The Parker Center’s own board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Paul M. Parker has earned a reputation as one of the top rhinoplasty specialists, not just in New Jersey but also worldwide. Last year, Dr. Parker became a member of the prestigious Rhinoplasty Society, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the field of rhinoplasty. Since then. Dr. Parker has joined his peers in innovating surgical techniques and developing new ways to give patients better nose surgery results than ever.
In this interview, Dr. Parker discusses why he’s proud to be a member, how he’s grown since joining, and the one thing he loves most about creating rhinoplasty transformations.
What initially inspired you to pursue excellence in rhinoplasty?
For those of us who like to create, plastic surgery is a perfect marriage of art and medicine. When you combine the technical aspect, the creativity of it, and the impact on people, it’s sort of a perfect area where there’s a blending of those things.
I always tell patients that I’m kind of like a sculptor. When a sculptor goes into their studio and creates a piece of art, they can see it evolving. They love it as they’re doing it, and they love it afterward. That’s true of what we do, too. But the advantage we have over sculptors is that our sculptures come to life.
When we walk in the room a week post-op and we take the patient’s splint off, many times there are tears, and they’re just so happy about how their nose now looks. Of course, there’s a recovery process like there is with any surgery, and the swelling has to subside. As it does, you can see this nose that is taking form, and it’s a life-changing event for people.
How did you become a member of the Rhinoplasty Society?
One of my colleagues mentioned the Rhinoplasty Society to me because I do a lot of rhinoplasties. I looked into it, and their philosophy embodies what I’ve done for a long time. Dr. Rod Rohrich in Dallas and Dr. James Stuzin in Miami were kind enough to nominate me. It seemed like it made sense to become a member because the people who are in it and the meetings that they have are worth it.
What about the Rhinoplasty Society makes you proud to be a member?
The Rhinoplasty Society is a nonprofit organization that consists of the top surgeons throughout the world who specialize in noses. Prior to being admitted, members go through an extensive vetting process. Members are considered to be innovators in the field, deeply committed to cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the nose. There are 108 members in the U.S. and 38 international members, so it’s a relatively exclusive club.
How have you grown as a surgeon since joining?
Since the beginning of my training as a surgeon, I’ve always been drawn to rhinoplasty. During my tenure at NYU, I was fortunate enough to study under masters of rhinoplasty. Since starting my private practice, I’ve always sought to master new techniques. I follow my rhinoplasty patients very carefully and am always trying to improve upon the results I deliver.
New techniques come up all the time, and the Rhinoplasty Society’s meetings are very helpful in that regard. Not all new ideas are good, so it’s great to bounce these things off each other and figure out what works.
The processes of rhinoplasty get better and better over time: Patients recover more quickly, and the results are more natural. There’s been kind of an evolution that has been fostered by the Rhinoplasty Society, and it’s something that is of keen interest to me.
Are there any new techniques you’re currently excited about?
I tend to be a little bit of a skeptic with some of these things. I’m anxious to hear what people have to say about something called dorsal preservation, which is a different approach to taking down the bump that most people have on their noses. It’s something that’s relatively new to the field and somewhat controversial, so there has been lots of discussion back and forth.
What do you love most about performing rhinoplasty?
It’s probably one of the most difficult and challenging procedures we do because millimeters matter in rhinoplasty. It really requires an understanding of anatomy and a large degree of surgical precision. I’m a precise surgeon who loves anatomy, and therefore this is kind of a perfect thing that I love to do. It has such an impact on people’s lives. It’s fascinating. It’s rewarding.
It’s fun for me as a surgeon, technician, and artist, and it’s fun for me as a human being to see how it can have such a positive impact on people’s lives.
To see examples of the rhinoplasty results Dr. Parker achieves, please visit our before-and-after photo gallery.
If you’re looking for a plastic surgeon in New Jersey to perform your own rhinoplasty transformation, please contact us online or call (201) 967-1212 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Parker.
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