this morning that I did a tummy tuck on about a year ago and she opted, at that time, not to have liposuction of her hips. She came back and said, “Okay, I know you told me this. You said there’s a good chance that I’d come back to have liposuction. Well, now I’m ready.” I told her, great! It’s fine, no big deal. Like we talked about, liposuction can be done at the time or it can be done after the fact. It’s not like you burned a bridge.

As you can see, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all treatment plan when it comes to tummy tucks or any other body procedure. Getting top-notch results takes an individualized approach and skilled plastic surgeon. If you are curious to learn more about ways you can improve the shape of your torso, please contact us at the Parker Center in New Jersey. Dr. Parker offers consultations for cosmetic procedures, and will be happy to discuss your goals and help you figure out the best way to achieve the look you want.

The post Dr. Parker Talks Tummy Tucks: Figuring Out a Treatment Plan for Top-Notch Results appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

We recently interviewed Dr. Parker, whom we consider an authority on tummy tuck surgery—he’s performed thousands of procedures with beautiful results. He shared with us fascinating details about techniques he uses to help reduce post-op discomfort, lower risk for unpleasant side effects, and best of all, produce beautiful, natural-looking results.

During a patient consultation, what are some concerns that you hear about tummy tuck surgery or recovery?

We’re very comprehensive in our consultations, so after we talk about tummy tuck goals and explain the procedure to the patient, I’ll talk to them about the recovery process.

Many patients are nervous about what they will feel like in the days after surgery. We’ll talk about the fact that the tightening of those abs or rectus muscles can be the most uncomfortable thing. Fortunately, we have ways of dealing with discomfort that weren’t available in the past.

There’s a medication called Exparel that has come out in the past couple years. We started using it a few months ago for tummy tucks, and it seems to really make a significant difference in terms of postoperative pain.

Can you tell us how Exparel enhances patient comfort after a tummy tuck?

Exparel is a local anesthetic that I inject into the incisions as well as into the fascia (connective tissue) that sits on top of those muscles that we repair during a tummy tuck. It lasts for three days, so by the time the Exparel wears off, the patient has kind of gotten “over the hump” during what is normally the period when we expect the most intense discomfort.

It’s been significant because it allows patients to really get up and moving in the first few days after surgery. So while pain is a variable thing, it seems to me that our present-day patients, who have tummy tucks that include Exparel, experience a quicker and less painful recovery than patients who had tummy tucks in years past.

Dr. Parker next told us how he ensures nice, thin scars after a tummy tuck…

What do you tell patients who are worried about tummy tuck scars? What steps do you take to make sure the scar heals nicely?

As far as scarring goes, we carefully close the incision with multiple layers of dissolvable stitches. We try to take the tension off the scar, which helps make it as thin as possible. This is part of the reason the operation takes the time it does, which is anywhere from 21/2 to 4 hours, depending on the patient.

“I never want to rush when closing incisions. Taking the time to close them with multiple layers of stitches really sets us up to get good scars.”

One thing I tell every single patient: I never want to rush an operation, and I particularly never want to rush when closing incisions. Taking the time to close them with multiple layers of dissolvable stitches really sets us up to get good scars. Explaining this usually eases a patient’s concerns over scarring.

What do you do to make sure tummy tuck scars are easy to hide?

When we do the operation, we have the patient bring in some more revealing clothing they want to be able to wear after having a tummy tuck. I draw on their body with a marking pen where that revealing clothing sits on their body. I make it a point to make a very low incision and try to keep the scar as short as I can, so we can hide it beneath the revealing clothing. By closing the scar the way I do, typically we get a very well placed, well concealed tummy tuck scar.

One other thing that we do as part of the scar resolution process is to have the patient start using some scar cream starting about 3 weeks post-op, once their incisions have healed somewhat. That in conjunction with the incision closure that we’ve done really tends to give us very good scarring in I’d say, probably 90% plus of our patients.

Is there anything else about your tummy tuck technique that you wanted to talk about in terms of improving recovery or results?

When I learned the technique for lipo-abdominoplasty a number of years ago, I learned closure techniques that are not directly related to the incision itself but are helpful in terms of scarring. For example, I will put some internal stitches in above where the scar is, closer to the upper abdomen. This helps close off space up there that is created when we lift the abdominal skin and fat, get rid of the extra skin and fat, and pull that remaining skin and fat downward.

