Reconstructive Surgery

We pride ourselves on our ability to provide outstanding reconstructive surgery services to our patients in New Jersey and Manhattan. What nature takes away through birth defect, cancer, infection, or injury, we can restore by using cutting-edge reconstructive surgery. In addition to our advanced techniques, we also employ a team approach to solving difficult problems that require reconstructive surgery. Our most complex patient cases are referred to our Institute for Advanced Reconstruction, where a multi-disciplinary team of reconstructive surgery specialists analyzes the patients' problems and decides upon a logical plan to restore them to health. As one of the leading practices in the country in the field of reconstructive surgery, we have created a comprehensive reconstructive surgery website at www.advancedreconstruction.com with information on the world class treatments performed at our facility. Our goal is to help answer your questions and inform you about the techniques and procedures available. We invite you to visit this reconstructive resource that provides explanations, and patient videos of our reconstructive success stories. Click here to visit The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction at The Plastic Surgery Center.

Following are just a few of the advanced reconstructive surgery techniques our center offers in Manhattan and New Jersey.

Breast reconstruction is an important means of restoring a natural figure to breast cancer survivors who have undergone mastectomy or to those women born with congenital breast deformities. This reconstructive surgery involves a complex series of operations to first reconstruct the breast mound and then fashion a new nipple. It can be accomplished using either breast implants or with transplanted tissue from another part of the patient's body, typically from the abdomen. We offer patients the most advanced methods of breast reconstruction, including TRAM and DIEP flaps. Please visit our reconstructive website www.advancedreconstruction.com for more information about different breast reconstruction options.

Breast reconstructive surgery is highly individual, as each woman's circumstances are different. Our surgeons at The Plastic Surgery Center of New Jersey and Manhattan are experts in dealing with all aspects of breast cancer care and are recognized for their outstanding breast reconstruction results. Many of our satisfied breast reconstructive surgery patients have even formed a breast cancer/reconstruction support group that meets monthly in our office. We would be happy to sit down with you to discuss your individual situation, so please contact the experts at The Plastic Surgery Center today for further information.

Bell's palsy, acoustic neuroma, and stroke are among the many causes of facial paralysis. The surgeons at The Plastic Surgery Center in New Jersey are skilled in reconstructive surgery techniques related to facial reanimation. Using nerves and/or muscles from other parts of the body, the face can be re-balanced and a natural, spontaneous smile restored. If you would like to learn more about facial reanimation, please contact The Plastic Surgery Center - New Jersey and Manhattan to set up a consultation.

Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma skin cancers often require removal of large areas of tissue to achieve a cure. Our doctors are experts at reconstructing the defects that result from skin cancer surgery, thus restoring the natural contours and color of the area that was removed. We would be happy to discuss your individual circumstances with you. Contact The Plastic Surgery Center - New Jersey and Manhattan to learn more about the possibilities of skin cancer reconstructive surgery.

Our reconstructive surgery specialists have advanced training in the technically demanding skills of microsurgery. With these techniques, limb reattachment, nerve reconstruction, and complex cancer or trauma reconstruction surgeries are all possible. To learn more about the different types of microsurgery or to set up a consultation with us, please contact our reconstructive surgery experts in New Jersey and Manhattan today.

The doctors at The Plastic Surgery Center have tremendous experience with all aspects of hand reconstruction after trauma, as well as with debilitating conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, Burger's syndrome, or reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome. Contact our reconstructive surgery practices in Manhattan or New Jersey for more information.

At The Plastic Surgery Center, our surgeons specialize in a leading-edge procedure designed to preserve erectile function in men undergoing radical prostatectomy. We work closely with a team of urologists to offer this exciting new treatment.

This reconstructive surgery procedure involves repairing the nerves that are cut during removal of the prostate gland. By taking four inches of nerve tissue from the patient's calf and grafting it to the area in the pelvis where the nerves were cut, this reconstructive surgery can restore nerve continuity. Chances for normal sexual function are increased through this procedure. Our New Jersey and Manhattan practice has witnessed a significant decrease in the number of men suffering from erectile dysfunction following prostate surgery due to this reconstructive surgery.

