Atlanta dr. Elliott

July 19, 2012

Answers to Your Breast Lift Surgery Questions

Blog, Breast Surgery, Educational Atlanta breast lift surgeon, Atlanta breast lift surgery, Atlanta breast reduction, Atlanta dr. Elliott, atlanta plastic surgeon, atlanta plastic surgery, breast augmentation, Breast lift FAQ, Breast lift surgery FAQ, dr franklyn elliott, franklyn elliott md

Women may choose to have breast lift surgery due to numerous factors. Age, heredity, effects of pregnancy, and/or weight fluctuation can all affect the look of your breasts causing them to lose volume and begin to sag. Most women are affected at some point in their life by one of these factors, and many may be good candidates for breast lift surgery. Dr. Franklyn Elliott specializes in breast procedures and has spoken at numerous symposiums and lectures about breast lift techniques. Dr. Elliott travels worldwide to educate local and international breast surgeons about the most advanced and safest surgical techniques and tools for cosmetic and reconstructive breast procedures. Below are just a few of the common questions many breast lift patients ask.

What does breast lift surgery do?

Breast lift surgery restores the position of breasts that have begun to sag and lose volume. During the breast lift procedure, Dr. Franklyn Elliott will trim excess skin and tighten supporting tissue to position the breast to a more lifted and youthful position.

Can exercise tighten the skin around my breasts instead of breast lift surgery?

Although exercise is vital to your overall health and wellbeing, exercise alone will not tighten lax skin around your breast. Breast lift surgery is used to tighten the breast skin creating a firmer appearance while positioning the breast higher on the chest.

Does a breast lift procedure leave a scar?

Like all surgical procedures, scarring will occur after breast lift surgery at the incision site. There are several surgical technique options that can lead to minimal scarring, and scars will gradually fade over time. Some creams and serums can reduce the appearance of scars after plastic surgery. Dr. Elliott will work with you to determine which technique is the best option for you depending on your individual circumstances.

Can you combine other procedures with breast lift surgery?

Yes, breast lift surgery is often performed in conjunction with breast augmentation or breast reduction to increase or decrease breast size. Breast lift surgery will not increase or decrease the size of the breasts, it will lifts the position and create tighter breasts. Women looking to have fuller breasts or excess glandular fat removed while obtaining a lifted appearance may be good candidates for combined breast procedures.

Is breast lift and breast reduction the same procedure?

No, breast lift surgery and breast reduction are not the same surgical procedure. Breast lift surgery lifts the position of the breasts while a breast reduction removes excess fat, glandular tissue and skin from the breasts.

If you are considering a breast lift procedure, please contact our office today to set up a consultation. Don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google + to stay informed of all the latest breast news and technology.

April 23, 2012

Frequently Asked Breast Reconstruction Questions

Blog, Breast Cancer, Breast Reconstruction, Educational atlanta breast reconstruction, Atlanta dr. Elliott, atlanta plastic surgeon, atlanta plastic surgery, atlanta reconstructive surgeon, Atlanta reconstructive surgery, breast reconstruction, Breast reconstruction FAQ, dr franklyn elliott, franklyn elliott md

Breast reconstruction surgery is an emotionally charged process filled with a number of “what-ifs.” From basic questions regarding what to bring to the hospital to more complicated inquiries like what happens in surgery, we know that educating our patients is the first step to helping them feel comfortable with their decision to undergo breast reconstruction. Below are just a few of the common question we answer for our breast reconstruction patients.

What kind of clothes should I wear after surgery?

Many patients find that button-up and zip-up shirts are more comfortable the first week or more after surgery. Lifting your arms overhead may be difficult due to the nature of the surgery, so shirts with openings in the front will allow you to move more comfortably. Patients recommend soft, warm fabrics as many find hospitals on the chilly side. Some women say large camisoles that allow them to step into the shirt and pull it up or “bird-wing” their arms into the sleeves without raising them are also nice after surgery. Some companies make custom post-surgical shirts that are loose and even have pockets for drains.

What kind of scarring can I expect after breast reconstruction surgery?

Depending on the breast reconstruction technique used during your surgery, there are different incision placements. Some patients’ cases are less complicated and surgeons can try to hide scars. The flap procedures in which spare tissue is taken from the tummy can result in a tummy tuck like scar across the lower abdomen. Scars can be vertical, horizontal, straight, or curved. Each patient’s scars will be different because each woman’s medical needs are different. See Dr. Elliott’s breast reconstruction photo gallery to see the types of scars associated with specific surgical techniques.

Is breast reconstruction hard on the body? What is recovery like?

Each woman’s breast reconstruction situation is different. Some women undergo bilateral mastectomies of both breasts while others only have one removed. As such, each person’s recovery is different. Some breast reconstruction surgery techniques are less invasive than others. The TRAM procedures, for example, use tissue from another area of the body to replace the breast tissue lost during breast cancer removal surgery. Recovery from these surgeries generally takes longer. Dr. Franklyn Elliott provides all his breast reconstruction patients with specific aftercare instructions to ensure each patient’s recovery is as quick as possible.

Breast reconstruction surgery is never an easy choice. Some patients decide to have their surgery immediately after breast cancer removal, while some decide to wait or have to wait because of the need for radiation or other factors. We recommend you seek a consultation from a board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon like Dr. Franklyn Elliott along with your oncologist and general surgeon. There, you and your doctors can formulate a plan that best suits your needs, and you can ask any questions you may have.

To stay up to date on the latest breast cancer and reconstruction news, make sure to follow Dr. Elliott on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. You can also sign up for his monthly newsletter.

April 16, 2012

Can I Have Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer after Breast Implant Reconstruction?

Blog, Breast Cancer, Breast Reconstruction, Educational Atlanta breast cancer surgery, atlanta breast reconstruction, Atlanta dr. Elliott, atlanta reconstructive surgeon, Atlanta reconstructive surgery, Atlanta TRAM flap, Breast cancer surgery, Breast implants and radiation, breast reconstruction, breast reconstruction news, Capsular contracture, dr franklyn elliott, franklyn elliott md, TRAM flap

dr elliott Radiation is meant to kill any remaining cancer cells in the body in order to prevent a recurrence of breast cancer. While it destroys cancer cells, radiation also affects blood supply to skin and deep tissues and even causes scar tissue. A breast implant would be subject to these changes since it would be directly within the radiation treatment area. Implants placed under the pectoral (chest) muscle would be subject to scarring that occurs in the muscle.

As the skin and muscle scars after radiation therapy, so does the scar capsule surrounding the implant. This puts patients at a greater risk for capsular contracture which occurs when a patient’s body reacts to a foreign object, forming a capsule around the implant. The extra scarring causes the capsule to tighten around the implant, creating a painful condition in which the breast looks hard and abnormal. While the implant itself remains normal, the tissue around it is affected.

Patients can have radiation therapy after TRAM flap reconstruction procedures with tissue expanders. However, it’s important to remember that the tissue will still be affected (i.e., scarring, changes in blood flow). This means the skin used in reconstruction will not be as soft as it would be if it were not part of radiation therapy. Most surgeons will delay breast reconstruction if their patients need radiation so that they may use healthy tissue that hasn’t been affected by the treatment. Although each patient’s situation is unique, in general I prefer the TRAM flap procedure in any situation where radiation therapy is involved.

Stay up to date on the latest breast cancer and breast reconstruction news by following Dr. Elliott on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

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