Franklyn Elliott, M.D.
Board Certified in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
President, Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, 2000-2001
Director, Atlanta Breast Surgery Symposium, 1989-2003
Co-Director, Atlanta Breast Surgery Symposium, 2003-Present
Cosmetic Surgery of the Face, Breast, and Body
Cosmetic and plastic surgery can improve the appearance of the face, breast, and body. Board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Franklyn Elliott is advanced in cosmetic procedures ranging from the traditional facelift and breast enhancement to the all-encompassing mommy makeover surgery and circumferential body lift. Dr. Elliott is particularly interested in developing new cosmetic surgery techniques, and has developed a short scar facelift procedure that is performed under local anesthesia. His enthusiasm for emerging techniques assures his patients of his commitment to their safety and mission to provide optimal plastic surgery results.
Click on a cosmetic surgery procedure listed below to learn more:
Cosmetic Surgery of the Breast |
Cosmetic Surgery of the Face |
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Cosmetic Surgery of the Body |
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Breast Augmentation / Breast Enhancement:
This procedure utilizes a breast implant to enlarge the breast. The breast implant is usually placed behind the pectoral muscle to achieve a more natural, soft result in many cases. The operation is met with almost universal success, as most patients are very happy with their result. Dr. Elliott’s patients’ ages range from the late teens through age sixty. The operation can be done either through an incision around the areola or on the lower breast. To view Dr. Elliot’s breast augmentation results click here.
Diagram from ASPS
Types of breast implants:
Dr. Elliott uses both silicone gel-filled implants and saline implants for breast augmentation. Dr. Elliott prefers silicone gel implants for breast reconstruction because they feel a little more natural after a mastectomy. Dr. Elliott is quite happy using round implants as opposed to shaped implants, commonly known as anatomic implants, which can turn and become asymmetrical. Round implants assume an anatomic shape once they are placed in position.
Tubular Breasts / Asymmetric Breasts:
A tubular breast is one that is tight in the lower pole. This finding is often coupled with differences in the size and shape between the two breasts, or breast asymmetry, which is a congenital problem. Correction of this deformity can be done in a variety of ways. Breast implants are often used to correct the size differences. Shape differences are typically adjusted with breast augmentation alone or along with breast lift (mastopexy) procedures. Nonetheless, some of Dr. Elliott’s happiest patients are those who originally had breast asymmetry.
Breast Lift / Mastopexy:
Many patients who have had children develop a condition called breast ptosis or breast droop and seek out a mommy makeover surgery to lift additional areas of the body. If the amount of drooping is mild, a breast augmentation may correct it. However, in many cases a breast lift is needed to achieve the most satisfactory result either with or without placement of a breast implant. All breast lifts do not require an implant despite common assumptions. If the patient has an adequate amount of breast tissue initially, a breast lift may yield a wonderful result without an implant. Breast implants should be added if the patient desires larger breasts as well as a lift. To view Dr. Elliot’s breast lift results click here.
Diagram from ASPS
Breast Revision:
There are many indications for breast revision surgery either in the reconstructive or cosmetic surgery area. For cosmetic surgery, breast revisions are often done to adjust the position of a breast implant or to change the implant to a larger or smaller size. Secondary breast lifts may be necessary years after a breast augmentation due to breast droop or ptosis. If breast implants become hard due to scar tissue: a complication known as capsular contracture, procedures can be done to soften the breast and achieve a more natural result. In addition, older breast implants can leak and may need to be exchanged.
Breast Reduction / Mammaplasty:
Candidates for breast reduction surgery are often unhappy with the size and shape of their breasts. Overly large breasts may cause pain syndromes in the neck and back which can interfere with patient’s work habits and recreational activities. Breast reduction can relieve these symptoms and also result in more attractive, lifted, and perky breasts. Scars can be minimized using the newer vertical scar technique, although this technique is not preferred for reducing extremely large breast. To view Dr. Elliot’s breast reduction results click here.
Diagram from ASPS
Male Breast Reduction / Gynecomastia:
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Diagram from ASPS |
Breast enlargement in males, sometimes referred to as "man boobs," can occur at anytime in life. These findings are often linked with hormonal changes, but can also be associated with weight gain. Candidates for male breast reduction surgery are often unhappy with their enlarged breasts and are often not confident enough to remove their shirts. Reduction of this breast tissue and fat can achieve a remarkable improvement that satisfies the patient and truly changes their life’s activities. The operation generally requires only a small incision on the chest combined with liposuction to remove the excess, unwanted breast tissue.
Mommy Makeover
Mommy makeover is a recently coined term used to describe a popular combination of cosmetic procedures to remedy the effects of pregnancy and childbirth. Typically, candidates for mommy makeover surgery have droopy breasts and/or excess, lose skin on their tummy. The “Mommy Makeover” is comprised of a breast lift, and at times, a breast enlargement along with a tummy tuck, and liposuction of adjacent areas. Abdominal muscles, usually loosened by a baby’s growth, cannot always be tightened with exercise alone. Much like the dramatic, quick weight loss that occurs with post bariatric surgery patients requiring a body lift to tighten, surgical tightening may be required to restore the tummy to its “pre-mommy” state. Performed together, a tummy tuck and breast lift create dramatic results in the right patients.