The disadvantages of this nerve grafting procedure are minimal. The removal of nerve tissue in the calf results in a numb area about the size of a half-dollar on the side of the foot. Most men do not even notice this side effect until the doctor points it out to them. This reconstructive surgery procedure adds about 20-30 minutes to the overall prostatectomy and does not jeopardize the operation in any way.

Unfortunately, even with this fantastic reconstructive surgery, erectile function will not be preserved in every man. As a rough guide, about twice as many men will preserve erectile function if they have this procedure than if they do not. At this time, the surgery is performed at the same time as the prostatectomy. However, we are currently working on ways to go back in and repair nerves in previous prostrate surgery patients who are now impotent. To learn more about our nerve grafting technique for preserving erectile function, please contact our New Jersey or Manhattan offices today.

Peripheral neuropathy is a leading cause of amputations in our country. People with peripheral neuropathy have decreased sensation in the extremities and are, therefore, prone to wounds that become infected and then require amputation. Peripheral neuropathy has many causes, the most common of which is diabetes. Other causes are alcoholism, lead poisoning, chemotherapy (Taxol and Cisplatinum most often), and "idiopathic" or unknown cause. The symptoms of neuropathy include pain, numbness, tingling, and loss of strength in the affected arm or leg. In severe cases, it can lead to amputation of the toe, foot, or even the leg. In most cases, the symptoms are due to the diseased nerves being compressed, or "pinched," at known, predictable points along the leg or arm.

The doctors at The Plastic Surgery Center are pioneers among their peers in New Jersey, Manhattan and the world in treating neuropathy with reconstructive surgery. This procedure consists of decompressing the "pinched" nerves in the leg or arm. The incisions are very small, pain is minimal, and the procedure is done as an outpatient in most cases. Our reconstructive surgery specialists are among the fewer than 20 plastic surgeons in the world trained in this procedure developed at John's Hopkins University.

Not everyone is a candidate for nerve decompression surgery, of course. A few simple, non-invasive, and painless tests are usually all that are needed to determine candidacy.

Results of this reconstructive surgery are usually dramatic and patients often experience relief in the recovery room! Multiple scientific studies support this procedure, and the published success rate is between 80-90 percent, with the remaining 10-20 percent experiencing lesser degrees of improvement-but improvement nonetheless. While pain relief is an important goal of this reconstructive surgery, reducing the risk of wounds that lead to amputation is most critical. By improving sensation in the feet and hands, a patient is far less likely to sustain non-healing wounds. In fact, few, if any, patients treated with this technique ever develop a wound or need an amputation. Thus, the procedure protects the patient from future problems from their neuropathy. If you or someone you love suffers from nerve decompression surgery, please contact the reconstructive surgery experts in New Jersey or Manhattan today.

Only eight nerve transplants have been performed in the world, and two of those were done right here in the New Jersey at The Plastic Surgery Center. With this advanced reconstructive surgery technique, our surgeons are able to restore function to people who have lost the use of several nerve trunks in the arm or leg nerve plexuses. We draw upon a local team of experts in neurology, immunology, transplant medicine, and infectious diseases to make this complex reconstructive surgery procedure proceed smoothly and assure the best possible outcomes. If you would like more information about nerve transplantation, please contact us at our New Jersey or Manhattan practice today.

Traumatic injuries such as car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and boating accidents can often lead to nerve injuries to the brachial plexus. The brachial plexus is the network of nerves in the armpit that control all the functions of the arm and hand. The reconstructive surgery required to correct these injuries is complex and time-consuming, and it requires an incredible understanding of the anatomy and physiology of this complicated area of the body.

