Arm lift, or brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the upper arms. This can be done either through an open incision (anterior approach) or through small incisions in the armpits (periareolar incision). The surgery involves removing excess skin and fat around your upper arms and tightening the underlying tissue, which helps reduce loose skin.
The procedure can be done as an outpatient procedure. You will be awake during the surgery but won’t feel any pain because of the anesthesia. It takes about one to two hours to perform, depending on how many areas are being treated at once and how much excess skin needs to be removed.
After arm lift surgery, you should expect some bruising and swelling for about two weeks. The stitches used in this procedure are dissolvable, so there’s no need for removal at the end of your recovery period.
Plastic surgeons use different techniques to perform an arm lift. In general, the surgeon will make an incision around the armpit area (axilla), remove excess skin and fat from the upper arm, and then tighten the surrounding tissue with stitches. The scar will be visible but will fade over time.
Some surgeons prefer using tumescent local anesthesia for arm lifts because it’s less invasive than general anesthesia. This technique uses a numbing agent injected into the tissue around the incision site before making an incision so that you don’t feel any pain during surgery.
As we age, our bodies change and the skin loses elasticity. In addition, weight gain or pregnancy can cause excess fat deposits in the upper arms. Many people also have droopy upper arms after losing weight following bariatric surgery (gastric bypass). The result is sagging skin on the upper arms that can make them appear heavier than they really are.
Arm lift incision
The incision for the arm lift procedure is made in the armpit and runs from the underarm to the elbow. It’s important to know that you will have some swelling, bruising and redness around this area. You may also experience numbness (especially if you have liposuction), tenderness, tingling or aching at the site of your incision. The swelling usually subsides within a few weeks after surgery, but it can take up to six months for all of your results to be visible.
Duration of surgery
The surgery usually takes about two hours to complete. The surgeon will make an incision along the underside of each arm, from just above the elbow to just below the armpit. The surgeon will then remove any excess fat and skin from the upper arms. Muscle tissue may also be tightened during this process. Patients can typically return home after one day in the hospital following arm lift surgery. They must wear compression garments for several weeks after surgery to promote proper healing and prevent swelling or bruising. The compression garments are worn for about six weeks following surgery, but patients may shower as soon as they feel comfortable doing so after surgery. It is important for patients not to exercise strenuously or use their arms too much during this time period, as these activities could cause unnecessary swelling and bruising in their arms.
How long can I expect the results to last?
Arm lifts can be performed as early as six months after childbirth or significant weight loss (if this was the reason for your surgery). As time goes on, however, your body will continue to change shape as it heals from surgery. This means that a follow-up appointment with your plastic surgeon is likely necessary at some point down the road.
Risks and complications
Arms that have been over-stretched by pregnancy or excessive weight loss may not be suitable for an arm lift procedure. And if you’re planning on having children in the future, it’s best to wait until after they’re born before getting an arm lift to avoid any complications during pregnancy. Bleeding: Bleeding is one of the most common risks associated with any type of surgery, including an upper arm lift. This can result in significant blood loss or even death if not treated quickly enough. Infection: Infection is another possible complication of any type of surgery, including an upper arm lift procedure. To help prevent infection after your surgery, keep your incisions clean and dry for at least 24 hours after your procedure. Also avoid any strenuous activity for at least six weeks after your surgery so you don’t risk tearing open your incision site before it has time to heal properly.
What is the arm lift procedure?
The arm lift procedure is also known as brachioplasty, which is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the upper arms. This cosmetic surgery helps to tighten the skin of the upper arms to give them a more toned, youthful appearance. An arm lift can be performed on both men and women with varying degrees of excess skin and fat in their upper arms. To determine if you are a candidate for this procedure, please consult with your board certified plastic surgeon who can examine your body and provide you with an honest assessment of your candidacy.
Am I a good candidate for an arm lift?
There are a number of factors that determine whether or not you’re a good candidate for an arm lift. You should be in good health, and you should have realistic expectations about what the procedure can achieve. You should also be realistic about what the surgery can’t do, such as remove excess skin. If you have loose skin and fat deposits that hang below your arms, an arm lift is a good option to help resolve this problem. However, if you have excess skin on your upper arms but no excess fat deposits, you might want to consider a brachioplasty instead of an arm lift.
What are the side effects of an arm lift?
The procedure involves removing excess fat and skin from the upper arms, also known as “bat wings.” An incision is made just above each armpit, and then stitches are used to pull the excess skin together and tighten it. Skin that is not removed during the procedure may be tightened using lasers. As with any surgical procedure, there are potential side effects that you should discuss with your doctor before undergoing an arm lift. Pain. Pain following surgery is common and can be treated with painkillers or anti-inflammatory medications. It’s important to keep an eye on how much medication you’re using so you don’t become dependent on it. Infection. Infections sometimes occur after surgery, especially if you have diabetes or other medical conditions that weaken your immune system. Signs of infection include redness around the wound and drainage from it, as well as swelling around the incision site or red streaks extending from it toward other areas of your body. You should contact your doctor if these symptoms develop after surgery so treatment can begin immediately.
How long will it take to recover from an arm lift?
The recovery time for an arm lift varies, but is typically less than a month. You can expect to be off work for up to two weeks. The more invasive the procedure, the longer your recovery time will be. You will be able to return to normal activities within a few days of having surgery. However, you should expect some bruising and swelling around your incision sites that may last up to two weeks after the procedure.
What kind of results can I expect from an arm lift?
An arm lift typically improves the shape and contour of your upper arms, but it’s not a cure for every problem area you may have. The results are visible immediately after surgery and continue to improve over time as swelling decreases. But even if you have only small amounts of excess skin and fat, your surgeon may recommend waiting six months before having another surgery on another body part (such as abdominoplasty).
