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Atlanta facial plastic surgeon

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+.

Your Rhinoplasty Questions Answered

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Cosmetic nose surgery, or rhinoplasty, has long been one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures because the nose can have such a strong impact on the overall look of the face. Even a small change to the nose can improve the balance and symmetry of all the facial features. But despite how common the surgery is, many patients are nervous and have a lot of unanswered questions as they begin to learn about rhinoplasty. Today, Atlanta board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Franklyn Elliott is answering some of the most frequently asked questions about nose surgery.

Rhinoplasty Atlanta GA (Large)What cosmetic issues can rhinoplasty address?
Dr. Elliott: Like all plastic surgeries, rhinoplasty differs from patient to patient because it’s tailored to your unique needs. The procedure can improve the appearance of crooked or asymmetrical noses, noses with bumps or depressions, overly large nasal tips or nostrils, and noses that are larger or smaller than the patient would like them to be. But this isn’t an exhaustive list, so you should talk to a board-certified plastic surgeon about your specific concerns.

Can rhinoplasty fix breathing problems?
Dr. Elliott: Generally speaking, yes, there are several breathing problems that can be improved with nose surgery, including a deviated septum and structural breathing obstructions. In many cases, these medical changes are accompanied by aesthetic changes as well. However, not all breathing issues can be corrected with rhinoplasty, so be sure to schedule a plastic surgery consultation to discuss your specific goals and expectations.

Is rhinoplasty safe?
Dr. Elliott: Nose surgery has existed for a long time and medical advancements have made it an increasingly safe procedure. However, every surgery has risks, and I discuss this thoroughly with my patients before their surgery so they can make an informed decision. The best way to minimize your risk of complications is to choose an experienced and reputable board-certified plastic surgeon and to follow all of their instructions both before and after your procedure.

What scarring can I expect after rhinoplasty?
Dr. Elliott: Your scars depend on the details of your surgery. For some rhinoplasty patients, incisions can be made solely inside the nose itself, so that no scarring will be visible. Other patients require an incision across the small area between their nostrils, but scarring is still minimal and is in a rather discrete area of the face. To change the size of the nostrils, you may require external incisions, but these scars can be disguised within the natural creases of the nose.

How long does it take to recover from rhinoplasty?
Dr. Elliott: In general, rhinoplasty patients can expect to return to most of their daily activities within two to three weeks after their surgery. However, it depends on how extensive your procedure was, as well as your individual medical needs. Before any plastic surgery, I discuss my patient’s expected recovery time based on their specific circumstances and help them understand how to prepare.

As with any cosmetic procedure, rhinoplasty can make a powerful difference in a patient’s life by giving them confidence and self-esteem they’ve never had. However, not everyone is a good candidate for rhinoplasty. To start discussing whether rhinoplasty (or a different plastic surgery) may be a good choice for you, scheduled a consultation with Dr. Franklyn Elliott. Or, for more helpful tips and the latest plastic surgery news, follow Dr. Elliott on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Winning Combinations of Cosmetic Procedures

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Plastic surgery can be a great way for patients find renewed confidence in their appearance. But many patients have more than one “problem area” that they would like to improve, so I’m often asked whether or not it’s wise to combine multiple procedures into one surgery. As long as the patient is healthy enough, combining cosmetic procedures can be an effective way to not only address several concerns at once, but to cut down on the recovery time and costs that would be involved if each of the procedures were performed separately. While there are a limitless number of combinations, below are some of the most popular groups of procedures that are performed together.

Mommy Makeover: Breast procedure, tummy tuck, liposuction
In general, a mommy makeover is a group of procedures that are designed to rejuvenate and repair the areas of a woman’s body that are affected by pregnancy. The surgery typically includes liposuction for areas of stubborn fat; a tummy tuck to re-firm the abdominal skin and repair the muscles that have been separated during pregnancy; and a breast surgery. Every woman’s breasts respond differently to pregnancy and breastfeeding, so a mommy makeover can include a breast augmentation, a breast reduction, or a breast lift.

Post Weight Loss Surgery: Arm lift, tummy tuck, breast lift, thigh lift
Like pregnancy, weight loss can cause dramatic changes in the size of your body that occur too quickly for your skin’s natural elasticity to keep up. For many patients, this results in sagging excess skin that cannot be corrected with diet and exercise. For these patients, cosmetic procedures that are designed to remove the unwanted skin and tighten the remaining skin can give them the contour they’ve worked so hard to achieve. When the excess skin occurs in multiple areas of the body, procedures like an arm lift, tummy tuck, breast lift, and thigh lift can be combined in order to accomplish the patient’s aesthetic goals with a shorter recovery time.

Procedures to Minimize Aging: Facelift, brow lift, neck lift
Aging may happen to everyone, but facial plastic surgery allows patients to combat its effects. Because every patient ages differently, I offer a variety of rejuvenating procedures to target each patient’s individual areas of concern. For patients who choose to address facial aging in several areas at once, procedures like the facelift, brow lift, and neck lift can be combined to provide a more comprehensive, natural-looking rejuvenation.

Choosing the plastic surgery procedure (or combination of procedures) is a very personal decision that should be based on your aesthetic goals and an understanding of your options, and I recognize the importance of customizing each patient’s procedure to their needs. To start discussing your options and creating a treatment plan, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott, and visit my Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for more helpful plastic surgery information.