A careful, strategic approach to incision placement and internal suturing helps Dr. Parker create a natural, smooth appearance with minimal scarring.[/caption]

How do you make sure the belly button looks natural after tummy tuck surgery?

There are a number of steps that we take at the time we do the belly button closure to try to make the belly button look pretty and natural. You want to shape the belly button so it’s small, vertical, and has a little bit of hooding at the upper end of it. You also want to sculpt the fat in that area to try to give a nice, natural look to the belly button. You also want to minimize spreading.

I’ll put some of the same type of dissolvable stitches around the belly button, which not only helps the belly button heal well and look pretty, but also takes tension off the skin. By doing this, it’s very unlikely that our patients are going to have wound healing problems lower down in the abdomen. By putting dissolvable stitches in layers the way I do, it’s very helpful to us in terms of controlling all these things; I think we’re pretty successful at creating a nice belly button shape.

Next, we asked Dr. Parker to explain why drains are used after tummy tuck surgery

Some people are put off by the idea of drains after a tummy tuck. Can you talk about why drains might be necessary?

You know, there are some people that will advocate not putting drains in. When I talk to patients about the drains, I typically tell them we do it as an insurance policy. One of the annoying complications after a tummy tuck is fluid collection under the skin called seroma. Depending on what studies you read, seromas occur in anywhere from about 15% to 40% of tummy tuck patients. If we do everything that I’ve talked about to this point, plus put drains in, our seroma rate is well below 5%.

When I explain our rationale for using drains, it’s pretty unheard of for a patient to say, “No. I still don’t want any drains.”

Are seromas dangerous? How would you treat one should it occur?

Without the drains, the treatment for a seroma involves sticking the patient with a needle and drawing off the fluid once or twice a week, depending on how much fluid they have. It’s annoying for the patient, but we solve a problem before it gets too bad. If a seroma is not completely eradicated, then sometimes you can get a buildup of scar tissue, which can be problematic and occasionally require a repeat operation.

Those are things I don’t want our patients to have, so when I explain to them our rationale for using drains, it’s pretty unheard of for a patient to still say, “No. I don’t want any drains.” In reality, drains are certainly manageable, and by doing all the other things that we do to assist post-operative healing, I think the drains are in for a relatively short time.

Thanks Dr. Parker—we always appreciate getting a surgeon’s perspective on facts about cosmetic procedures. Do you have any questions about tummy tuck techniques that you would like to see addressed on our blog? Feel free to leave a comment.

The post Dr. Parker Talks Tummy Tucks: Nitty-Gritty Details That Will Ease Your Worries About Tummy Tuck Surgery, Recovery, and Scars appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

The truth is that tummy tuck is major surgery with dramatic results, and it’s best to take extreme stories (positive or negative) with a grain of salt and be realistic. Tummy tuck recovery requires more time, patience, and endurance than many other cosmetic procedures. It’s not fun to read about the details of surgical recovery, but getting a realistic idea of what to expect ahead of time will help you make the best decision for yourself and avoid surprises.

Here are the most important things you need to know about tummy tuck surgery before you take the plunge:

You won’t be bikini-ready overnight

It’s normal to be excited about waking up to the new you after tummy tuck surgery, but keep in mind that no one looks like their “after” photos immediately after surgery. At first, your belly will look much different from what you can expect from your final results. Post-operative swelling is common and can be significant, especially during the first three weeks after surgery. Your scar, placed just below the bikini line, will initially be scabbed over, red, and quite tender. In other words, it won’t be pretty! But be patient and know that all of this is a temporary part of the normal healing process. As you continue healing, swelling will subside, redness will disappear, and your scar will become narrower. By the third month, you’ll look great, and after six months or so, you’ll be ready to rock those “after” photos. Many patients continue to see improvements up to a year after a tummy tuck. With proper care, scars can become nearly imperceptible.

While you will have to wait a while to enjoy all the benefits of a tummy tuck, the good news is the results are very long-lasting if you maintain a similar weight. The vast majority of patients are thrilled with their decision to undergo the procedure—tummy tuck has a 97% “Worth It” rating on RealSelf.

