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Atlanta cosmetic surgeon

Happy Holidays from Dr. Franklyn Elliott and Staff

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Happy Holiday ImageWe find ourselves once again at the time of the year that makes us put our day-to-day jobs, tasks, and responsibilities on hold to remind ourselves what’s truly important in our lives, like our loved ones. While I cherish the time I spend with my family and friends, I also want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for you, my patients.

Although I’m truly passionate about cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, part of what makes my job so rewarding is the outstanding patients I have the privilege of working with. From those in their 20s and 30s who have long dreamed of a rhinoplasty or breast augmentation, to those in their 60s and beyond who want to reclaim their youthful looks, to those who have battled breast cancer and are ready to restore their confidence with breast reconstruction, there’s nothing quite like seeing the excitement of someone who’s happy with their appearance, and I’m honored to be a part of the process.

Beyond working with patients here in Atlanta, I’ve also had some fantastic experiences this year traveling to many conferences, professional meetings, and other events, and this has allowed me to both pass along my knowledge to other surgeons and to learn about the latest developments in the field of plastic surgery. I participated in several gatherings here in the United States, like the Atlanta Breast Surgery Symposium and the annual meeting of the Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, as well as numerous events abroad, including the Acelity™ Advanced Educational Forum’s Breast Meeting in Rome and the Aesthetic Meeting (for the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation) in Montreal.

2015 has certainly been a year to remember, and I’m honored to have the support of such exceptional plastic surgery patients. It’s been a true joy to help you feel empowered by your appearance this year, and I look forward to continuing my work in 2016. From my entire team and I, we wish you all happy holidays and a very happy new year.

Addressing Complications after Overseas Plastic Surgery

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Like so many fields today, plastic surgery is constantly changing, from new developments and technologies to the trends which seem to shift from one week to the next. But one growing trend has become quite concerning: the rising number of patients returning home to the US with complications from plastic surgery they had overseas. It may seem tempting on the surface to use a vacation in South America, Asia, or the Caribbean to undergo and recovery from an inexpensive cosmetic surgery. However, there are serious risks to consider, and I have been receiving more and more calls from patients whose procedure abroad has left them with expensive, unsightly, or dangerous complications. If you’re weighing the option of traveling to another country for plastic surgery (also called plastic surgery tourism), here are a few points to consider.

  • traveling out of the country for plastic surgery - read this firstNot all countries are as strict with medical regulations as the United States is. In the US, patients know to look for a board-certified plastic surgeon, because this certification requires an extensive amount of specialized education, skill, and experience. When you’re planning a surgery in another country, you won’t be as knowledgeable about the qualifications you’re looking for or about how rigorously those qualifications are upheld. This applies to not only the surgeon but the facility where your procedure will take place, the anesthesiologist, and the surgical nurses.
  • Travel carries inherent risks for surgical patients. Long flights or drives alone can make you more prone to potentially serious blood clots, like deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, and this risk is amplified after surgery like a tummy tuck. This is especially true when you still have some soreness from your procedure, making it more difficult and less likely for you to stand and walk around periodically throughout your flight.
  • One of the primary reasons patients seek plastic surgery overseas is because the procedure is cheaper in some other countries, but other expenses like travel costs, weeks of hotel accommodations, and extra medical care or even more surgery due to complications could add up and make your surgery just as expensive (or even more expensive) than if you had chosen to have your procedure in the US.
  • Follow-up exams are a vital part of the surgical recovery process to make sure you’re healing properly, and you’ll typically have these exams periodically for several months after your procedure. As a result, many patients don’t get all the follow-up visits they need after surgery abroad, which opens the door to more serious complications.
  • Every country is different regarding how much legal liability physicians have, and in some cases, you may have little if any legal recourse if your surgeon makes a mistake.
  • Communicating effectively with your doctor is vital. Even if you have a fairly strong grasp of the language your cosmetic surgeon speaks (or the surgeon has a fairly strong grasp of English), your conversations with the doctor will involve medical jargon, so it would be easy for you or the surgeon to misunderstand each other, which can end with complications or disappointing results.
  • While you’re planning your procedure from the US, you won’t be able to visit the doctor in person or see the medical facilities beforehand, which means you may be misled about the conditions of the facility or you may not be as comfortable with the surgeon as you thought you would be.
  • Many patients have the idea that they will use their surgical recovery time in another county as a vacation. Unfortunately, few realize that many of the typical vacation activities (swimming, sunbathing, going on hikes or tours, or indulging in decadent foods and cocktails) are off-limits while you’re recovering from surgery.

Choosing a plastic surgery procedure and a trusted surgeon are always difficult choices, but when you’re unfamiliar with the country and environment where your operation will be performed, it can open the door for a host unintended consequences, and this has been the case for several of my recent patients. To discuss how I can help you address your cosmetic concerns right here in Atlanta, or if you want to resolve your complications from an overseas procedure, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott.

Ask Dr. Elliott: How Do I Decide Between a Facelift and a Neck Lift?

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While everyone has aspects of their appearance they want to change, self-consciousness about particularly visible areas (like the face and neck) can take an especially large toll on one’s self-esteem. Depending on what your aesthetic concerns are, plastic surgery may be the most effective way to restore your confidence in your appearance. However, it’s important to choose the right procedure for your needs, and this can be more difficult than it initially seems. If you aren’t sure whether a facelift or a neck lift is the best choice for you, these tips can help you have a better understanding of your options.

Ask Dr. Elliott How Do I Decide Between a Facelift and a Neck LiftA facelift can rejuvenate areas including and above the jawline and chin, while a neck lift targets the neck below the chin.

Both the neck lift and facelift improve sagging skin, but finding the line between where a facelift stops and a neck lift begins can be difficult, especially considering that a facelift can be customized to focus on the specific areas of the face each individual patient wants to address. While some patients consider the jowl area to be closer to the “neck” region, a facelift or short scar facelift is generally the better way to address this popular concern. A neck lift, on the other hand, targets areas further down the neck. When you schedule a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott, we can discuss your needs and determine which procedure best fits your desired results.

A facelift primarily improves signs of aging, while a neck lift can also have a slimming effect.

As we age, our skin loses volume and firmness, and while this doesn’t generally have the effect of making the face look heavier, sagging skin in the neck area can unfortunately create a less flattering appearance, and excess fat below the chin can amplify the effect. While lifting and repositioning facial tissue (which is done during a facelift) can take years off your appearance, a neck lift also has the result of giving you a more slender (and, of course, younger) profile, so it’s important to decide whether this is a desired result when you’re choosing a procedure. While simply removing excess skin will have a slimming effect, combining a neck lift with liposuction may produce even more significant results, so be sure to discuss your aesthetic priorities during your pre-surgical consultation.

Doing your research and reading articles such as this to learn about your cosmetic options can be a great way to begin your cosmetic surgery process. However, your final decision about any aesthetic procedure should be made with the guidance of a board-certified plastic surgeon, and a personal consultation is a vital step in the process. For more helpful information and the latest news about plastic surgery, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

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