Plastic Surgery News

Clear Communication in Your Plastic Surgery Consultation

Choosing the Timing of Your Own Breast ReconstructionDuring your consultation at Atlanta Plastic Surgery, your plastic surgeon will ask you questions to get a better idea of what you want, invite you to ask any questions you might have, and possibly even have imaging done. The initial plastic-surgery meeting is unique among other medical consultations; there’s a high level of collaboration between you and your surgeon as you discuss your potential procedure. Therefore, today we’re discussing four major steps you can take to ensure that you achieve peak patient-surgeon understanding. In addition to arriving 15 minutes early and filling out your paperwork ahead of time, optimizing your communication level is the best thing you can do to make sure your consultation is smooth, productive, and pleasant for everyone involved.

  1. Research each surgeon’s section of our Atlanta Plastic Surgery.

On the Atlanta Plastic Surgery website, you can browse through the Procedures, Biography, and Before-and-After sections of each of our experienced plastic surgeons. This will help you determine which surgeon is best for your desires and requirements, and it will also help you get an idea of what types of questions to prepare for your consultation. You can read previous patients’ testimonials and other reviews to help you narrow down your choices, and you might even decide to schedule meetings with multiple surgeons to explore all of your options.

  1. Research your procedure ahead of time and prepare questions.

Online resources can be great starting places for getting general ideas about what types of questions to ask. Remember, however, that the internet contains a lot of misinformation, and anyone can say whatever they want about anything online. When it comes to self-education in a specialized, dense field like plastic surgery, it’s best to air on the side of caution. Your consultation will be a fantastic opportunity to ask one of our highly credentialed surgeons about any research you may do. The information in the Atlanta Plastic Surgery Procedures section and Blog is reviewed or written by our practicing surgeons, so that might be a good place to start your journey.

  1. Write down anything you want to ask or chat about.

Plastic surgery is complicated. That’s one of the many reasons that our surgeons spend the better part of a decade learning about their areas of expertise in school, then attain several years of experience before taking on maximum responsibility. Even if one of our highly credentialed plastic surgeons were considering having a procedure done on an area on which he or she routinely operates, we would still recommend that he or she come into the consultation with a list of questions and concerns for the surgeon performing the procedure. It’s in your best interests to get every question and concern out in the open, and checking off a physical list is the best way to ensure that you and your surgeon cover your bases, achieve a mutually beneficial dialog, and get the most out of your plastic surgery consultation.

  1. Bring in visual aids like photographs and clothing.

If you’re trying to get back to a past weight, or you want your face to look like it did fifteen years ago, showing your surgeon a photograph of yourself from that time will be helpful for a few reasons. The more ways you have to fully explain your plastic-surgery goals, the closer your results will likely be to those goals. Furthermore, seeing exactly what you want out of your procedure will help your surgeon explain just how close he can get to your desired result. Hollywood and internet folk-wisdom can give people unrealistic—either overly optimistic or irrationally skeptical—expectations, and that isn’t helpful in a doctor-patient relationship.

The primary goal of any medical consultation is to exchange the maximum possible amount of information from patient to doctor, and vice versa; each party needs to leave the meeting with a new and satisfying understanding of the situation. It’s the medical professional’s job to explain the details of a potential upcoming procedure, and it’s the patient’s job to make his or her concerns and goals as clear as possible so that expectations are realistic. At Atlanta Plastic Surgery, we take pride in the fact that our surgeons and staff make open and productive communication a priority.

If you’re considering plastic surgery and would like to speak with an experienced surgeon about your options, please contact one of our Atlanta Plastic Surgery offices to schedule a consultation. There, in addition to discussing your prospective procedure, we can go over our available financing options with you. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest plastic surgery news.

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Ask a Plastic Surgeon: Are There Non-Surgical Ways to Look Younger?

For more than half a century, Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. has been recognized throughout the medical community as one of the Southeast’s premier cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery centers. Our expert plastic surgeons have been published in numerous textbooks and medical journals and have conducted lectures, presentations, and live surgical demonstrations all around the world. In our blog feature, “Ask a Plastic Surgeon,” our APS doctors answer questions that are frequently asked by plastic surgery patients, about everything from facial rejuvenation to body contouring plastic surgery. It is our hope that these answers will be able to give our patients better insight into what is possible with plastic surgery and help them decide what procedures might be right for them.

Botox or a Facelift Which is Right for MeQUESTION: I have recently turned forty, and even though I work hard to stay in shape and protect my skin from the sun, I have started to notice some signs of aging in my face, particularly around my eyes and forehead. I am interested in having some work done to help me maintain my youthful appearance, but am uncomfortable with the idea of surgery. I have had a bad reaction to general anesthesia in the past and would like to avoid that if at all possible. Are there any non-surgical treatments that can help?

ANSWER: Undergoing general anesthesia is rarely a preference, and although it’s rare, adverse reactions can happen. Fortunately, there are many ways that a plastic surgeon can help you look younger, using only non-surgical or even non-invasive techniques. Dysport® or Botox® cosmetic injections, for example, can help soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles caused by expression and constant movement, particularly around the eyes and between the brows, with a single ten-minute treatment. Some patients have even found that Botox® can effectively “press pause” on the facial aging process, temporarily relaxing muscles so that wrinkles form more subtly and slowly, as well as delaying the point at which surgical intervention might become necessary.  Additionally, facial fillers like Juvéderm® or Restylane® can help restore youthful volume to areas of the face (such as the cheeks or mouth) that have become thin or sunken, and laser skin resurfacing treatments can help by smoothing out facial blemishes, bumpy skin texture, and acne scarring, all of which make the skin look older and more worn. Each of these procedures can be performed safely in our office and does not require general anesthesia. In fact, many patients undergo injectable treatment during a long lunch and can return to work that same day with only minimal or no discomfort.

