Marty had the hip of an 80-year-old—until a pain-free fat transfer procedure from Dr. Paul Vanek got him up and running again. Here is his remarkable story.

by Patricia Nugent, Mimi Vanderhaven magazine

The last thing an avid runner expects to hear from his doctor is, “You have the hip of an 80-year-old.”

So when 38-year-old Marty Mackar received that diagnosis following an MRI that indicated he suffered from arthritis and only one-third of the cartilage remained on his hip joint, the news was a jolt.

“I had pushed my body so hard, training for the Boston Marathon and playing lots of indoor soccer, that I tore a muscle,” he recalls. “But the MRI showed there was more going on than just the muscle, so I underwent surgery to address the advanced arthritis and resculpt the hip bone. Afterward there was still pain and stiffness. I was told I probably wouldn’t run again, which was devastating.”

Then his orthopedic doctor mentioned a break-through procedure performed by Dr. Paul Vanek of extracting structural fat from the abdomen and injecting this into joints to both cushion and lubricate, as well as regrow cartilage. He is one of a handful of doctors in Ohio to specialize in this transfer, which has shown remarkable success in reducing joint pain and increasing functionality and strength.

It has applications for joints, including the hips, knees, shoulders, elbows and wrists, that are affected by arthritis or tendonitis, and the effects of the procedure usually last one to two years, says Dr. Vanek.
He has perfected this technique over the past two years. And thanks to his background as a biochemist, biophysicist and researcher for the National Institute of Health, he is privy to emerging medical technologies and strives to bring them to Northeast Ohio.

Getting Back on Track

Marty underwent the fat transfer last August. “It was pain free thanks to a local anesthetic. I was awake the whole time while Dr. Vanek gently suctioned the fat from my belly.”

Dr. Vanek explains that the fat was then held in a container where it separates, “leaving the purified, stem-cell rich fat on the top layer like cream separated from milk. That was what we injected into his hip.”

There was no downtime. In fact, Marty walked out of the doctor’s office after the procedure.

“Afterward my hip felt 100 percent better,” he says. “Though there are remaining issues with my groin muscle healing from the first surgery, my ultimate goal is to be back on the track running and training.”

Marty says the fat transfer procedure with Dr. Vanek and his staff was a wonderful experience, and that he was educated about every step of the process along the way.

Dr. Vanek believes that the warm and inviting atmosphere and attitude of his staff is what distinguishes his practice from others. He mentions, “Patients describe their experience here as comforting and nurturing, and I’m proud of that.”

In addition to improving functionality of patients’ joints with fat transfer procedures, as a plastic surgeon Dr. Vanek uses his surgical skills to perform a variety of esthetic rejuvenation procedures for body and face, from facelifts to neck lifts, brow lifts, eyelid lifts, rhinoplasty, breast augmentations/reductions or lifts, liposuction, tummy tucks and more. He also offers a variety of laser services and is the first in the area to offer the new Hydra Facial MD non-invasive anti-aging skin care treatment, now at an introductory $99 price.

Dr. Paul Vanek is double board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery, and is a Fellow of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. His offices are easily accessible from I-90, located at 9485 Mentor Avenue, Suite 100, in Mentor. For more information, call 440-205-5750 or visit MentorPlasticSurgery.com.

Q: I have had four children and I need a tummy tuck.  Should I have a mini or full tummy tuck?

This decision of mini vs full tummy tuck requires an in-office consultation so I cannot give you an answer without seeing and talking with you. It is important that I know how you would like to look, and what areas about yourself you want to improve. While removing loose skin or bulges may be your biggest incentive, there may be other conditions that a board-certified doctor like myself must consider before discussing recovery.

From my experience, I can say that the majority of my patients need a full tummy tuck, also known as an “abdominoplasty.” I don’t discuss a mini-tummy tuck with them because I know they will not be satisfied. A mini will help tighten your lower abdomen. I usually will tighten the lower muscles to provide additional flattening. I may then use liposuction to help define your waist. If you need adjustments on the upper abdomen, you will require a full tummy tuck. If you have muscle separation that extends to the upper abdomen, this could be more readily repaired with a full tummy tuck. Liposuction is also often a part of a full tummy tuck.

For patients who don’t need a full tummy tuck because they don’t have excess skin present, another option could be a modified abdominoplasty, which combines the best of an abdominoplasty and liposuction.

Recovery time for tummy tucks

Recovery time is shorter with a mini tummy tuck, but that is really irrelevant. You need the procedures that your body needs and that will make you feel the best about yourself.

Dr. Paul Vanek MD, FACS
Vanek Plastic Surgery
9485 Mentor Ave #100
Mentor, OH 44060
440-205-5750

How liposuction has evolved

Liposuction was introduced to patients in the 1970’s, but started becoming popular in the late 1990s, when ultrasound was introduced to facilitate fat removal by first liquefying fat using ultrasonic energy. Since then, liposuction has progressed to lower the energy and make the wavelength even more specific to the fat cells. This third-generation treatment method is known as Vaser Liposuction. I specifically utilize Vaser LipoSelection, because it is so selective for the fat density. It spares injury to the collagen, nerves, blood vessels and lymphatics found integrated in the three dimensions of the layer we treat.

How Vaser LipoSelection is different from other laser liposuction

When we look at the laser methods, the lack of selectivity is immediately evident because the wavelengths of the laser energy essentially don’t selectively treat the fat. The laser cooks all the tissues, and while it may reduce the fat layer, laser liposuction techniques also destroy tissue important to keep, like nerves and lymphatics.

Because of my background in biophysics research, my product reviews, and my personal experience, I have concluded that Vaser Liposuction is a clearly superior method for my patients. When compared to traditional liposuction methods in the same patient, my co-investigators and I found that skin contracture was 53% better on the Vaser-treated side. Vaser treatment was also shown to have 23% less blood loss compared to regular liposuction. These findings were accepted for publication in the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Liposuction is the number one cosmetic surgery performed in the U.S. each year. To learn if Vaser LipoSelection may be right for you, contact us or call my office.

Dr. Paul Vanek MD, FACS
Vanek Plastic Surgery
9485 Mentor Ave #100
Mentor, OH 44060
440-205-5750

Cleveland area mothers devote so much of themselves and their resources to their children — from time and energy to money and miles in the car. You feel good about it, knowing that every sacrifice is more than worthwhile to keep your family healthy and happy. But even with all you do, what gets a little lost is your own well-being. What if you could take care of yourself and your family too? That’s exactly the philosophy behind the Mommy Makeover. Now more than ever, you have exciting surgical options to reverse the unwanted effects of childbearing and age.

Did you know that research at the University of Texas noted that 88% of women studied had breast asymmetry?

Breast surgeons recently polled at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) convention in Denver agreed that the results underestimated asymmetry of the breast by about 12%. Astoundingly, women do not appreciate how frequently their breasts are asymmetric until it’s pointed out to them in clinical exams.

To read more from the ASPS, click here.

Contact us today if you’d like to learn more. 

Did you know that it is estimated that 40% of men are afflicted with unwanted breast development, called gynecomastia?

Here’s what it is and what you can do about it.