Liposuction:
Liposuction has been around since 1980 and has undergone numerous improvements in the intervening years. Presently, there are a number of techniques to destroy fat cells and remove them. These include suction removal of fat under one atmosphere of negative pressure, laser destruction of the fat and then removal of the fat remains, water destruction of fat cells under pressure with subsequent removal of the fat remains, and vibrating power destruction of fat cells with removal of the fat remains.
Dr. Elliott has tried several of these procedures and feels that the standard removal of fat under one atmosphere of pressure is the most efficient, safe, predictable and successful of these techniques. He uses smaller cannulas which require only very small incisions for accurate removal of the fat. There is no risk of burning the overlying skin with Dr. Elliot’s version of the standard technique, unlike some of the other aforementioned techniques. By utilizing the standard liposuction technique, Dr. Elliot eliminates the need for additional equipment and surgical time: minimizing the risk of surgical complications or added expense for the patient.
Tummy Tuck/ Abdominoplasty:
The tummy tuck operation addresses excess skin, fat and weakened abdominal muscles in post weight loss patients. The tummy tuck procedure is highly effective (and requested) by patients who have had children. Thus, abdominoplasty is often a component of mommy makeover surgery which rejuvenates those areas of a woman’s body most affected by pregnancy and child birth (i.e.- breast , tummy, and hips).
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Diagram from ASPS |
Tummy tuck surgery is particularly successful in women who have had a C-section because they already have a scar through which
Dr. Elliot can access the excess abdominal tissue. Even in patients who have not had children or a C-section, a tummy tuck can provide a significantly improved abdominal appearance with a scar hidden below the belt line. While a traditional tummy tuck entails muscle repair, excess skin removal, and targeted
liposuction, not all women will require a full version of the procedure. Dr. Elliot performs mini tummy tuck surgery for patients with isolated cosmetic issues.
To view Dr. Elliot’s tummy tuck / abdominoplasty results click here.
Not all patients require
liposuction, muscle repair, and skin removal.
Mini Tummy Tuck:
A mini tummy tuck, like a traditional tummy tuck, is used to flatten a patient’s abdomen by removing excess skin and fat. Unlike the traditional tummy tuck procedure, Dr. Elliot uses a shorter incision for Atlanta cosmetic surgery patients who need less skin removal. A mini tummy tuck can be performed with or without a liposuction procedure depending upon the amount and location of excess abdominal fat. To view Dr. Elliot’s mini tummy tuck/ abdominoplasty results click here.
Arm Lift / Brachioplasty:
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Diagram from ASPS |
While brachioplasty is often performed on patients who have undergone massive weight loss, Dr. Elliott has found the procedure can be performed on any patient who is concerned about excess skin, fat, or looseness of the proximal arm. This type of post weight loss surgery is often performed in conjunction with other body lift procedures such as a breast lift (mastopexy) or tummy tuck (abdominoplasty). An arm lift operation can be done either with liposuction alone or with removal of excess skin. Dr. Elliot uses an incision in the armpit or an incision extending the length of the upper arm depending on the amount of skin and fat to be removed. While the latter procedure has the longest scar, it is positioned on the inside of the arm and is not seen from behind or in front of the patient. To view Dr. Elliot’s arm lift (brachioplasty) results click here.
Body Lift / Belt Lipectomy:
The body lift is an extension of a regular abdominoplasty in that it serves to remove excess skin and fat of the abdomen. However, unlike a traditional tummy tuck, the circumferential body lift removes excess tissue all the way around the waist to the back’s midline. Dr. Elliot can achieve a striking, significant improvement using the body lift on his Atlanta post bariatric or post weight loss cosmetic surgery patients. This can be achieved particularly after massive weight loss with patients who have lost down to their BMI (body mass index). The operation is often combined with liposuction of the thighs and can achieve truly remarkable results in patients with excess skin in these areas.
Diagram from ASPS
Thigh Lift / Thighplasty:
Excess, hanging skin on the thighs is a relatively common problem for post weight-loss (bariatric) surgery patients. The thigh lift procedure is an effective remedy for the lax skin stretched beyond the skin’s elastic restriction ability. During thigh lift surgery, Dr. Elliot carefully hides incisions along the legs’ natural folds and meticulously excises the excess lean fatty tissue from the problem area(s) to define a tighter, more shapely leg. Thigh lift surgery can effectively target excess tissue on the inner or outer thigh, and in addition to post-bariatric surgery patients, it is also useful to those individuals who cannot rid themselves of excess skin despite rigorous dieting and exercise efforts. To view Dr. Elliot’s thigh lift results click here.