You’ll need to take it easy for a few weeks

A tummy tuck isn’t a procedure you can work into a long weekend and then jump back into your routine. As mentioned above, it’s major surgery. While walking is allowed (and encouraged!) as soon as the night after your surgery, you should consider work, house cleaning, child care, and general physical activity to be off-limits. You will likely need substantial help at home for the first two weeks after surgery. Designate a trusted adult to be in charge of covering things you’d normally do but can’t, and let people take care of you—your results will depend on it!

You also need to plan for your transportation needs for the first few weeks. In addition to having someone take you to your procedure and back home again, you will need to turn over your keys until you are completely off of pain medication. Additionally, before getting behind the wheel your incisions should be healed enough that both wearing a seatbelt and turning your shoulders to monitor traffic around you is comfortable.

It’s important to be realistic about your return to work. Many patients can safely go back to a desk job within two weeks, but any work that requires travel, lifting, reaching, or periods of standing should be avoided until your surgeon agrees that your incisions have healed well enough to cope with the activity. You can discuss physical requirements of your job with your surgeon during consultation, and they will give you an idea of how long you’ll need to be away from work.

Finally, you will have to be a hands-off parent for a little while. This is understandably the most difficult aspect of tummy tuck recovery for moms of young children, who are used to being picked up and held. But you can do it without neglecting your little ones. Read books together, play board games (except Twister), and have your caregiver let them assemble your breakfast plate so they can help with your recovery too.

You are going to be uncomfortable for a little while

While the risk of major complications after a tummy tuck is low when performed by an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon, there’s no getting around the fact that for the first few days after your procedure, you will experience quite a bit of discomfort. Since just about every move we make requires us to use our abdominal wall, even basic movements will hurt at first—sitting up, standing, and even laughing can strain the tender area. Prescription pain medications will help keep things tolerable, and the good news is that you’ll be past the worst pain and discomfort after the first few days. After that, you should feel better each day.

That being said, here at the Parker Center, Dr. Paul Parker uses a long-acting, injectable anesthetic called Exparel to improve patient comfort after surgery. Because this anesthetic lasts long after the completion of your surgery, it can help ease the discomfort of initial healing—and our patients report a significant difference.

Depending on the technique your plastic surgeon uses, you might require temporary drains to help draw out excess fluid that gathers in the space between the muscle and overlying tissues after surgery. While they may seem gross, drains are not painful and they do help facilitate recovery. Any drains will need regular emptying (it’s not difficult, and your surgeon will show you how to do this) and cannot get wet, so you will not be able to take a “real” shower until they are removed, typically within one to two weeks after surgery.

Of course, each patient heals at his or her own rate. Before you have surgery, talk to your surgeon about what you might expect, as well as what measures they take to help minimize pain and discomfort after surgery. For example, I prefer combining liposuction with abdominoplasty, which often allows for a “drainless” recovery with less swelling. Our New Jersey tummy tuck patients also get the benefits of our unique Rapid Recovery Program, which includes personalized pain relief protocol, scar care, and massage therapy.

The happiest patients are those who prioritize their healing process

Of course you want the best possible results from your tummy tuck, and you’ll have to take a part in making sure this happens. Did you know that what you eat during the weeks after a tummy tuck can impact your recovery? Healing takes a lot of energy and it’s important to fuel your body properly. Help your body heal optimally by eating a balanced, whole foods diet that includes plenty of lean protein to help rebuild tissue. Resist any temptation to “diet” or lose weight during recovery. Depriving your body of nutrients will only slow down the healing process.

Before surgery, also ask your surgeon about scar care and what steps you can take to make sure your incisions heal well. They will provide guidelines about keeping the scar supported, tell you about appropriate topical medications, and describe the physical limitations you will have. Follow their instructions to the letter!

On the flip side, accept that you’ll have to put off or ignore some other responsibilities. Your house might be a little messier than you like for the time being or laundry may pile up. That’s okay: let this be a time to pamper yourself. Stay focused on the positive and before you know it, you will be seeing the slimmer, firmer midsection you envisioned and find yourself enjoying life with a more confident outlook!

Don’t forget…

For best results, choose an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon who regularly performs tummy tuck surgery. Find a surgeon you trust and with whom you feel comfortable—you should feel like he or she understands your goals and feel 100% comfortable asking any questions before and after surgery. If you’re going to be in the area, we’d love to help answer your questions; just contact us to schedule a free New Jersey tummy tuck consultation!

