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What is Involved in a Neck Lift?

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When men and women want to look younger, they have a tendency to focus much of their effort on facial rejuvenation. It’s understandable, considering that our face is typically the first aspect of our appearance that others notice. But unfortunately, while focusing on the face, patients often overlook another area which is just as visible and can age just as quickly: the neck. If you’re unhappy with sagging skin throughout your neck, excess fat under your chin, or both, a neck lift might be the ideal solution.

What is Involved in a Neck LiftLike any plastic surgery, neck lifts must be tailored to each individual patient. As a result, they can consist of any or all of the elements below:

  1. Skin Tightening

Typically the most noticeable sign of aging on the neck is sagging, wrinkled skin, sometimes referred to as a “turkey wattle.” Fortunately, a neck lift can address this problem directly. Using subtle incisions either under the chin, behind the ears, or both, the surgery involves removing excess skin and giving the remaining skin a firmer, smoother, and younger-looking appearance.

  1. Muscle Tightening

Aging might be most visible in the skin, but it certainly doesn’t stop there. The muscle in your neck (called the platysma muscle) also loosens and weakens with age, contributing to the appearance of an unflattering neck where obvious banding is present. To create a more satisfying and natural-looking result, most neck lifts include tightening the platysma muscle in addition to skin tightening, creating an overall smoother look.

  1. Liposuction

While most people think of liposuction as a way to flatten their abdomen, it’s also highly effective for the area under the chin (sometimes called a “double chin”). Fat in this area is often genetic and can be very difficult to burn off with diet and exercise, and it can play a large role in the appearance of the neck. For this reason, liposuction under the chin is commonly used in a neck lift to offer not only a younger but a slimmer, more contoured appearance as well.

Knowing whether or not a neck lift is the right choice for you can be a bit complicated. Some patients who think they need a neck lift are actually ideally suited for a facelift or liposuction alone, while others can actually achieve the best result with a combination of a neck lift and another cosmetic surgery. To receive an evaluation and recommendation from a double board-certified plastic surgeon, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. Or, for more plastic surgery tips, health news, and more, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Thank You for a Memorable 2016, from Dr. Franklyn Elliott

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It’s hard to believe that yet another year is wrapping up. The holidays and the new year offer an opportunity to pause from our day-to-day schedules and reflect on the important aspects of our lives. And for me, it’s also an opportunity to let all of you – my patients and supporters – know how much I value you.

Thank You for a Memorable 2016, from Dr. Franklyn ElliottAfter over thirty years as a double board-certified plastic surgeon, I still have a passion for helping my patients restore their confidence in their appearance. I’ve seen firsthand the difference this can make in a patient’s overall outlook. But while I do enjoy performing cosmetic surgeries like eyelid surgery, tummy tucks, and breast augmentations, I also have the unique honor of helping breast cancer patients and survivors restore their self-image with breast reconstruction. Breast cancer alone is an emotionally draining battle, but many of these women are also deeply affected by a mastectomy or lumpectomy because they view their breasts as a symbol of their femininity. As a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who specializes in breast reconstruction, I find it to be a true privilege to help these strong women restore their confidence, and they are often the patients I find it the most rewarding to work with.

Throughout 2016, I also enjoyed traveling both for leisure with my wife and daughters and for continuing my work of educating other surgeons using the many advanced techniques and helpful knowledge I have gained. This year, I was able to not only attend but to participate in conferences like the Biennial Congress for the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in Japan, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, the Annual Meeting for the Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Orlando, and the Atlanta Breast Surgery Symposium.

Finally, this year I also received the treasured award of being named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor in Atlanta. This honor is nominated by fellow plastic surgeons and is awarded to a small group based on several different criteria, like contributions to the field, education and experience, and background.

It’s certainly been a busy and productive year, but it’s a great feeling to be wrapping up 2016 with pride in what I have accomplished and with the memories of all the wonderful patients I have worked with over the past year. I also have the pleasure of working with an exceptional medical team, so I would like to offer them my sincerest gratitude for their help in giving our patients a wonderful experience from start to finish. To my patients, thank you for giving me the honor of being your plastic and reconstructive surgeon, and I look forward to continuing my work in 2017.

If you would like to learn more about the cosmetic and reconstructive procedures I perform, schedule a plastic surgery consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. Or, to keep up with my future events and plastic surgery news, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Ask Dr. Elliott: Can I Combine Breast Reduction with a Tummy Tuck?

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We all live with the knowledge that aging will happen and will, most likely, leave us feeling less confident in our appearance. But for some women, the aesthetic affects aging has on the body are compounded by factors like pregnancy, motherhood, or weight fluctuations. Fortunately, as cosmetic surgery (and the medical field in general) makes one advancement after another, regaining your self-image has become more and more attainable, and a prime example of this is our ability to combine multiple cosmetic procedures into one surgery. Today, we’ll be taking a closer look at why two particular plastic surgeries—breast reduction and tummy tuck—can make a perfect combination for some patients.

  • breast-reduction-atlanta-georgiaExcessive breast size and sagging skin often appear together.

In general, there are two primary causes of excess abdominal skin—pregnancy and significant weight loss. Aging can have an effect as well, but the problem often begins with one of these two events, and both of these factors can also make the breasts look large, droopy, and out of proportion with the rest of the body. Because many women who are concerned with their large breasts or less-than-firm stomachs are experiencing not just one but both of these issues, they may choose to have both areas improved at the same time.

  • The breasts and stomach can be reshaped to complement each other.

In terms of body contouring procedures like breast surgery, a tummy tuck, and liposuction, the key is sculpting the areas of the body so that they’re proportionate and complementary to the other areas—for instance, having the right balance of breast and midsection. Choosing to combine breast reduction and a tummy tuck can allow your board-certified plastic surgeon to contour both areas in a way that brings out the best in your upper body.

  • Breast reduction and a tummy tuck have a similar recovery time.

One factor to consider before a multi-faceted plastic surgery is that you’ll be recovering from multiple procedures at the same time. Many patients find this to be convenient, especially when their chosen surgeries require similar amounts of downtime (like the breast reduction and tummy tuck, both of which can take several weeks of healing time before resuming normal daily activities). In other words, it’s easier for most patients to, for instance, take two to four weeks out of their year to recover from a combined surgery than to take the same four weeks this year plus an additional four weeks of healing time next year.

For some patients, breast reduction and a tummy tuck can be a great combination that allows them to regain confidence in their appearance, but the key is, “for some patients.” Plastic surgery needs to be customized to address your unique concerns and your individual medical situation. Whether your cosmetic struggle is with overly large breasts and excess skin or with something else entirely, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott, to discuss your options. Or, to stay up-to-date on the latest plastic surgery news by following me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

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