Cosmetic procedures have been increasing in popularity over the last decade. While advancements in technology allow for many of these procedures to be performed with minimally invasive techniques, it is important to remember that aesthetic medicine is still a field that relies on the training and knowledge of a skilled practitioner. Physician Transformations takes this requirement seriously, reminding patients—even by its very name—of the importance of having a doctor providing its services.
Its founder, Earl M. Bryant, D.O., has received extensive training in aesthetic medicine. He is an associate of organizations such as the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, the American Society of Liposuction Surgery and the American Society for Laser and Medicine in Surgery, and he also maintains his status as a Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians. He is also part of the clinical staff at Albert Einstein Medical Center, training residents and practicing several days a week.
Dr. Bryant began Physician Transformations while serving as an emergency physician at one of the busiest trauma centers in Philadelphia. This enabled him to practice a more positive form of medicine, one that led to “a greater general appreciation of life, well-being and happiness” for his patients. Because of Dr. Bryant’s high degree of training, Physician Transformations is able to offer patients a level of experience, safety and skill that other practices cannot match.
Physician Transformations is a full-service medical aesthetics practice. It specializes in full-body liposculpting using the latest liposuction and laser technologies to help patients meet their goals. With his advanced technologies and expertise, Dr. Bryant is able to target the trouble spots of excess fat—muffintops, saddlebags, love handles, male breasts and double chins—that patients cannot shed no matter what they try. These stubborn spots are sources of frustration and embarrassment for patients, especially men who develop the appearance of breasts (a condition known as gynecomastia). Age plays a role in these trouble spots, as do hormones, medications and genes.
“It is really effective to be able to go in and target stubborn pockets of fat,” Dr. Bryant says. “Liposuction has gone through a big transition from when it appeared 30 to 40 years ago. It used to be much more invasive and traumatic, but over the decades it has evolved into a safe and effective procedure to remove fat from areas of the body.” Technological advancements now allow the fat to be liquefied before removal, allowing the doctor to use smaller instruments and create a more contoured appearance.
Physician Transformations offers several varieties of liposuction, including SmartLipo, which uses a small laser to melt fat and tighten skin, and Vaser which uses ultrasound. “Both these techniques help to extract fat more safely and with better overall results,” Dr. Bryant adds. The instruments used for these procedures are no bigger in diameter than a piece of uncooked angel hair pasta, and the incision needed is the size of a freckle. All procedures are done on an outpatient basis using oral medication for relaxation, while the patient is awake but numbed.
This is one reason Lindsey Brandt chose Physician Transformations. Though she describes herself as having overall good body image, Brandt was embarrassed by the fat around her knees. “There was nothing I could do to lose that,” she says. She had been considering treatment for several years and consulted with several surgeons, including one who wanted her to undergo a form of liposuction that required full anesthesia, before going to see Dr. Bryant. Lindsey had previously gone to Physician Transformations for a laser skin treatment, so she was comfortable with Dr. Bryant’s skill and knowledge. “Dr. Bryant said, ‘absolutely not’ [to full anesthesia],” she says. “He told me he could target the area with a small cannula. I felt very comfortable and confident with him.”
Having the option to choose a less invasive and more cost-effective option appealed to her, as did the personal attention she received from the practice. “I chose Physician Transformations in part because of a follow-up call from [Dr. Bryant’s office manager] Dalia,” she says. “Knowing I was not a just a number—that she knew my case—I felt more comfortable. I didn’t go to a med spa because I did not want that kind of relationship.” Brandt describes the procedure as painless and has been thrilled with the results. “I used to shy away from shorts; I never wore them. Now I don’t even think about it.” She has since returned for dermal fillers and refers many of her friends, family and even strangers who compliment her.
“We take pride in the fact that we are hands on,” Dr. Bryant adds. “When you are a patient, you are working with our office intimately. Our dedicated staff develops relationships, and I do all the procedures myself. We are a small but busy, active practice; we take care of each individual.”
Dalia says that some of the most life-changing procedures performed at Physician Transformations are on men with gynecomastia. This condition affects men from all walks of life, often beginning in their 30s but sometimes younger. “They may have been in good shape,” says Dalia, “but as their hormone levels change and they are subject to busy schedules, many find it is now harder to get rid of fat that builds up. They develop love handles, their chest starts to sag and they build a gut.” Dr. Bryant performs male breast reduction on men who have developed this excess fat in the chest, giving them the appearance of breasts. These men tend to be very self-conscious; they often wear double and triple layers of shirts to disguise their chest and avoid taking their shirts off even in front of their spouses.
Mark Schafer knows the stigma that accompanies gynecomastia. “My chest had always been a source of embarrassment for me and caused me to live most of my life hiding under big shirts, and avoiding beaches, pools and many of the activities that many men enjoy,” he says. After researching several local doctors, including those who charged him a consultation fee,
Schafer decided to contact Physician Transformations. He was impressed with Dr. Bryant’s demeanor and knowledge. “He is very accommodating … down to earth, friendly and reassuring. He is just an all-around nice guy,” he says. Schafer chose Physician Transformations to perform his surgery and was pleased to see the results were just as Dr. Bryant described. “My life has changed drastically,” Schafer says. “I no longer try and hide from the world. My posture has improved because again. I am not afraid to show my chest. I am more self-confident and happier overall.” In addition to cosmetic procedures, Dr. Bryant also offers male hormone therapy that can help improve a man’s general overall energy, strength and concentration, as well as his weight and sex drive.
In addition to offering liposuction, Physician Transformations also offers laser facial rejuvenation procedures, laser hair removal, spider-vein treatments and state-of-the-art skin treatments, including Botox, dermal fillers, chemical peels and a variety of medical-grade skincare products. Whether a patient opts for liposuction or another procedure to rejuvenate their appearance, Dr. Bryant’s goal is to make each patient look and feel their best.
“We do not want the credit,” adds Dalia. “We don’t want anyone to know by looking at you that you had work done. We want people to compliment you on how great you look and for them to have no idea why you look so good.”
Physician Transformations
17 Bishop Hollow Road, Suite C
Newtown Square, PA 19073
484-420-4407 | www.physiciantransformations.com
Photograph by Jeff Anderson