The post The Top 4 Things You Should Know About Tummy Tuck Surgery appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

“Even as a kid, I always had a belly. With my pregnancies, my abdomen got huge. I exercise like crazy, but my protruding abdomen was still there. Three years ago, I had lipo because I was afraid of surgery. While that just gave me a little more definition in my waist, it didn’t help with my belly at all,” explained Laura.

When Laura had her liposuction three years ago, the surgeon did recommend a tummy tuck, but Laura wasn’t mentally prepared for the surgery at that time. The way the plastic surgeon described the liposuction, she was expecting to have a much better result than she did.

Laura continued to exercise and managed to get a little more definition in her abdomen following the liposuction, but it was really negligible. She considered returning to the surgeon who originally did the procedure, but since she really wasn’t happy with her results, she decided to look elsewhere.

Turning to the Internet, Laura conducted a lot of research on tummy tucks and had even booked a surgery with a different plastic surgeon with whom she had 2 or 3 previous consultations. Yet she still felt uneasy.

“I was ready to go ahead and really liked the doctor, but every time I spoke to the support staff, I got anxiety. I had found Dr. Parker on the Internet and decided to see him just to confirm my decision. Dr. Parker’s staff was so great; they knew I had a busy schedule and bent over backwards to accommodate it, getting me to see the doctor in a short time,” Laura said.

At the Parker Center, Laura found answers to the troubling questions that were holding her back from undergoing tummy tuck surgery. Laura felt Dr. Parker was thorough and professional in a warm and caring way.

“I was thrilled that I would not be having my tummy tuck done in a hospital but in the Parker Center’s surgical center, Surgiplex, LLC, with a private nurse taking care of me one on one after surgery. Also I didn’t want my abdominal muscles tightened, and Dr. Parker listened to my concerns and was willing to perform the surgery that way,” said Laura.

Laura understood that the optimal results would be achieved if she had her abdominal muscles tightened, but she felt strongly about not doing it. Since Laura is very fit and exercises religiously, she felt she would be fine without that step, and Dr. Parker was willing to accommodate her.

Now two months after her tummy tuck surgery, Laura is thrilled with the results. She loves the way her abdomen looks, and she no longer has to wear control garments under her clothes to camouflage her belly.

“It looks fantastic. Just the way I imagined it would. Dr. Parker and his staff are amazing. He is a great doctor who really listens. I can’t imagine a better result. I can’t explain how great the entire staff was,” Laura stated.

Dr. Parker offers his patients several options when it comes to tummy tucks in order to achieve their desired result. Tummy tucks at the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery are performed under general anesthesia in Surgiplex, LLC, their fully certified on site ambulatory surgical center. Following the procedure, patients are taken care of on a one to one basis by the Parker Center’s experienced nurses.

If you’re considering a tummy tuck or any other type of cosmetic surgery, visit our website to learn more, see Before and After photos, and read actual patient stories. For a consultation, please call our office at (201) 967-1212.

The post New Jersey Tummy Tuck Patient Laura Thrilled with Great Result! appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

Tummy tucks are typically an outpatient procedure or with one overnight stay in the surgical facility. A tummy tuck starts with general anesthesia being administered by a board certified anesthesiologist. The surgeon uses a lower abdominal incision to remove excess skin, tighten loose muscles beneath the skin as well as performs liposuction to these areas and the hips to add contouring and slimming effects. The entire process lasts only two to three hours; recovery time typically lasts one to two weeks.

Recently, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) conducted a large scale study of patient satisfaction following abdominoplasty, commonly known as a tummy tuck. According to the April 2012 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, patients undergoing liposuction and/or a tummy tuck reported significant improvements to self-esteem and quality of life. Patients rated their results with an average score of 9 out of 10. Even more telling, 99% said they would recommend it to others. Additionally, 86% of patients reported a marked boost in self-esteem and quality of life. While doctors have long suspected such results, we are now able to provide patients with numbers that outline concrete benefits of the surgery. Essentially, the benefits of a tummy tuck go beyond physical results.

For more information about a tummy tuck procedure, contact Dr. Paul M. Parker and his dedicated team at the Parker Center today. Call the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery at (201) 967-1212 to schedule a consultation. Learn more about tummy tucks or other plastic surgery procedures by visiting our website for patient testimonials, before and after photos, and more. You can view before and after photos for tummy tuck patients with dark skin in our gallery.

