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Atlanta facelift surgeon

Frequently Asked Questions About Short Scar Facelifts

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If you did a search online for “ways to look younger,” you’d find hundreds of millions of results. People all over the world are looking for ways to achieve a more youthful, refreshed appearance, from special diets to unique facials. However, many of them are intimidated by the idea of plastic surgery for facial rejuvenation because they worry that the new scar will look worse than their natural aging.

Ask Dr. Elliott How Do I Decide Between a Facelift and a Neck LiftThe good news is that when a facelift is done correctly by an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon, it can achieve natural-looking results with a discrete scar. For those who want even less scarring than a traditional facelift causes, a short scar facelift could be a more attractive choice. To give curious patients the answers they’re looking for, I’m answering some of the most common questions my patients ask about short scar facelifts.

What’s the difference between a short scar facelift and a traditional facelift?

A short scar facelift, also called a limited incision facelift, is much like a traditional facelift. The key difference is that with a traditional facelift, the incision often goes from the temples down in front of the ears, and around to the back of the ears. With a short scar facelift the incision is smaller, usually limited to the temple and the front of the ear.

What’s the difference between a short scar facelift and a mini facelift?

The term “mini facelift” has become a popular one, but it’s important for patients to realize that there is no standardized mini facelift. The term applies to any way a surgeon adjusts a traditional facelift to make it less invasive, reduce downtime, or reduce scarring. A short scar facelift is a type of mini facelift because it minimizes the incision.

How long will it take to recover from a short scar facelift?

A short scar facelift focuses on the final results from your cosmetic surgery by keeping the scar to a minimum, rather than focusing on limiting your recovery time. In general, it takes the same amount of time to recover from a short scar facelift as it takes to recover from a traditional facelift.

Most patients are back at work within a week to ten days after their facelift. Of course, this depends on your job’s physical requirements as well as how quickly your body is healing. However, it can take a few months for all the remaining swelling to fade.

How do I know if I’ll be able to get the results I want from a short scar facelift?

The key to a successful short scar facelift is making sure you’re a suitable candidate for the procedure. The short scar facelift is best for men and women who have a mild to moderate degree of sagging skin. While a short scar facelift can help patients with moderate laxity in the neck and jowls, more severe sagging in these areas may require a neck lift to to help eliminate a double chin or “turkey neck”.

During your pre-surgical consultation, I’ll be able to evaluate your signs of aging to determine if the short scar facelift is your best option.

Can I combine a short scar facelift with other facial rejuvenation procedures?

If you are a good candidate for a short scar facelift but you also have other areas you want to address, I may be able to perform multiple procedures during the same surgery. For instance, many patients choose to have a short scar facelift and eyelid surgery at the same time. This lets them reposition sagging tissue and skin while also getting rid of “bags under the eyes” or “hooded upper eyelids.” It’s also common to combine a short scar facelift with a neck lift, liposuction for the “double chin,” or a brow lift.

For a typical patient who tries to learn about all the different types of facelifts available, the whole process can be overwhelming. While it’s great to know about your options, you should ultimately make your decision by consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience performing facial procedures to discuss the pros and cons of all your options. If you’re ready to get started, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. For more helpful cosmetic surgery tips and information, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Tips for Choosing a Facial Plastic Surgery Procedure

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All of us have mornings when we look in the mirror and just aren’t happy about how we look, but for many patients who seek plastic surgery, self-consciousness is in the backs of their minds every day. While choosing to take action is a step in the right direction, how do you know what type of procedure will produce the results you want? For facial plastic surgery patients, for instance, there is a wide array of cosmetic options, but many people don’t have a strong understanding of what these are. Here are a few tips to help you narrow down your choices.

facial plastic surgeon atlanta georgiaZero in on exactly what bothers you.

Instead of saying, “I feel like I look older than I am,” go beyond your first impression and try to point to exactly what is making you feel that way. For example, is it due to bags under your eyes, or is it because of sagging skin at your jawline? Or, if you’re unhappy with your profile, is it the size of your nose that’s causing the issue, or is it the shape of it? By taking the time to identify more specific “problem areas,” you’ll have a better idea of which procedures can address them.

