Get to Know Your Plastic Surgeon Outside of the Office

When you’re choosing a plastic surgeon, you should approach it the same way as you would an interview.  First you would want to check the resume: where they attended medical school, how long they’ve been practicing plastic surgery and their board-certifications.  Then, check the references: what the online review sites say about the doctor, what testimonials are given by previous patients on the surgeon’s website and if their peers have nice accolades to give as well.  Having these tangible things can give you a broad scope of what the potential surgeon is capable of, however it doesn’t quite help you with getting to know them as people.

With the increasing presence of modern-day technology, social media has been a catalyst for keeping men and women of all ages instantly connected.  As a board-certified plastic surgeon I have had the pleasure of working with many great patients and have built lasting relationships that only serves to enhance my love for what I do on a daily basis.  I’ve always wanted to stay connected with past and future patients but for a while there weren’t many viable options; until now!

Education has always been a passion of mine and the internet has allowed me to provide additional resources for my patients, in particular through blogging, social media and YouTube:

• Blogging – one of my biggest passions is teaching. I love educating others on the encouraging medical advancements that are happening today as well as techniques used to improve patient safety.  The Franklyn Elliott, M.D. blog is my way of breaking down topics I think could be useful to anyone interested in plastic surgery.  I try to provide information on topics ranging from in-depth discussions on the techniques I use, different cosmetic plastic surgery procedures I perform and even information on the various speaking engagements I enjoy traveling to and participating in.
• Social Media – there seem to be an endless amount of social media pages that exist today. While I can’t possibly devote the time I think EVERY one of them deserve, I am actively on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.  I use these pages to share everything from the latest blog post, share some of the time I am fortunate enough to have with my wife and family, or share posts that I find interesting myself.  Because of HIPPA laws, I am not allowed to discuss specific medical cases on social media but I am always excited to answer any questions my followers have about any of the procedures I perform.  I always love hearing from my patients and find social media to be a great way for us to stay connected outside of my office!
• YouTube – I’m not sure about you, but visually learning, in my opinion, is great. Sometimes we don’t want to spend time reading a manuscript due to time constraints, but luckily there is an alternative I use for sharing important plastic surgery information: the Elliott YouTube channel!  I like to use YouTube to post short videos where I explain some of the most commonly asked questions I get from patients.  My current videos cover a wide range of cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery topics and I try to post new ones each quarter.  For example, if you have been considering breast augmentation, there are vides on everything from the appropriate age for receiving breast implants to the techniques I use to perform breast augmentation and after-care instructions.

Even if you’re not a big social media user, that’s okay; we love hearing from patients the “old fashioned” way by picking up our telephone!  If there’s ever a question you have or simply want to come in and get to know me personally, don’t hesitate to contact my (Dr. Franklyn Elliott) office.  I am looking forward to connecting with many of you online and hope to see you many of you very soon.