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Breast Augmentation

Ask Dr. Elliott: Questions About Plastic Surgery Recovery

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Dr. Franklyn ElliottThe post-surgery recovery period is unavoidable following cosmetic surgery, but that doesn’t mean that it will necessarily be daunting. I have spoken to many patients through the years who went into their plastic surgery consultation very concerned about the recovery phase, only to be shocked at how simple and straightforward it turned out to be. To help reassure my future patients and anyone who currently shares this concern, I wanted to answer a few common questions about recovery after plastic surgery.

Question #1: Is there a difference in recovery time for cosmetic procedures vs reconstructive ones?

While reconstructive surgery procedures like breast reconstruction surgery may seem more invasive on the surface, the recovery period following surgery isn’t so different than it would be following a cosmetic breast procedure. The exact timeframe of the recovery period will vary depending on each patient and the specific details of their procedure, but this is something we will discuss at length during the pre-surgery consultation appointment.

Question #2: When can I exercise again following my tummy tuck surgery?

It’s important to be patient and follow your plastic surgeon’s post-surgery instructions in order to allow your body to properly heal following a cosmetic procedure like a tummy tuck. Generally, I advise patients to wait roughly 4 weeks before resuming basic cardio aerobic activity that does not require any impact. It can be 6 weeks or more before more strenuous activity, such as weight lifting, jogging, and certain sports, or exercises that stress the treatment area like crunches or sit-ups, can resume.

Question #3: How long will my breasts be swollen following breast augmentation surgery?

Swelling is a natural part of the plastic surgery recovery period. Thankfully, this is a temporary side effect. This swelling will begin to subside about a week after your procedure and continue to decrease over the next 4-8 weeks. It’s important for breast augmentation patients to remain patient after surgery and understand that it will take a little time for the final results to emerge. However, in my personal experience, most patients say the wait is absolutely worth it.

Regardless of the specific procedure (or procedures), you are interested in pursuing, the key to a smooth and successful surgery and recovery is working with an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon. For more information or to schedule a plastic surgery consultation, contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. You can also follow along with me on Facebook for additional plastic surgery tips, news, videos, and much more.

What To Know About Breast Implant Complications

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When speaking to my patients during plastic surgery consultation appointments, there is always a feeling of excitement about the results that their respective procedures will help them achieve. However, there can sometimes be some trepidation as well due to potential plastic surgery complications. I wanted to use this blog post to specifically discuss the subject of complications related to breast augmentation surgery.

Breast augmentation complications do exist, however, they are quite rare and not a reason I would advise any patient to second guess their decision for surgery. Still, I find it helpful to educate my patients about potential complications so they can feel informed and confident heading into their surgery. Complications associated with breast implants include capsular contracture, a condition that occurs when scar tissue forms around a breast implant. In the case of capsular contracture, the implant may need to be removed and/or replaced. A couple of other complications to be aware of include implant rippling and bottoming out.

Check out the video below where I discuss breast implant complications and how I always prioritize safety and positive results for my patients:

It’s important to keep in mind that even the most common complications associated with breast augmentation, still very rarely occur. And in cases where they do, they can be simply addressed with the help of a board-certified plastic surgeon. Something I recommend to all breast augmentation patients is not skipping out on follow-up appointments to make sure that everything is as it should be with their breast implants in the years following their procedure. For more information or to schedule a plastic surgery consultation, contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. You can also follow along with me on Facebook for additional plastic surgery tips, news, videos, and much more.

Is Scarring A Concern After Cosmetic Breast Surgery?

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The threat of visible scarring after plastic surgery can be a major deterrent for some patients. After all, who wants to pay for a cosmetic procedure and go through surgery and recovery only to have their aesthetic results marred by an unsightly scar? However, in my personal experience as a board-certified plastic surgeon, this concern is often exaggerated. While it’s a fact that there will be some degree of scarring following a cosmetic breast surgery procedure, many patients are surprised to discover how minimal their post-surgery scarring is.

During procedures like breast augmentation surgery, I am able to make my incision in the natural breast crease. This allows me to effectively conceal visible scarring in places that will be difficult to see. In the case of cosmetic breast procedures that require incisions to be made in harder to conceal areas like breast lift surgery, any visible scarring will fade with time and the proper post-surgical care. I make time during consultation appointments to instruct my patients on effective ways to reduce the visibility of scarring including limiting exposure to the sun, avoiding smoking, and applying vitamin E and/or Aloe vera to the scars to promote healthy healing. In my experience, any amount of visible scarring after a breast procedure is not enough to dampen the quality of the results that I am able to help my patients achieve.

In the following video I discuss what cosmetic breast surgery patients can expect following their procedure:

The most helpful way to reduce scarring and promote outstanding results from a cosmetic breast surgery is to choose an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon to perform your procedure. For more information on cosmetic breast surgery or if you would like to schedule a plastic surgery consultation, please contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. Don’t forget that you can also follow along with me on Facebook for additional plastic surgery tips, news, and much more.