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Atlanta breast surgeon

Ask Dr. Elliott: Can I Breastfeed with Implants?

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Plastic surgery can create lifelong changes by helping a patient become more confident in their own skin. But before you make your decision about any elective procedure, it’s important to be informed and to think about ALL the effects it can have. In this interest, many of my patients who are considering a breast augmentation ask me what impact the implants will have on their ability to breastfeed any future children they may have.

In general, breast implants do not interfere with breast function, so the vast majority of patients will have no less ability to breastfeed than they did before breast augmentation. There are, however, some rare complications which can affect breastfeeding, as my video below explains.

Breast enhancement is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures, and thanks to modern medicine, it is now a rather straightforward and low-risk surgery. To learn more about the other breast surgeries and cosmetic procedures I offer, explore my website and schedule a consultation with me to discuss your specific needs. Or, for more helpful videos, plastic surgery news, and more, follow me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott, on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Procedures for Common Signs of Aging

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Everyone wants to feel confident in their appearance, but one problem which will take its toll on all of us is aging. Throughout both the face and body, the years begin to show up gradually, and while everyone ages in their own unique way, there are some signs of aging which are nearly universal. Fortunately, for each of these cosmetic concerns, there is a surgical or non-surgical way to minimize it.

Procedures for Common Signs of AgingSagging skin throughout the face and/or neck

While wrinkles alone may not warrant plastic surgery, if you’ve noticed that your skin is more lax and has begun to sag, it may be time for either a facelift, a short scar facelift, or a neck lift. While the neck lift is generally for patients who are happy with their facial appearance but have seen significant sagging throughout the neck area, those who want to rejuvenate both their face and neck are often better candidates for a traditional facelift. However, many patients who want to focus their efforts on the face can reach their desired results with a minimally invasive short scar facelift instead.

Drooping breasts

For many women, time and aging skin can cause their breasts to take on a less desirable shape, and this is especially likely for those who have experienced weight fluctuations, pregnancy, or breastfeeding. A breast lift can maintain the current size while lifting the breasts to a more youthful position, and for women who would also like their breasts to be larger or smaller, a breast augmentation or reduction can often be performed during the same surgery.

Age spots and wrinkles

Patients who either haven’t experienced enough skin laxity to require a facelift or who want to address surface imperfections like age spots may be candidates for laser skin resurfacing. This is a non-surgical treatment which uses a laser to remove damaged surface skin. At the same time, the laser helps the deeper layers of skin to produce more collagen, the protein which keeps your skin looking young and firm. The result is a more even and youthful complexion.

Sagging skin throughout the body

It’s all too easy to see your facial skin lose volume and firmness as your body produces less collagen over time, but this same process happens with the rest of your skin as well. Whether your skin laxity is caused by aging alone or has been worsened because of weight fluctuations or pregnancy, surgeries like the tummy tuck, arm lift, or thigh lift can remove excess skin for a younger and more toned appearance.

Bags under the eyes or “hooded” eyelids

The effects of gravity and the changes your skin goes through over the years can sometimes make the natural fat deposits below your eyes more pronounced, and can also lead to sagging skin above your eyes, giving your eyelids a “hooded” appearance. These issues can be addressed with eyelid surgery (or blepharoplasty) of either the upper or lower eyelids or both, depending on your specific needs.

Aging effects everyone at different rates and in different ways, so it’s important to base your plastic surgery decisions on your specific needs and desired results, not on what others your age are getting done. To discuss your aesthetic options, schedule a consultation with me, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Franklyn Elliott. Or, for more helpful information about plastic surgery, join me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Tips for Healing from a Breast Augmentation

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For most patients, getting ready for breast augmentation (or any plastic surgery) involves a combination of nervousness for the procedure and excitement about their results. As great as this optimism is, it’s also important to realize that you won’t find a perfect and polished appearance the minute you awake from surgery. Your true results won’t be visible until your body heals, your swelling is gone, and your incision lines fade. In your eagerness, it’s easy to mentally skip over the recovery period, but those first days and weeks after surgery are an opportunity for you to take several measures to help your body heal and to make your final results as satisfying as possible. While every patient is unique, below are a few ways you can make the most of your body’s healing time.

  • tips for healing from breast augmentationFollow post-surgical instructions. This is the most important element to a healthy and successful recovery. As a double board-certified plastic surgeon, I’ve been guiding patients through surgery and recovery for over 30 years, and as your surgeon, I’m also familiar with all the specific details of your case. Your aftercare instructions are based on your individual needs and your unique procedure, and they are the key to a healthier, more comfortable, and more successful healing process.
  • Find the right balance of activity for each stage of the process. While I’ll be able to give you some guidelines based on your unique needs and your procedure (for example, did you only have a breast augmentation or did you pair it with a breast lift as well?), it’s important to be up and walking around a little bit every few hours as soon as possible to lower your risk for blood clots. But while some level of activity is vital, you should also be cautious not to push your body too hard too soon after breast surgery, because this can cause complications and a much longer healing process.
  • Take your pain medication. While different patients may need different amounts of pain management, you should be honest with yourself about whether or not you actually need it. Allowing yourself to be in more pain than you need to be can raise your blood pressure, which increases your risk for a number of problems and complications, so while you shouldn’t take too much pain medicine, you should also avoid taking too little.
  • Follow through with all of your post-surgical appointments. One of your most effective tools for a healthy recovery and ideal plastic surgery results is careful and consistent monitoring. Problems may arise at any stage of the healing process, and there may be warning signs you aren’t aware of or haven’t noticed, so keeping your follow-up appointments at my office is a crucial part of ensuring that you are recovering correctly.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions. After your surgery, you may have concerns or symptoms that arise, and unfortunately, many patients react by searching the web to see if their symptoms are normal or a warning sign. While the internet can be a useful tool in some cases, you may come across information that is either inaccurate or is intended for other patients in different circumstances, so your best option is to call me and ask if you should be concerned, because I’ll be able to base my recommendation on the specific details of your case.

Thinking about your breast augmentation recovery can be nerve-wracking, but as long as you follow your post-surgical instructions and the tips above and stay in communication with me throughout the process, you can keep your risks low and help your body heal more smoothly and more quickly. To start discussing whether cosmetic surgery is the right choice for you, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. Or, for more helpful tips and plastic surgery news, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

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