Arm lift is major surgery and a lot of recovery time.
Arm lift is major surgery and a lot of recovery time. It’s usually done under general anesthesia, so you won’t be awake during the procedure. The incision is made along the underside of your arm from armpit to elbow. The excess skin and fat are removed from your upper arm, then the remaining tissue is tightened. After surgery, you’ll have drains in place to help with fluid drainage and prevent infection. These will be removed after a few days. You’ll have stitches that will dissolve on their own over time or might need to be removed at a later date. Recovery time depends on your physical condition, but most people are able to return home within a week after surgery.
How much skin do you have?
An arm lift is designed to remove excess skin and fat from the upper portion of the arm. If you have loose skin in other areas (such as the neck), it might not be worth undergoing an arm lift solely for this purpose alone. However, if there’s excess skin on your arms alone and you don’t want to undergo liposuction or another procedure elsewhere on your body, then an arm lift might be right for you.
How old are you?
Younger people tend to fare better with this type of surgery because they are still physically active and don’t mind taking time off work for recovery. Older people may find that the downtime required by surgery is too great an inconvenience in their lives or that they aren’t able to recover from it as quickly as someone in their twenties or thirties would due to age-related health issues like high blood pressure or diabetes. If you fall into one of these categories, it may not be worth having an upper arm lift at all
You will have to give up smoking before and after surgery.
The smoke from cigarettes contains carbon monoxide, which can cause blood clots in the veins of your arms and legs. If you smoke for more than five years prior to getting an arm lift, it could increase your risk of developing blood clots in your arms and legs by as much as three times. Smoking after surgery may cause severe inflammation around your incisions and lead to poor wound healing or infection.
You need to lose weight before an arm lift.
Many people who want an arm lift think they don’t need to lose weight first because they already have loose skin on their arms. However, loose skin is an indication that you may have lost weight since gaining weight over time causes the skin on your arms to stretch out over time. If you are overweight now but want an arm lift later in life when you’re at a healthy weight, talk with your doctor about how much weight loss is necessary before undergoing surgical procedures like this one.
Do I have to wait until my weight is stable before having surgery?
No, you don’t need to wait until your weight is stable before having surgery. If you’re overweight or obese, however, it’s important to maintain a healthy diet and exercise routine during your recovery period to prevent gaining back any weight that you lose while healing from surgery.
How soon can I exercise after surgery?
The recovery period for arm lifts is variable, depending on the extent of the surgery. In some cases, you may be able to return to exercise within a few weeks, while in others it may take up to six months. Your doctor will be able to give you more specific information about your recovery time based on the details of your procedure. In general, you should expect some swelling and bruising around the incisions for about two weeks after your procedure. It’s normal for this bruising to persist for up to three weeks after surgery. The scars from an arm lift generally fade over time and become less noticeable as they heal. It takes at least six months before they completely disappear, though they may still be visible under certain clothing or in certain positions (e.g., when reaching overhead).
Consider Underarm Liposuction
For many people with loose upper arms, a combination of liposuction under the armpits and an arm lift achieves better results than an arm lift alone. The procedure involves removing excess fat from the armpit area and then lifting the skin on top of it to smooth out its appearance. This approach also allows you to remove excess skin that may have been left behind after an earlier liposuction procedure.
Arm Lifts Are Not For Weight Loss
If you want to lose weight, you should focus on changing your diet and exercising regularly. If you are overweight, arm lifts can help smooth out your skin and remove excess fat. However, if you want to lose weight, arm lifts may not be the best option for you.
Even though the procedure is minimally invasive, there’s still downtime involved.
The amount of recovery time will depend on how much skin and fat is removed during your operation. It’s common to experience swelling and bruising after surgery, so plan on wearing dark clothing until the bruising subsides after several weeks.
An arm lift is not right for everyone with sagging skin on the upper arms.
It can be a good option for those who are bothered by the excess skin that hangs below their elbows and looks floppy, but surgery may not be right for you if you are still active or have a lot of fat in your upper arms. If you’re considering an arm lift, talk with your doctor about your options. An arm lift involves removal of excess skin and fat from your upper arms, as well as tightening of the surrounding muscle tissue. The procedure removes excess skin in the armpit area and can help improve contour and shape.
There’s no such thing as perfect skin.
Even if you’ve never had children or gained weight, your upper arms will show signs of aging over time. A lot of women think that their arms are too fat or flabby when they get older, when in fact they’re just losing muscle mass and have more wrinkles than they did 10 years ago.
Body mass index matters.
Arm lifts are done under general anesthesia, so patients must be healthy enough to tolerate this type of surgery and be able to take time off from work afterward. They also need to commit to attending follow-up appointments with their plastic surgeons during their recovery period. The best candidates for this procedure have a body mass index (BMI) of less than 35 and no other health conditions that could interfere with healing after surgery. Patients should also be emotionally stable because they will need to commit themselves to multiple visits over several weeks or months for physical therapy and wound care after surgery.
There’s more than one type of arm lift.
Arm lift, also known as brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from your upper arms. It’s an alternative to liposuction for people who are unhappy with how their upper arms look. There’s more than one type of arm lift. The most common procedure involves removing excess skin and fat from the upper part of your arms and making incisions along the sides of your armpits. This is called a circumareolar arm lift because it removes extra skin from the area around your areola (the dark circle around your nipple). A circumferential arm lift also removes extra skin from the entire circumference of your arm, including around your armpit area. A circumferential arm lift may require a larger incision than a circumareolar one does to remove enough tissue for you to see an improvement in contour and volume.
