What is an Arm Lift?
An arm lift, also known as a brachioplasty, is a cosmetic surgery performed to remove sagging flaps of skin on your upper arms to give them a well-toned appearance.
What Causes Sagging Skin in the Upper Arms?
Sagging skin in the upper arm region may be caused by:
- Genetics
- Age-related loss of skin elasticity
- Hormonal changes
- Rapid weight loss from diet, exercise, or weight loss surgery
Candidates for an Arm Lift
You may be a good candidate for an arm lift if:
- You do not have any serious health issues.
- Your body weight is within normal limits.
- You have reasonable expectations of the procedure.
Preparing for an Arm Lift
Specific instructions will be provided by your surgeon. In general, you should:
- Get a health checkup to clear you for the procedure.
- Inform your surgeon regarding any health conditions, allergies, and medications.
- Avoid smoking as it can slow down the healing process.
- Follow the pre-surgery dietary restrictions.
Arm Lift Procedure
An arm lift procedure typically involves the following steps:
- Preoperative marks will be made on the arm to map out the incisions.
- The surgery will be performed under local or general anesthesia. Your surgeon will recommend the best option depending on your condition.
- Incisions may be made either on the inside or back of the arm and may extend downward from the armpit.
- Surgical instruments will be inserted through the incisions to remove excess tissue and fat.
- The underlying tissue will be tightened.
- The skin incisions will be closed with sutures.
- Bandages will be applied over the incisions, and you will be transferred to the recovery room.
Recovery after an Arm Lift
You may experience some pain and swelling at the incision site. Medications will be provided to manage these symptoms. You will be given instructions on incision site care and bathing. A compression garment will be provided to reduce swelling and support the tissues as they heal. Follow-up appointments will be scheduled to assess incisions and treatment outcome after the swelling has subsided. You should be able to return to work within 2 weeks with some restrictions. Full return to normal activities may take up to 6 weeks.
Risks of an Arm Lift
An arm lift is a very safe procedure. However, as with any other surgery, there is a minimal risk of infection, scarring, delayed healing, failure to achieve the desired result, and altered skin sensation.
