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Ask Dr. Elliott: What to Know Before Arm Lift Surgery?

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Although they may not be the first feature that people think of when trying to rejuvenate their appearance, the arms can be a source of considerable frustration and self-consciousness for many people. It’s common for excess, sagging skin (as well as pockets of stubborn fat) on the arms to appear as a result of weight fluctuation, gravity, or natural aging. Arm lift surgery (or brachioplasty) can help trim away this excess, loose skin and safely remove stubborn fat deposits to create a slimmer arm contour. To help patients understand more clearly how this unique body contouring procedure can help them reduce upper arm sagging, I have answered a few common questions about arm lift surgery.

Ask Dr. Elliott What to Know Before Arm Lift SurgeryQuestion #1: What incision area would you personally recommend for an arm lift?

There are three primary locations where an incision may be made during an arm lift, including the armpit, lengthwise along the front side of the arm, and lengthwise along the back side of the arm. Choosing which incision location is most appropriate for each patient depends on the amount of excess skin that needs to be removed as well as where it’s located. During your arm lift consultation, we will discuss the different incision methods and determine which one is best for you.

Question #2: Can an arm lift be combined with other cosmetic procedures?

Absolutely. As long as you are in good enough physical and mental health, an arm lift can be combined with other cosmetic surgery procedures to achieve even more comprehensive aesthetic results. For patients who have lost a significant amount of weight in the past, loose, excess skin can appear elsewhere on the body, like the abdomen, thighs, back, and breasts. Combining additional body contouring procedures like liposuction or a tummy tuck into one surgery can often be very beneficial. However, you must discuss this with your plastic surgeon during your pre-surgery consultation to determine if combining procedures is the right approach for you.

Question #3: How much recovery time is usually needed after an arm lift?

Although this can vary depending on the patient and the specific details of their surgery, generally 1 – 2 weeks of recovery time are needed after an arm lift before returning to work. I advise my arm lift patients to try to get some light exercise (like easy walking) during their first week of recovery and to avoid activities that raise your blood pressure, as this can cause bleeding at the operative site. You should avoid exercises and movements that directly stress the area of your incision for 4 weeks after your arm lift. Heavy lifting, contact sports, and jogging are typically safe 6 weeks after surgery.

I hope you found these answers informative and helpful. As a double board-certified plastic surgeon, I take pride in helping my patients by answering any questions they may have about their potential cosmetic surgery options. For more information or to schedule a plastic surgery consultation today, please contact me, Dr. Frank Elliott and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for more cosmetic surgery tips, photos, news, and more.

What Happens During a Tummy Tuck?

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A bit of extra weight around the midsection is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, it’s quite common for people to experience excess skin or fat that accumulates on the abdomen as they age. This doesn’t always result from weight gain. In fact, in many cases, this unpleasant abdominal appearance results from significant weight fluctuation, affects related to pregnancy, or other unwelcome changes that occur naturally over time. This stretched, excess skin on the belly as well as a belly “pooch” that occurs with muscle separation cannot be treated with diet and exercise alone.

What Happens During a Tummy TuckFor anyone who desires a flatter, trimmer stomach, a tummy tuck can be an outstanding surgical option. A tummy tuck is a popular cosmetic surgery procedure that works by removing excess skin and some fat from the abdomen, while tightening the underlying muscles, to improve the contour of the stomach. Patients often ask exactly what happens during tummy tuck surgery and how it works. The answer depends on the type of tummy tuck procedure they undergo. Allow me to explain.

The most commonly-performed type of tummy tuck is a standard tummy tuck. A standard tummy tuck removes excess abdominal skin and fat and repairs loosened abdominal muscles to create a more slender, shapelier stomach. During a standard tummy tuck, I begin by making an incision which extends from one hipbone to the other. I make this incision low enough so that it can be concealed under bathing suits and undergarments. If necessary, the belly button can be repositioned to provide more natural-looking results.

A mini tummy tuck is designed to help patients who only seek aesthetic improvement to the area below their navel. During a mini tummy tuck, a smaller incision is made. Unlike a standard tummy tuck, the navel is not repositioned as part of a mini tummy tuck. In some cases, no muscle repair is needed and only excess skin is removed.

Lastly, an extended tummy tuck can help those that seek to enhance not only their abdomen, but the flanks (sometimes referred to as “love handles”) as well. This procedure is usually preferred by patients who have experienced significant weight loss in the past or those who want a more slender waistline. During an extended tummy tuck procedure, I make an incision that extends wider than normal, to the sides of each hip. Despite being wider, the incision is usually made low enough to avoid visibility, even when low-rise clothing is worn.

Regardless of which tummy tuck method is the most appropriate for your specific goals, I have seen firsthand in my many years as a board-certified plastic surgeon that a tummy tuck can provide excellent, often life-changing aesthetic results. If you are curious about a tummy tuck or any of the other cosmetic surgeries that I perform, please contact me, Dr. Frank Elliott, today to schedule your plastic surgery consultation. You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for even more cosmetic surgery tips, videos, and more.

Why a Consultation is So Important Before Breast Augmentation

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The pre-surgery consultation is an absolutely essential part of every patient’s cosmetic surgery journey. During the consultation, a patient will speak at length with their board-certified plastic surgeon about what they hope to achieve through cosmetic surgery, ask any questions they may have about their respective procedure, and discuss how their surgeon can help provide the aesthetic results they desire. The consultation also provides a great opportunity to form a more personal bond with your plastic surgeon to allow for a more open and honest dialogue. But in the case of certain, more customizable procedures like breast augmentation, the consultation phase can be even more vital.

Because breast augmentation surgery provides patients with so many procedure options to choose from, the consultation takes on a greater importance. The final results of any breast augmentation procedure are largely determined by a series of choices that the patient and her plastic surgeon make together during the consultation process. The first choice involves selecting the appropriate implant size that will provide the increase in breast volume that the patient expects. Next, we must determine the breast implant material that the patient prefers. The primary implant options are silicone, saline, and cohesive silicone gel-filled. A patient will also have to decide on the shape and texture of her desired implants, as well as if she wants her implants inserted above or below the pectoral muscle during her procedure. Each option has its own pros and cons depending on each patient’s unique preference.

In the video below, I explain everything patients should expect from their breast augmentation consultation in order to help patients prepare for this all-important step in their road to aesthetic improvement:

For any patient going through the cosmetic surgery process for the first time, I know all of this can seem a bit intimidating. This is why it is so important to find an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon that you can trust before, during, and after your procedure has concluded. Keep in mind that you and your plastic surgeon are operating as a team with one common goal in mind: providing you with a rejuvenated appearance to make you look and feel your very best for years to come. If you would like to learn more about breast augmentation or any other cosmetic surgery procedure, please contact Dr. Frank Elliott today to schedule a plastic surgery consultation. You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for more plastic surgery tips, news, and more.

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