Dr. Parker Offers Computer Imaging with Each Consultation
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.
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