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Breast Reconstruction

Learn more about Atlanta breast reconstruction performed by Dr. Franklyn Elliott with Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. who has offices at Northside & Alpharetta, GA.

Questions To Ask at Your Breast Revision Consultation

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breast lift, breast augmentation, breast surgery, cosmetic procedures, plastic surgeonBreast revision surgery is unique among plastic surgery procedures. While it is a cosmetic procedure in nature, it almost straddles the line between cosmetic and reconstructive in a way. During breast revision, a patient’s breast implants are removed and replaced with new ones. Breast revision is performed to help women who are no longer satisfied with the results of a previous breast augmentation procedure. This dissatisfaction may result from a breast implant complication, natural wear over time, or a change in personal aesthetic preference. Regardless, breast revision surgery can be incredibly helpful in many cases.

A plastic surgery consultation appointment is always a significant step for patients, especially in the case of breast revision. During the consultation, I take time to thoroughly discuss each patient’s individual situation, as well as their procedure options and preferences. In some cases, breast implant removal may make more sense for their needs than a revision procedure, so I always like to present this option. While I know every patient will have their own questions and concerns, I have taken some time to provide some basic questions that should be asked at any breast revision consultation.

  • Are you board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
  • How many years of experience do you have performing breast revision procedures?
  • Will my new implants be inserted using the original incision area?
  • What kind of anesthesia will be used during the surgery?
  • How much time should I wait after my breast augmentation before considering breast revision?
  • How much visible scarring will I experience following my breast revision?
  • Will my procedure require an overnight hospital stay?
  • If I decide to have my breast implants removed, will I need a breast lift?
  • Are there any risks or complications associated with breast revision surgery?
  • Should I expect more or less downtime for recovery compared to my initial breast augmentation procedure?
  • What should I do to prepare in the days and weeks before my breast revision?

While many patients remain very happy with the breast augmentation results in the long term, I am very happy to provide breast revision for people who have not had this experience or those who simply want a change. For more information on breast revision or to schedule a plastic surgery consultation today, contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. You can follow along with me on Facebook for additional cosmetic surgery tips, news, and much more.

The Risk of the Pedicle TRAM vs DIEP Flap

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There is nothing more important to me as a board-certified plastic surgeon than the health and safety of my patients. While helping people improve their self-esteem and achieve the long-lasting aesthetic results that they desire is obviously something I care deeply about, safety remains my number one priority. And part of this is helping prospective patients understand the potential risks associated with whatever cosmetic or reconstructive procedures they are interested in undergoing. Today, I wanted to discuss breast reconstruction surgery with the pedicle TRAM flap and the DIEP flap, as well as the risks associated with both procedure methods.

For years, there has been a misconception that the TRAM flap method for breast reconstruction may pose a greater risk of complications for the abdominal wall than the DIEP flap method. However, as someone who has been performing this procedure using the TRAM flap method since the earliest stages of its development, this simply has not been the case in my experience. The truth is that when performed by an experienced plastic surgeon with considerable knowledge of his or her preferred technique, the risk for both the abdominal area and breasts, is very low.

In the following video, I go into more detail on these two methods for breast reconstruction and their risk profile:

I hope that my readers found this information comforting. With any cosmetic or reconstructive surgery comes some degree of risk. But finding an experienced and trustworthy professional is the best way to minimize this risk and enjoy the best possible surgical experience and results. For more information on breast reconstruction surgery or if you would like to schedule a plastic surgery consultation, please contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. You can also follow along with me on Facebook for additional plastic surgery videos, tips, news, and much more.

How Does The Timing of Breast Reconstruction Using Pedicle TRAM or DIEP Flap Work?

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As we previously discussed in our first blog post in this series, immediate breast reconstruction can be incredibly beneficial and affirming for women after breast cancer. Today I wanted to dig a bit deeper into the subject and discuss how the specific timing works for breast reconstruction procedures. This will pertain specifically to breast reconstruction using the pedicle TRAM flap and DIEP flap methods.

For anyone unfamiliar, both of these procedure methods use the patient’s own tissue (from the abdominal area) instead of a breast implant to rebuild the affected breasts following a breast cancer surgery. In the case of pedicle TRAM flap surgery, which is used to restore both breasts following a double mastectomy, the procedure generally takes around two and a half to three hours to perform after the mastectomy has completed. In the case of the DIEP flap procedure, to ensure patient safety, it will likely take up to eight hours or more to restore both breasts.

Additionally, because the DIEP flap generally takes so long and may require a tissue expander prior to the surgery, it is typical that this method will require two separate surgeries and recoveries. This extended operating time means that the reconstruction procedure may actually have to take place in the weeks following the initial procedure, instead of immediately.

In the following video, I go into more detail on the timing of both procedure types to help women better understand their options:

With this timing in mind, I hope that more women will be able to find the best-possible breast reconstruction method for their needs. For more information on breast reconstruction surgery or if you would like to schedule a plastic surgery consultation to learn more, please contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. You can also follow along with me on Facebook for additional plastic surgery videos, tips, news, and much more.

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