An arm lift, which is also known as brachioplasty, removes excess hanging skin from the underarm and reshapes the under portion of the upper arm.
What is an arm lift?
Many women are unhappy with their arm’s look, especially with sagging or appearance of loose and full due to excess skin. These kinds of inconvenient looks may occur relating to weight loss, ageing and genetics and can not be corrected through exercise, but fortunately an arm lift surgery is a solution. An arm lift or brachioplasty reduces excess sagging skin that droops downward, tightens and smoothens the underlying supportive tissues that defines the shape of the upper arm and reduces localized pockets of fat in the upper arm region.
How is an arm lift performed?
An arm lift surgery (brachioplasty) is performed under general anaesthesia, generally lasts between 1-2 hours, which can be longer due to any additional operations such as liposuction.
To perform the surgery, our plastic surgeon will make incisions on the inside or back of your arm. Incisions may span from the underarm to just above the elbow, depending on the amount of excess skin. Some people who have lost a significant amount of weight following bariatric surgery may have more excess skin and will need an incision that runs from the elbow, along the arm pit, and onto the side of the chest.
Before the incision is made, your plastic surgeon may use liposuction to remove excess fat. Excessive skin is then removed, tightened and sutured into place with deep sutures that are absorbable. Your surgeon may also use sutures in the skin that will need to be removed within one to two weeks after surgery.
What can brachioplasty do?
The smoother, tighter contours that result from arm lift surgery are apparent almost immediately following your procedure. Initial results will be obscured by swelling and bruising, and a scar will remain where the incision was made. The results of arm lift surgery will be long-lasting, provided that you maintain a stable weight and general fitness. As your body ages, it is natural to lose some firmness in your arms, but most of your improvement from surgery should be relatively permanent.
Many patients who have an arm lift may also consider other body contouring procedures, such as tummy tuck, thigh lift or body lift. Also, most of the time liposuction is performed before or during an arm lift surgery.
Are you a brachioplasty candidate?
If the underside of your upper arms are sagging or appear loose and full due to excess skin, this procedure may be right for you. Thin people may also have sagging upper arms due to the effects of prior weight loss, ageing and genetics. Even regular exercise and strength training can’t get rid of excess sagging skin in this area; exercise can tone and tighten muscles, but can not tighten skin.
So if your weight is relatively stable, if you have realistic expectations and not happy with your arms’ look, arm lift surgery may be right for you.
How do you feel about your arms?
If you have one or more feelings or conditions, you are a good candidate for an arm lift surgery:
*You have a significant upper arm skin laxity and sagging
*You want to improve your body contour and also appearance of skin
Who decides for details of your brachioplasty surgery?
You and your doctor will discuss all details of your surgery and decide together. You can directly share your complaints and concerns about your arm’s look with your doctor, and also your doctor will share his objective ideas about your arm lift surgery. Maybe your doctor will offer you liposuction together with arm lift. So this is an interactive process that your happiness and healthiness is a priority.
What about recovery of your surgery?
Following your brachioplasty surgery, dressings or bandages will be applied to your incisions, and your arms may be wrapped in an elastic bandage or a compression garment to minimize swelling. A small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect.
Our doctor will give you all instructions to follow after your discharge. During the follow-up process, the doctor will make at least two consultations before you return to your country. Please note that there maybe some scars after your surgery, but our surgeons will take care to ensure that scars are minimum. Most of the scars will be hidden in 1 year time.
You will have a chance to discuss all details including those scars with your surgeon before surgery.
