Maybe you’ve never been happy with the way your nose looks. Or perhaps you are noticing way too many wrinkles these days. And what about those love handles? Now is the time to make a change.
An ever increasing number of adults are turning to cosmetic plastic surgery to look and feel better. Last year, more than 10.2 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures were done in the U.S., up 11 percent from 2004, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
“You don’t have to grow old gracefully,” said Martha S. Matthews, M.D., Head of the Division of Plastic Surgery at Cooper University Hospital and a Top Doc named by New Jersey Monthly, South Jersey Magazine, SJ Magazine and Philadelphia Magazine. Dr. Matthews works with Ann Leilani Fahey, M.D.
“We’re a youth-oriented and body-conscious society. If you don’t like something about your body, you can do something about it,” Dr. Matthews said.
The three surgeons are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. They follow the highest standards of patient care and surgical excellence.
Common procedures at Cooper include:
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Breast enlargements
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Tummy tucks to flatten the abdomen by removing excess fat and skin and tightening the muscles of the abdominal wall
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Reshaping the nose
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Liposuction to remove pockets of fat from specific spots on the body
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Removal of excess skin for people who have lost a great deal of weight
Minimally invasive cosmetic procedures include:
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Botox® injections to temporarily reduce or eliminate frown lines, forehead creases, crows feet and thick bands in the neck
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Chemical peels to restore wrinkled, blemished, unevenly pigmented or sundamaged facial skin
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Microdermabrasion to help repair damage to facial skin from the sun and aging
Women aren’t the only ones having cosmetic plastic surgery. In 2004, men accounted for 13 percent of all cosmetic surgery patients. Between 2000 and 2004, there was a 16 percent increase in men having minimally invasive cosmetic procedures.
Dr. Matthews and Dr. Fahey bring their extensive skill and experience as reconstructive surgeons to also do cosmetic procedures. They routinely perform procedures to restore the appearance and function of body parts affected by birth defects, injuries and diseases such as cancer. In addition, as part of the only Level 1 Trauma Center in South Jersey, Cooper’s plastic surgeons routinely care for patients with the most severe facial injuries and fractures.
They are experts in all types of breast reconstruction after mastectomy, including newer tissue flap procedures that are only available at Cooper and a few local centers. They are also part of Cooper’s Regional Cleft-Craniofacial Program, which cares for children born with abnormalities of the mouth and lip. That can be when the roof of the mouth does not completely close or the lip does not completely form. Many other types of reconstructive procedures are available.
The three surgeons serve on the faculty of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. They also train future plastic surgeons, as part of one of two plastic surgery residency programs in New Jersey.
Although cosmetic surgery is usually not covered by health insurance because it’s considered elective, it’s well worth it, according to Dr. Matthews. “Cosmetic plastic surgery can build confidence. It lasts a lot longer than a vacation and is a good investment,” she said.
Most surgical cosmetic procedures are performed at Cooper’s Surgery Center in Voorhees, New Jersey. Cooper’s plastic surgeons also do procedures at Cooper University Hospital in Camden. They see patients in Voorhees, Washington Township and Camden.
To make an appointment with a Cooper physician, call 1-800-8-COOPER. Representatives are available Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to answer questions about available medical services, physicians and community health programs.