L. 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
Located at our Northside Location
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
Cosmetic Surgery of the Body
Cosmetic Surgery of the Breast
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There are two primary ways to increase the size of the breast. The first method 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. This operation can be done either through an incision around the areola, on the lower breast, or in the underarm depending on the patient’s needs. The second method involves transferring fat from another area of the patient’s body (such as the abdomen or thighs) to the breast. This operation utilizes an incision where the fat is being removed with liposuction, but the fat is injected into the breasts so only a small incision is needed. There is a loss of a portion of the injected fat (40%) so more fat must be injected that will live. In addition this procedure at this time may require several procedures to achieve a successful result. Both procedures can be met with almost universal success, as most patients are very happy with their breast augmentation results. Dr. Elliott’s patients range in age from the late teens through age sixty and up.
Diagram from ASPS -
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.
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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.
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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.
Diagram from ASPS -
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.
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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.
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Women who have exceptionally large breasts sometimes experience not only emotional embarrassment but physical discomfort and medical conditions as a result. For these women, breast reduction surgery can result in breasts that are more aligned with their aesthetic goals. Depending on the patient’s needs, this procedure uses an incision around the areola, sometimes extending outward as well, through which Dr. Elliott can remove unnecessary tissue and reshape the breast.
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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.
Cosmetic Surgery of the Face
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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. Elliott 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. Elliott’s facelift results click here.
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A mini-facelift is simply a smaller version of a full facelift operation for patients who need less lifting. Dr. Elliott’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.
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The short scar facelift, a surgical technique used by Dr. Elliott, could be likened to the mini-facelift. This facial rejuvenation procedure is more appropriate for younger patients or those who have less need for a full facelift. Short scar facelift is a less invasive procedure as Dr. Elliott repositions skin and soft facial tissues affected by the signs of aging. Dr. Elliott performs short scar facelifts on patients under local anesthesia, eliminating the need for extended downtime.
Scarring is completely removed in short scar facelift because Dr. Elliott uses small incisions in temporal hair extending downward in front of the ear lobe. With this technique, Dr. Elliott addresses the signs of aging including wrinkles, prominent nasolabial folds, lax skin, and jowls.
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Eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) is a procedure used to rejuvenate the appearance of the face, reducing 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. Elliott 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. Elliott remedies these deposits with a lower blepharoplasty. To view Dr. Elliott’s eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) results click here.
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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. Elliott 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. Elliott 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. Elliott’s brow lift/ forehead lift results click here.
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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.
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Laser skin resurfacing has evolved over the last several years to achieve significant results in patients with wrinkles and fine lines of the face. As a minimally invasive alternative to procedures such as facelift surgery, Dr. Elliott performs laser skin resurfacing to remove damaged skin cells and promote collagen growth. Laser skin resurfacing treatments tighten and firm skin, removing fine lines and wrinkles. This procedure can also reduce surface conditions such as scarring, acne and hyperpigmentation.
During consultation, Dr. Elliott discusses aesthetic goals, treatment plans, and expectations with each patient. Dr. Elliott can perform laser skin resurfacing following a surgical facial procedure to improve results and reduce scars or in-office as a minimally invasive rejuvenation treatment.
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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. Elliott 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.
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Botox® Cosmetic 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® Cosmetic 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 reducing results. Dr. Elliott is reluctant to use Botox® in areas other than those described above.
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For patients who experience signs of aging in the neck and throat area, such as sagging skin and excess fat, a neck lift may be able to give them a slimmer, more youthful appearance. Depending on the patient’s desired results, Dr. Elliott will use a combination of liposuction, removal of excess skin, tightening of remaining skin, and firming of underlying neck muscle to create a contoured and rejuvenated neck. A neck lift is often combined with procedures like a facelift or chin surgery to achieve a more desirable shape and balance of the facial features.
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Many patients are seeking to balance their facial features in a more aesthetically pleasing way, and this often involves adjusting the structure of the chin. To create a “stronger,” more pronounced chin, Dr. Elliott uses biocompatible chin implants that are inserted through incisions concealed either within the mouth or underneath the skin. Other patients desire a smaller, less elongated chin, and this procedure involves using incisions to gain access to the bone before sculpting the bone and tissue to create the desired appearance.
Cosmetic Surgery of the Body
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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.
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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).
Tummy tuck surgery is particularly successful in women who have had a C-section because they already have a scar through which Dr. Elliott 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. Elliott performs mini tummy tuck surgery for patients with isolated cosmetic issues.
Not all patients require liposuction, muscle repair, and skin removal.
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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. Elliott 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. Elliott’s mini tummy tuck/ abdominoplasty results click here.
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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.
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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. Elliott 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.
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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. Elliott 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.
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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. Elliott 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.
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Many patients who lose significant amounts of weight, especially those who lose the weight quickly such as through bariatric surgery, reach their healthy goal weight only to find that they have sagging excess skin. This happens when the skin has been stretched beyond its natural elastic ability and is no longer capable of having a firm tone, regardless of the patient’s diet and exercise. For these patients, a number of plastic surgery procedures are effective in removing the excess skin and tightening the skin that remains in order to create a more contoured shape. These procedures can be performed on many areas of the body, and include surgeries like the tummy tuck, arm lift, thigh lift, and breast lift or, in men, male breast reduction.