Dr. Adam Saad of The Plastic Surgery Center Performs Free Flap & Skin Graft

“He became my friend, and I could talk to him about anything. He spent time explaining things to me, and visited me in the hospital, even on the weekends. He’s very down to earth with a sense of humor, which is so important. I tell everyone about him, he’s the best.” Deanna McGuinness, patient

It has been less than a year since Brigantine resident Deanna McGuinness fell and broke every bone in her right ankle, and suffered what is known as a Pilon break. When after two surgeries, she was left in severe pain with an exposed tendon, McGuinness was referred to Dr. Adam Saad at The Plastic Surgery Center.

After just one meeting, “I knew in my heart that he would get me through this, and everything would be ok,” McGuinness shares. “I placed my trust in Dr. Saad immediately.”

When she was told that before undergoing further surgeries, she would have to quit smoking, McGuinness, a smoker for over 25 years, quit immediately, and remains a non-smoker today. Once Dr. Saad saw her commitment to health, McGuinness was scheduled for two surgeries to close the wound. An expert in microsurgery, Dr. Saad performed a free flap and skin grafting to bring her back to her normal quality of life.

“This was a difficult case.” Dr. Saad explained. “Due to her multiple surgeries, there was a loss of skin, as well as subcutaneous tissue over the plates and screws in her foot. Left uncovered, the bone would have become infected, and she could have lost the entire leg.” A microsurgical tissue transfer was the only option for McGuinness, which Dr. Saad successfully performed. “Thanks to this surgery, Deanna has healed completely and has returned to a full, active life.”

During the healing process, McGuinness was confined to a wheelchair for six months. “All I wanted to do was go into Wawa and get my own coffee,” Deanna shares. “It seems like such a small thing, but you have no idea how important your own independence is.” Today, Deanna not only walked to get her own coffee but was even able to go to the beach this summer.

“He’s my hero,” gushes McGuinness of Dr. Saad. “He became my friend, and I could talk to him about anything. He spent time explaining things to me, and visited me in the hospital, even on the weekends. He’s very down to earth with a sense of humor, which is so important. I tell everyone about him, he’s the best.”