Develop a basic understanding of your options.

Unless you’re a board-certified plastic surgeon yourself, you won’t have enough information to know all the details and intricacies of all your aesthetic options, but having an understanding of the general concept of each procedure is invaluable. Explore my website to learn about each of the facial cosmetic surgeries I offer.

Decide how committed you are to the process.

Plastic surgery involves a degree of commitment and patience from you, the patient, to get through the pre-operative requirements and the recovery process. Deciding how much time, effort, and funding you’re willing to devote to your appearance can help you narrow down your options. For example, if you want to reduce signs of aging, you could choose a facelift, which involves some downtime like any other surgery, but if you prefer a shorter recovery period, non-surgical laser skin resurfacing may be a better choice.

Remember, you don’t need to choose just one procedure.

Going back to an earlier example, let’s assume you are bothered by both jowls and bags under your eyes, and want to improve both to look more youthful. In this case, a combination of a short scar facelift and lower blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) may be a safe and effective way to help you achieve the results you want in one operation.

Keep an open mind when you consult with a plastic surgeon.

Once you’ve taken a closer look at your aesthetic concerns and your options for improving them, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. This meeting is an opportunity for me to listen to all of your concerns and questions and to recommend a surgical plan which is tailored to your individual situation. While the information you’ve already gathered is helpful, it doesn’t account for all of the medical and cosmetic details of your specific case, so be careful not to make assumptions about which procedure will be best for you before your consultation. Instead, allow the surgeon to offer expertise and guidance.

Choosing the right cosmetic surgery (or non-surgical treatment) and the right plastic surgeon is an important part of ensuring that your surgery is as safe and successful as possible. If you’re ready to discuss how I can help you be more comfortable with your appearance, contact me to schedule a consultation. Or, for more helpful information and updates about plastic surgery, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Ask Dr. Elliott: How Do I Decide Between a Facelift and a Neck Lift?

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While everyone has aspects of their appearance they want to change, self-consciousness about particularly visible areas (like the face and neck) can take an especially large toll on one’s self-esteem. Depending on what your aesthetic concerns are, plastic surgery may be the most effective way to restore your confidence in your appearance. However, it’s important to choose the right procedure for your needs, and this can be more difficult than it initially seems. If you aren’t sure whether a facelift or a neck lift is the best choice for you, these tips can help you have a better understanding of your options.

Ask Dr. Elliott How Do I Decide Between a Facelift and a Neck LiftA facelift can rejuvenate areas including and above the jawline and chin, while a neck lift targets the neck below the chin.

Both the neck lift and facelift improve sagging skin, but finding the line between where a facelift stops and a neck lift begins can be difficult, especially considering that a facelift can be customized to focus on the specific areas of the face each individual patient wants to address. While some patients consider the jowl area to be closer to the “neck” region, a facelift or short scar facelift is generally the better way to address this popular concern. A neck lift, on the other hand, targets areas further down the neck. When you schedule a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott, we can discuss your needs and determine which procedure best fits your desired results.

A facelift primarily improves signs of aging, while a neck lift can also have a slimming effect.

As we age, our skin loses volume and firmness, and while this doesn’t generally have the effect of making the face look heavier, sagging skin in the neck area can unfortunately create a less flattering appearance, and excess fat below the chin can amplify the effect. While lifting and repositioning facial tissue (which is done during a facelift) can take years off your appearance, a neck lift also has the result of giving you a more slender (and, of course, younger) profile, so it’s important to decide whether this is a desired result when you’re choosing a procedure. While simply removing excess skin will have a slimming effect, combining a neck lift with liposuction may produce even more significant results, so be sure to discuss your aesthetic priorities during your pre-surgical consultation.

Doing your research and reading articles such as this to learn about your cosmetic options can be a great way to begin your cosmetic surgery process. However, your final decision about any aesthetic procedure should be made with the guidance of a board-certified plastic surgeon, and a personal consultation is a vital step in the process. For more helpful information and the latest news about plastic surgery, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

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