The post Study Shows Patient Satisfaction Soars with Tummy Tuck appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

“At first I just told people that I’d lost weight, but I could see they were skeptical. I went from a size 8 to a size 4, so the difference was really noticeable in a good way. I finally decided to just tell people I had something done. I look and feel great“ said Leeann.

Abdominoplasty, commonly referred to as a tummy tuck, is a surgery that removes excess skin and fat from the abdominal area and tightens the muscles in the area. Many women elect to have the surgery after pregnancy to get rid of the remaining “baby pouch”.

Leeann has two kids, ages five and one, and both deliveries were via C-section. The C-sections had left Leeann with an overlap of skin on her abdomen that she hated. She consulted a plastic surgeon a few years ago but was advised to wait until she was done having children.

With her youngest child turning one, Leeann was still very unhappy with her body and decided she was ready to do something about it. Searching online, Leeann found the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery website and really liked how much information was provided.

“There were so many stories of patient’s plastic surgery experiences, information about the procedures, and even pricing. Nothing was hidden or a big secret. I was able to read and learn, and I think it really helped prepared me for the surgery,” explained Leeann.

When Leeann had her consultation with Dr. Parker she was even more impressed with the Parker Center. From the moment she made her consultation appointment through her actual procedure, Leeann felt confident and secure in her decision to opt for a tummy tuck surgery.

“All my questions were answered. Everyone was so nice and professional. I called Angela several times before and after my surgery. She always called me back and answered my questions, no matter how small. Angela always remembered my name, and she addressed any concern I had,” Leeann said.

The Parker Center for Plastic Surgery uses an approach called the Parker Tummy Tuck that combines a traditional tummy tuck with liposuction to give patients optimal results. In addition, patients have an improved abdominal shape, a smaller incision, and a quicker recovery with less bruising, swelling and pain.

“I feel so great. Even right after the surgery, the difference was apparent. Now six weeks later, I’m just thrilled. My confidence and self-esteem are sky-high. I would recommend Dr. Parker to anyone thinking about doing this. It’s made such a difference to me, and I can’t say enough about how great I feel,” Leeann said.

Patients undergoing a lipoabdominoplasty are treated under general anesthesia. The procedure takes between 2 ½ to 3 ½ hours, and patients are monitored overnight at Surgiplex, LLC, the fully certified, 2300 square foot ambulatory surgical facility at the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

To learn more about the Parker Tummy Tuck, visit our website at dev.parkercenter.net to view dozens of before and after photos, actual patient stories and animated videos of actual procedures. For a consultation with Dr. Parker call our office at (201) 967-1212.

The post Leeann Loves Her New Trim Shape After Her Tummy Tuck appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

“Even when I got back to my pre-pregnancy weight, my body just was not the same. My abdomen was
really distended, and I had a lot of extra skin. I’m a runner, but I could have run 24/7 and never gotten
rid of my abdomen,” explained Bridgette.

Bridgette began to consider a tummy tuck procedure. An abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck,
involves the removal of excess fat and skin as well as tightening the loose, paired rectus abdominus
muscles. A prominent New York City plastic surgeon, for whom Bridgette’s friend works, highly
recommended Dr. Parker for the procedure. Although Bridgette was unhappy with her body, she was
hesitant to undergo surgery. She had never been under anesthesia before, and she was worried about
her recovery with two small children at home.

Meeting with Dr. Parker and the staff at the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery relieved any anxiety
Bridgette had about her tummy tuck procedure. She genuinely felt at ease after her consultation with
Dr. Parker and appreciated the pre-surgery education she received from Angela.

“Talking with Janet, the office manager at the Parker Center, was great. Janet herself had the surgery
by Dr. Parker, and she spent a lot of time walking me through the entire procedure. That helped relieve
a lot of the anxiety for me, as well. Just being able to talk to someone who went through it and could
answer even the most trivial question made me feel so much better,” Bridgette said.

Another of Bridgette’s concerns involved how she was going to handle her recovery with two small
children at home. Even though her family was very supportive of her decision to have surgery, they
weren’t able to help with the children during Bridgette’s recovery. Bridgette decided to hire someone
for two weeks after her surgery to keep her children occupied, allowing her time to completely heal.

