plastic surgery atlanta | Franklyn Elliott, M.D.

March 3, 2016

Tips for Making the Most of Arm Lift Surgery

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Just like anything else (fashion, entertainment, interior design), plastic surgery has trends. Certain procedures which used to be rare will suddenly become popular, and vice versa. One cosmetic surgery which has increased throughout the US over the past few years is brachioplasty, or the arm lift. It can be a great choice for patients who have sagging skin along the underside of their upper arms, and if it’s a procedure you’re considering, below are a few tips from my experience as a board-certified plastic surgeon to help you get the best possible results.

Be sure you’re getting the right procedure.

Patients often have a difficult time knowing whether the best way to make their arms more shapely is with an arm lift or with liposuction. An arm lift is a more comprehensive procedure, which can remove the excess skin which has begun to sag due to aging and/or weight fluctuations. Liposuction, on the other hand, strictly removes fat. If the shape of your upper arms is due only to excess fat and your skin has not lost a significant amount of its flexibility, liposuction may be your best option, but if you need firmer skin in order to achieve the results you want, an arm lift is probably the right choice.

Maintain a healthy weight before AND after your procedure.

After your surgery, any future weight fluctuations can contribute once again to skin laxity, reducing your results. If you’re in the process of weight loss, it’s best to have your arm lift after you’ve reached your goal weight and after you know that you can maintain your weight long-term.

Select a board-certified plastic surgeon you trust.

Plastic surgery is an investment of your time and money, so to get the safest and most successful results, you should exercise your right to be picky in selecting your surgeon. To find a doctor with the highest level of expertise, look for the words, “board-certified plastic surgeon” in their qualifications, and feel free to consult with several to see who makes you feel the most comfortable and whose before-and-after photos show an aesthetic that’s similar to the results you envision.

Discuss your incision options.

During an arm lift, there are several different locations where your incision may be placed, including the armpit, lengthwise along the front side of the arm, and lengthwise along the back side of the arm. The ideal method for you will depend on how much excess skin you have and where it’s located, and during your pre-surgical consultation, you should be able to discuss your incision with your surgeon.

If there are other body contouring procedures you want, ask about combining them with your arm lift.

Especially for patients who have lost an extensive amount of weight, excess skin can appear on many areas of the body, like the abdomen, thighs, and chest or breasts. If this is the case, you may be a good candidate for combining these body contouring procedures into one surgery. However, be sure to ask about this at the beginning of the process, because it will affect how you plan for your surgery.

Follow all pre- and post-surgical instructions closely and keep all follow-up appointments.

Your recovery is a crucial time in the surgical process, and there are specific instructions you’ll need to follow in order to help your body heal. Be sure to pay close attention to your guidelines, ask any questions you may have, and keep up with all of your follow-up appointments so that I can monitor your condition and make sure you’re healing well.

Every plastic surgery is as unique as the patient receiving it, so the most important part of maximizing your results and your safety is to be active and informed throughout the process. Choose a surgeon you trust, do your research, and always know about any red flags you should look for during your recovery. To start discussing how I can help you achieve the slender, sculpted arms you’re looking for, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. Or, for more helpful tips and the latest plastic surgery news, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

December 24, 2014

The Merriest of Holidays to You, from Dr. Elliott & Team!

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Waking up on a daily basis and genuinely being excited about what you do is something I am eternally grateful for! As the Franklyn Elliott, M.D. team and I start to say so long to 2014, we wanted to let our patients and their families know just how thankful we are for the wondrous generosity we have received this year.

Just as I find immense joy in getting to know my patients on a daily basis, I have been fortunate enough to have a team of skilled and bright individuals to work alongside me and for that, 2014 has been a great joy for me! From enhancing patient safety with innovative techniques to restoring confidence to breast cancer survivors with breast reconstruction, we have had a wonderful year of dedicated work fulfilling our passion of providing nothing short of the best for our patients.

With the 31st Annual Breast Surgery Symposium coming up in January, I as well as other gifted board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeons will gather once again to teach, discuss and learn the plastic surgery technology and techniques that will shape our future. I am honored to be a part of this amazing event and look forward to sharing this, as well as my other travels, in the future! Thank you so very much for entrusting us throughout 2014 and we look forward to sharing many more great journeys in 2015.

From our plastic surgery medical team to you and your family, we wish you the merriest of holidays and a spectacular New Year!

November 24, 2014

Is There a Such Thing as Too Young for Breast Enhancement?

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With the holidays just around the corner, many plastic surgery candidates are using the extra vacation time to have their dream cosmetic surgery procedure(s) performed. When patients come into my office for a consultation they come carrying an arsenal of great questions to help them prepare for their procedure. One of the most commonly sought after questions revolves around the best age to have a specific procedure.

As a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in breast and body procedures, age is a relative term when discussing each of the different procedures, except when it comes to breast augmentation. There are three key factors to consider when discussing the appropriate age for any of my patients to undergo breast enhancement procedures:

Age – breast augmentation is performed by inserting a saline or silicone breast implant into the breast to make them larger. The FDA has guidelines that suggest that patients should be 18 years of age or older to have breast implants. The only exception to this age limit would be if a patient has an extreme problem with breast asymmetry.

Physique – the breasts may not be fully formed until the age of 18 so undergoing breast enhancement prior to being fully developed may cause changes to your plastic surgery results later down the road.

Maturity – being of sound mind is important when having an elective surgical procedure. At 18, patients should be mentally mature enough to make their own decisions. Since plastic surgery is a very personal decision, making sure you have realistic expectations is a must to being truly happy with your new breasts.

No matter your age, it’s important to educate yourself on the potential risks and benefits of any procedure, whether cosmetic or reconstructive, you’re interested in pursuing. If you’re considering breast enhancement or any of the other procedures I perform, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott and contact our office. Be sure to connect with me on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for the latest news.