Every patient is different and has his or her own areas of concern, but with all the non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatments available, there is certain to be an option that is ideal for you. If you would like to learn more about any of the various cosmetic plastic surgery procedures that we perform, please contact one of our Atlanta Plastic Surgery locations. During a facial rejuvenation consultation, we can discuss your individual areas of concern and arrive at an approach that is customized for your specific needs. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ to get all the latest plastic surgery news.

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Atlanta Plastic Surgery Doctors Recognized as Atlanta “Top Docs”

Atlanta Plastic Surgery Undergoing any form of cosmetic or reconstructive plastic surgery is always a very personal experience.  Patients really need to develop an open line of communication with a doctor that they can trust so that they are comfortable explaining their aesthetic goals and asking questions about their procedure.  There are several different things that patients should look for when choosing a plastic surgeon, but one of the most important is a long-standing reputation for exceptional patient care.  That is why we are so proud to announce that this year three of the board certified plastic surgeons at Atlanta Plastic Surgery, Dr. Philip H. Beegle, Dr. Franklyn Elliott, and Dr. Joseph K. Williams, have been recognized in Atlanta Magazine as “Top Docs” in the field of plastic surgery.

There are many different awards to which physicians can aspire, but the “Top Doc” honor is distinctive because it is based upon both the evaluations of experienced medical professionals and the testimonials of real patients.  Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. is a healthcare research and information company that was founded in 1991 specifically to help guide consumers to America’s top doctors and top hospitals. Every year, Castle Connolly collects peer-nominations from doctors in fifty-eight different specialties, including internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, and of course cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.  After undergoing a rigorous screening process, these nominees are voted on by hundreds of thousands of physicians, as well as academic medical centers, specialty hospitals, and regional and community hospitals all across the nation.  The goal is to generate a list of doctors that excel in both academic medical research and who exhibit exceptional patient care, physicians “to whom physicians would send their own families.”  A list of the “Top Docs” in Atlanta was recently published in the July issue of Atlanta Magazine.

Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. has a long tradition of health care excellence, and has been recognized throughout the medical community as one of the Southeast’s premier cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery centers for fifty years.  This year’s “Top Docs” list included only nineteen physicians in the plastic surgery category, so we are particularly proud that Atlanta Plastic Surgery doctors were honored more than any other practice in the Atlanta area.  Each and every one of the surgeons at Atlanta Plastic Surgery has extensive experience performing all forms of plastic surgery and has demonstrated a deep commitment to providing the best possible patient care.

If you are interested in undergoing any form of cosmetic or reconstructive plastic surgery, from body contouring to minimally-invasive facial rejuvenation, and would like to learn more about the different options that are available, please contact Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. so that we can schedule an appointment for a plastic surgery consultation.  Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest plastic surgery news.

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Ask a Plastic Surgeon: Can I Get My Breast Implants Removed?

For more than half a century, Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. has been recognized throughout the Southeast as one the premier cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery center.  Our expert plastic surgeons have published extensively on a variety of plastic surgery topics and have conducted lectures, presentations, and live surgical demonstrations around the world.  In this ongoing blog feature, “Ask a Plastic Surgeon,” our APS doctors will answer some of the most common questions asked by plastic surgery patients.  We hope that this information about everything from facial rejuvenation to body contouring plastic surgery will be able to give you better insight and help you decide what plastic surgery procedures might be right for you.

Ask a Plastic Surgeon Can I Get My Breast Implants Removed

QUESTION: Many years ago, back when I was in my early thirties, I made the choice to undergo breast augmentation surgery.  I have never regretted my decision or had any complications, and I have always been very pleased with how my breasts turned out.  However, in the time since then I have had three children and my body has changed a great deal.  I am sad to admit that I have gained some weight and my breasts now seem uncomfortably heavy and droopy.  Is it at all possible to have my breast implants removed or perhaps replaced with some that would look more natural on my current frame?

ANSWER: Your situation is not as uncommon as you might think.  Although breast augmentation has an extremely high patient satisfaction rate, there are several reasons why a woman who has undergone the procedure might want to have her breast implants removed or replaced.  In rare cases, complications might arise or an implant may become damaged, necessitating replacement.  More commonly, typical events like pregnancy and breast feeding, fluctuations in weight, or simply the natural aging process can cause changes in a woman’s body that may make the breast implants look less natural or less flattering than they once did.  Any of these situations can be addressed using a procedure called breast revision surgery.  Because every woman’s case is different, each breast revision procedure is customized to address specific, individual concerns.  However, the surgeon will do everything possible to minimize scarring, even using the incisions from the original surgery if possible to ensure the best possible final results.

Breast revision can also be done in combination with other plastic surgery procedures.  Women who feel as though their breasts have begun to sag and droop can combine the removal of implants with a breast lift, or mastopexy, to give the breasts a perkier and more youthful appearance.  In other cases, fat taken from elsewhere in the woman’s own body can be injected around the edges of the new breast implants to “soften” the transition zone and provide more natural looking results, using a procedure called fat transfer.  Finally, women who have experienced changes in their bodies as a result of pregnancy and breast feeding often opt for a complete mommy makeover, a procedure that generally combines a breast lift, tummy tuck, and liposuction to restore the body to its pre-pregnancy appearance.

Even if you are getting a little older there is no reason you cannot continue looking your best.  Patients are surprised when they find out just how much plastic surgery can accomplish.  If you are interested in learning more, or would like to schedule a personal consultation to find out what plastic surgery can do for you, please contact Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. at one of our Atlanta, Alpharetta, Cumming, or Newnan offices.  Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for all the latest plastic surgery news.

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