Dr. Parker firmly believes that well educated patients who thoroughly understand the process and the
procedure will experience less anxiety, enjoy a smoother and quicker recovery, attain a superior result,
and have an overall better surgical experience. Patient education is the cornerstone of Dr. Parker’s
plastic surgery philosophy.

“I’m thrilled with my results. My body shape has completely changed. I was so unhappy before with
how I looked. Now I run all the time, and I feel so much stronger. I’ve been working on improving my
core abdominal strength, and it’s amazing how great I feel. It was the best thing I ever did for myself,”
said Bridgette.

If you’re interested in a tummy tuck or any other cosmetic surgery procedure call the Parker Center for
Plastic Surgery at (201) 967-1212 to make an appointment for a consultation. Visit our website at
dev.parkercenter.net to see before and after photos, read patient stories and view animated videos of
procedures.

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Savannah was a winner when it came to weight loss. Over the course of a year she lost 65 pounds and has managed to keep it off since 2004. Savannah is very conscious of her diet and works out religiously in order to maintain her weight loss. Unfortunately, the weight loss left her with a lot of excess skin in her abdomen that no amount of exercise could fix.

“I was working out in the gym 2 hours a day and nothing was changing with my abdomen. Later I found out that it wasn’t fat. It was excess skin from my weight loss. I was so frustrated. I worked really hard to lose this weight, but I still had a large abdomen to deal with,” explained Savannah.

Savannah started doing some research online and came across the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery website. She liked that there was so much information on the site with patient stories, before and after photos, animated videos of procedures and even prices for most surgeries.

Dr. Parker explains a tummy tuck, “it will flatten and surgically rejuvenate the abdomen. When it’s done in combination with liposuction, known as lipoabdominoplasty, I can re-contour the entire abdominal aesthetic unit with really wonderful, transforming results for patients.”

“I decided to go ahead with the surgery for several reasons. First for me, I wanted to get rid of this excess abdominal skin which frustrated me so much. Secondly, I am an educator and a performer, and when I’m on stage or on a red carpet I know I’m being judged visually. And lastly, after I met Dr. Parker I was convinced that he was the real deal. He knew what he was talking about,” Savannah said.

Savannah did see another surgeon prior to her plastic surgery but was turned off by the idea of how her recovery would be handled. She was told she’d have to spend time in a skilled nursing facility after the surgery and that scared her. Savannah liked the idea that she would spend the night at the Parker Center with a registered nurse and complete her recovery at home.

It’s been 4 months since Savannah had her lipoabdominoplasty and she could not be more pleased. Dr. Parker removed 25 lbs. of skin and fat, and Savannah has dropped two dress sizes. She’s thrilled that she no longer has to buy clothes to accommodate her abdomen.

”I love that Dr. Parker is very precise and nitpicky about his work. That’s what I want in a plastic surgeon. Everyone in that office is so kind and caring. It makes you feel so comfortable. They reassure you every step of the way. They took wonderful care of me before, during and after my surgery. I can’t express to you just
how wonderful the staff is,” said Savannah.

Savannah looks and feels fantastic after her surgery. She said when she was researching the procedure on the internet, patients described their surgery as “life changing.” Savannah thought they were exaggerating.
Now, Savannah agrees that her lipoabdominoplasty has changed her life dramatically.

“The surgery boosted my confidence. I still have curves, which I like, but I look better in clothes. I feel like I look like someone who’s worked hard on their fitness. The excess skin and fat on my abdomen is gone, and I couldn’t be happier. I would do it again, and it was worth every penny it cost,” Savannah said.

Lipoabdominoplasty at the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery is done under general anesthesia and generally takes between two and one-half to three and one-half hours depending on the size of the patient. Patients spend the night in our on-site ambulatory surgical center, Surgiplex, LLC, with a registered nurse. Patients are released the following morning.

To learn more about a tummy tuck, lipoabdominoplasty or any other cosmetic procedure, visit the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery website at dev.parkercenter.net or call our office to schedule a consultation at (201) 967-1212.

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Facelift is new to the list this year, replacing the tummy tuck as one of the top five in 2011. It hasn’t been on the top five list since 2004 and it is up 5% from last year. Plastic surgeons in New Jersey are seeing more men come in for this type of surgery, which may explain the increase. There are also more non-invasive procedures available. BOTOX is the most popular choice among men and women, with a total of 5.7 million procedures performed and an overall increase of 5% in 2011. Other procedures such as Juvederm have seen up to a 20% increase.

