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TRAM flap breast reconstruction

Dr. Elliott to Participate at the Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons’ Breast Surgery Symposium

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Dedicated to teaching colleagues and other plastic surgeons, Dr. Franklyn Elliott frequently attends and participates at national and international plastic and reconstructive surgery conferences. From January 11th to 13th, Dr. Elliott will be attending and lecturing at the 29th Annual Breast Surgery Symposium hosted by The Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (SESPRS) and Northside Hospital.  As an emeritus chairman, Dr. Elliott has been actively involved in this conference for 23 years.dr elliott plastic surgeon

This annual meeting held in Atlanta will feature live demonstrations of breast surgery techniques, expert led discussion panels and a question and answer segment.  Dr. Elliott will be lecturing on breast reconstruction, specifically Methods to Make Bilateral Pedicle TRAM’s More Successful.   He will also be moderating panels discussing breast revision surgery, as well as the use of acellular dermal matrices in aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery.

Passionate about breast reconstruction surgery, Dr. Elliott developed and introduced a revolutionary mammoplasty technique as well as refined the TRAM flap method, developed by Atlanta Plastic Surgery Founder Dr. Carl Hartrampf.  Dr. Elliott is also looking forward to moderating the symposium’s breast revision panels as he is highly experienced in breast revision surgery to correct breast surgery complications or further enhance aesthetic results.

If you are interested in learning more about cosmetic or reconstructive breast procedures with Dr. Elliott, please call our office to schedule a consultation. You can also connect with Dr. Elliott on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest plastic surgery news and information.

New Device May Help Patients Prepare for Breast Reconstruction

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Every women responds differently when they receive a life-changing diagnosis such as breast cancer.  As a patient discovers her treatment path, she will most likely also consider breast reconstruction surgery options.  Breast reconstruction is a procedure that restores breasts after breast cancer removal surgery.

There are many options available for breast reconstruction surgery including TRAM flap breast reconstruction, DIEP flap reconstruction, and scarless latissimus flap surgery.  Depending on the circumstances, a woman may have immediate or delayed breast reconstruction using a breast implant or tissue expander.

As one of Dr. Franklyn Elliott’s passions, he understands reconstructive surgery is a personal decision and spends the time with each patient discussing all of their options as well as questions and concerns. As each patient’s circumstances are unique, Dr. Elliott can help evaluate and prepare an individual for  breast reconstruction surgery. During a consultation he will determine if a patient has enough tissue to insert a breast implant or if a tissue expander is needed to create more room for an implant.

Recently, the first remote-controlled tissue expander device was used at the University of Massachusetts Medical School to prepare a patient for breast reconstruction. The AirXpander is similar to other tissue expanders as it stretches skin to make room for the implant but is less invasive than other options. With this device an implant is inserted that contains a cartridge of carbon dioxide and an antenna. A transponder remotely triggers the device to release carbon dioxide up to three times a day under the skin. This preparation is said to be virtually pain-free, and women can be prepared for surgery in much less time than the regular 6-month wait with traditional tissue expanders.

As Dr. Elliott stays on the forefront of new breast reconstruction technology and advancements, he is excited to see more about this device’s use. The AirXpander is currently undergoing clinical trials at 10 hospitals across the county.

To find more information about breast procedures Dr. Elliott performs, please contact our office.  You can see Dr. Elliott’s breast work on our before and after gallery. To stay updated on the latest in breast surgery news follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google +.

How Long Does Breast Reconstruction Take?

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After breast cancer surgery like a mastectomy, many women find it difficult to consider breast reconstruction surgery. However, studies done across the country including one published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) says that breast reconstruction is beneficial both physically and emotionally for breast cancer patients and survivors.
The process of having a breast removed is mentally trying, and having additional invasive procedures to replace what was lost often gets put to the wayside in favor of emotional healing. However, new advances in breast reconstruction technology and techniques make undergoing breast reconstruction surgery safer and more beneficial than ever.

One common question from many of Dr. Franklyn Elliott’s breast reconstruction patients is how long the breast reconstruction process takes. While the answer to this varies depending on the type of procedure performed and each patient’s individual situation, the average breast reconstruction procedure  can take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours.

A tissue expander procedure can take about an hour to complete, while pedicled TRAM, free TRAM, and DIEP flap reconstruction techniques take 2 to 3 hours depending on the patient and the surgeon. During a pedicled TRAM, muscle and other tissue is removed from the abdomen and relocated to the breast area, while remaining attached to a blood supply. With the free TRAM technique, muscle and fat tissue is removed from a section of the abdomen and reattached to a blood supply in the breast area. In a DIEP flap procedure, tissue is removed from the donor area with no muscle attached to help recreate the breast.
For some women, procedures are spread out in which tissue is removed and relocated to the breast and then tissue expanders are used to help stretch the skin to make room for an implant. In these cases, multiple procedures are necessary to achieve the patient’s desired result.

As the developer of one of the original breast reconstruction techniques first used by breast surgeons, Dr. Elliott will be showcasing the latest in breast reconstruction technology at the Annual Breast Surgery Symposium in Atlanta on January 13th- 15th, 2012.

Contact our office for more information on the different breast reconstruction techniques or to schedule a consultation for a reconstructive or cosmetic surgery procedure. You can also find Dr. Elliott on Facebook and Twitter with the latest in breast cancer and breast reconstruction news as well as cosmetic surgery updates!