Facelift:
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Diagram from ASPS |
The facelift procedure involves lifting the cheeks, jaw line, and neck for a tighter, more youthful appearance. The operation is often combined with eyelid procedures (blepharoplasty) and/or a brow lift for an overall facial rejuvenation. Multiple combinations can be used, and in fact, Dr. Elliott prefers to tailor each operation to patients’ individual wants and needs. Dr. Elliott does not like to encumber the patient postoperatively with large, uncomfortable dressings that lead to swelling. By facilitating the recovery process for his patients, Dr. Elliot feels they are more likely to adhere to aftercare guidelines and obtain favorable facelift results. Dr. Elliott feels that the facelift procedure should be preceded by a topical regime of the facial skin (including daily moisturizer and sunscreen application) to ensure optimal healing and facelift surgery results. To view Dr. Elliot’s facelift results click here.
Mini-Facelift:
A mini-facelift is simply a smaller version of a full facelift operation for patients who need less lifting. Dr. Elliot’s chief focus with a mini–facelift is to provide his Atlanta facial cosmetic surgery patients with a refined jaw line and cheek contour. This lift usually involves less skin removal and less severe tightening. Thus, the scar is shorter and recovery time is abbreviated. To view Dr. Elliot’s mini facelift results click here.
Short Scar Facelift:
The short scar facelift could be likened to the mini-facelift. It is more appropriate for younger patients or those who have less need for a full facelift. Dr. Elliot performs short scar facelifts on patients under local anesthesia: eliminating the need for lengthy recovery time without compromising the rejuvenating effects of the procedure. To view Dr. Elliot’s short scar facelift results click here.
Eyelid / Blepharoplasty
Diagram from ASPS |
Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is a procedure used to rejuvenate the appearance of the face, eliminate bags underneath the eyes, lift drooping eyelids, and is often combined with a facelift or short scar mini facelift. Eyelids begin to droop as collagen degrades with facial ageing. During an upper blepharoplasty, Dr. Elliot surgically removes the excess skin of the upper eyelids that contributes to the patients’ eyes’ hooded appearance. While bags underneath the eyes are often a result of genetics, the fat deposits can become more pronounced as other areas of the face begin to thin. Dr. Elliot remedies these deposits with a lower blepharoplasty. To view Dr. Elliot’s eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) results click here.
Endoscopic Browlift
The brow lift or forehead lift procedure is an effective way to reduce forehead’s skin wrinkling and lift the position of the eyebrows. This procedure is occasionally combined with a lower lid blepharoplasty to remove bags under the eyes. Dr. Elliot accesses the relaxed muscles of the brow and forehead through small incisions hidden within the hairline or the natural creases of the facial anatomy. Dr. Elliot carefully repositions the muscles and skin of the forehead to restore a lifted, more youthful, alert facial appearance for his Atlanta facial plastic surgery patients. To view Dr. Elliot’s brow lift/ forehead lift results click here.
Diagram from ASPS
Nose Surgery / Rhinoplasty
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Diagram from ASPS |
Rhinoplasty, generally known as a nose job, is a common, yet complicated reconstructive and/or cosmetic surgery procedure. Patients may choose to have a nose job to improve breathing problems or specifically for aesthetic purposes. This procedure can be complicated due to the complex anatomy of the nose, so it is of utmost importance to choose a board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, like Dr. Franklyn Elliott, who is experienced in rhinoplasty. A successful nose surgery will improve the appearance of the nose: making it more proportional to the patient’s face; without compromising its vital function. Dr. Elliott will thoroughly discuss the patient’s expectations and any functional issues to determine if rhinoplasty, or another facial cosmetic procedure, will yield the most favorable result. To view Dr. Elliott’s rhinoplasty results click here.
Laser Resurfacing:
Laser resurfacing has evolved over the last several years to achieve significant results in patients with fine lines of the face. While laser skin resurfacing cannot replace the surgical grade results of a facelift procedure that actually lifts the skin, it can tighten the skin and remove fine lines around the mouth, as well as and on the cheeks, or along the forehead. Laser skin resurfacing is an excellent procedure for patients who have smoked in the past and are unhappy with the fine lines around their mouth or those who don’t have severe enough wrinkles to warrant a facelift, mini facelift, or brow lift .
Fat Injection for Wrinkles and Enhancement:
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Diagram from ASPS |
Dr. Elliott prefers to use the patient’s own fat to fill wrinkles and areas of the face, such as the cheeks, that have lost volume with age. During autologous fat transfer, Dr. Elliot harvests the patient’s own fat through liposuction from an area such as the abdomen or thighs, purifies it, and re-injects the material into hollowed areas of the face. Other fillers such as Juvederm® and Restylane® are made with chemicals that mimic your body’s youthful qualities; however, they work on a temporary basis, require regular re-injection to maintain results, and present the risk of allergy because of their foreign composition. Dr. Elliott has achieved remarkable results in the nasolabial folds and other areas of the face.
Botox®:
Botox® is an excellent procedure for achieving smoothness of the skin on the forehead, in between the eyebrows, and lateral to the eyes (crow’s feet). Botox® is an agent that temporarily relaxes the wrinkle-causing muscles in any of these areas for up to 6-7 months. The results of Botox® injections are predictable and successful; accounting for the product’s extreme popularity. Additionally, Botox® injections are easily combined with other topical procedures such as laser skin resurfacing to magnify all-over facial wrinkle elimination results. Dr. Elliott is reluctant to use Botox® in areas other than those described above.