For a plastic surgeon, New Jersey residents have several options to choose from and many different facility types to research. The Parker Center for Plastic Surgery offers this consultation checklist to help their potential patients make the best decision in a plastic surgeon. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Parker, please fill out our contact form or call 201-967-1212.

The post 2011 Shows Another Increase in Plastic Surgery Procedures appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.

Willa is a 39-year old married mom of twins, who recently came to Dr. Parker for a New Jersey tummy tuck.  Willa had a history of gynecological surgeries first in her teens and most recently a hysterectomy at age 37.  All of these abdominal surgeries combined with a twin pregnancy had left Willa with no muscle or skin tone on her abdomen.  Tired of hiding her abdomen with clothes and people assuming she was pregnant, Willa decided it was time to consider surgery.

“I saw a plastic surgeon about seven years ago and he had told me that even 3,000 sit-ups a day would not get rid of the excess skin or improve my abdominal muscles.  I wanted to wait to have it done until after I was done having children.  So after my hysterectomy, I knew I was ready. I had been thinking about it for a long time,” explained Willa.

Willa had helped a friend’s son, who suffered from gynecomastia (enlargement of male breasts) research plastic surgeons and came upon Dr. Parker’s website.  After her friend’s son had his surgery with Dr. Parker, he and his mom were both so pleased that Willa decided to go for a consultation herself.

“I was mentally ready to do this; I had been thinking about it for about seven years, and I was tired of hiding my flabby abdomen.  Once I went to the Parker Center, I got a real good feeling.  It was so clean and everyone was so warm.  I knew Dr. Parker was the real deal, and my surgery was scheduled several weeks after my consult,” Willa stated.

It’s been five weeks since Willa had her surgery, and she’s already thrilled with her results.  Willa had liposuction on her hips and inner thighs in addition to her tummy tuck surgery.  With the Parker Tummy Tuck, patients spend the night at the Parker Center monitored by a registered nurse.  Constant overnight observation and assistance comforted Willa, helping her feel more secure about her procedure.

Willa stated that her recovery went exactly as Dr. Parker explained it would.  Dr. Parker had told her that she would be ready to go back to work after two to three weeks.  Willa went back after three weeks, and she no longer needed a compression garment for support.

Willa’s husband was very supportive of her having the surgery although he told her he thought she looked fine without it.  He knew that she had been thinking about for a very long time and had always been self-conscious about her abdomen.

Just five weeks post-op, Willa is amazed at how much trimmer her figure is.  Before her surgery Willa was between sizes 10-12.  Now she’s wearing a size 8 and anticipates being in a size 6 when the remaining swelling is gone.

“It’s unbelievable.  I’ve never been a size 6, not even as a teenager.  The smallest I ever was a size 10 and I had to work at that.  All that extra skin is gone and I’m not hiding behind my clothes.  It feels great,” said Willa.

Willa gives a lot of presentations to groups in her job. Before surgery, she was always careful to face her audience and never let them see her from the side.  Now she says she gives her presentations freely without thinking about how her audience can see her abdomen.

“My husband would joke with me that after spending the money we did on my tummy tuck, he better be able to bounce a quarter off my belly.  His first reaction after the swelling subsided was, ‘holy cow, I was joking when I said that, but I bet you could bounce a quarter off that!’” Willa said.

Willa loved the three manual lymphatic drainage massages that were a part of her post-operative care and even purchased an additional package of three massages.  She said she felt the benefits of each and every one of them and really believes that the massages aided in her rapid recovery.

By combining a traditional tummy tuck with liposuction and adding several other improvements, Dr. Parker is able toprovide a better result for his patients.  The transformational results of a Parker Tummy Tuck have made it the surgery of choice for patients considering abdominoplasty.

If you are considering a tummy tuck or any other type of cosmetic surgery procedure, call the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery at 201-967-1212 for a consultation.  The team at the Parker Center can give you a beautiful, natural looking result in a safe, relaxed setting. Call now or visit us at dev.parkercenter.net.

The post Willa Smaller Than When She Was a Teenager After Parker Tummy Tuck appeared first on Parker Center for Plastic Surgery.