Our doctors are the New Jersey and Manhattan area experts in this advanced reconstructive surgery technique. In addition to standard brachial plexus reconstruction, we have performed two nerve transplants for massive brachial plexus injuries that could not be reconstructed with standard techniques. Only eight of these transplants have been performed in the world, and doctors at The Plastic Surgery Center have done two of them. Please contact our reconstructive surgery practice today to learn more about brachial plexus reconstruction or to schedule a consultation.

Our extensive experience with reconstructive surgery techniques affords us the unique ability to fix even the most complex upper and lower extremity defects. We can restore not only defects of form and appearance, but also defects of function to near normalcy in most cases. For more information about the possibilities of arm and leg reconstruction, please contact our New Jersey or Manhattan practice today.

After a stroke many patients find it difficult to eat normally due to swallowing problems. The process of swallowing is rather complex, requiring the precise coordination of various muscles triggered by sensory feedback. A stroke may cause an imbalance in this process and can lead to aspiration - the leakage of food and/or saliva into the breathing passages. If left untreated aspiration will often lead to life threatening conditions such as pneumonia.

Individuals suffering from stroke and aspiration often have little hope and may be reliant on a feeding tube for nutrition. Until now there have been few options for reversing swallowing difficulties associated with stroke.

At The Plastic Surgery Center in Shrewsbury, NJ, we offer an innovative surgical procedure to select stroke patients. The goal of the procedure is to restore sensation to the upper airway so that stroke patients may protect their airway during swallowing and reduce or eliminate aspiration. Ultimately, the patient would then be able to return to an oral diet rather than a feeding tube for nutritional requirements, thereby improving function and quality of life following stroke. Please contact us at our New Jersey or Manhattan practice today.

The phrenic nerve controls function of the diaphragm muscle - the primary muscle involved in breathing. Contraction of the diaphragm muscle permits expansion of the chest cavity and inhalation of air into the lungs.

The phrenic nerve transmits signals from the brain and spinal cord that may be initiated voluntarily or involuntarily - our breathing may occur when we think "breathe" or without that thought as occurs during sleep. There are two phrenic nerves in the human body, one on each side of the neck and chest. The course of the phrenic nerve is from the upper spinal cord in the neck to the chest cavity, and ultimately terminating in the lower chest where the diaphragm muscle is located.

Injuries to the phrenic nerve cause paralysis to one or both sides of the diaphragm, resulting in some degree of breathing difficulty. In its mildest form, phrenic nerve injury will cause shortness of breath with exertion, whereas more severe injuries will result in the need for oxygen therapy or even a respirator.

The most common causes for phrenic nerve injury are trauma and surgical complications. Patients undergoing heart surgery or mediastinal tumor surgery are at risk for phrenic nerve injury. There is scientific data indicating that, in rare instances, chiropractic manipulation can also result in phrenic nerve injury.

At The Plastic Surgery Center we offer groundbreaking surgical treatments for phrenic nerve injury. Using nerve reconstruction techniques we have been able to successfully restore function to the diaphragm in patients with phrenic nerve injuries. Please contact us at our New Jersey or Manhattan practice today.

After cervical spinal cord injury many patients require a ventilator to help them breathe. There are serious consequences of ventilator dependency, including risks of life threatening infection and even death. In addition, there are significant quality-of-life issues related to being confined to a ventilator.

The Plastic Surgery Center in Shrewsbury, NJ, is one of only a few centers in the country that performs the procedure to implant a diaphragm pacemaker.  A diaphragm pacemaker allows select patients with spinal cord injury to breathe independently, without the need for long term ventilator support.The doctors at The Plastic Surgery Center have pioneered minimally invasive approaches for implantation of a diaphragm pacemaker, and have developed ground-breaking nerve reconstruction procedures to help patients who would otherwise not be candidates for the diaphragm pacemaker. Please contact us at our New Jersey or Manhattan practice today and visit our reconstructive website www.advancedreconstruction.com for more information about diaphragm pacemakers.