An arm lift is a cosmetic surgical procedure to improve the appearance of the under portion of your upper arms. During Brachioplasty, or arm lift, excess skin and fat are removed from between the armpit and elbow. You might choose to have an arm lift if the undersides of your upper arms are sagging. An arm lift might also boost your body image. This procedure aims to remove unwanted flapping skin and undesirable arm fat, resulting in a slenderer arm appearance. The arm sagging process may occur as a result of aging, weight loss, weight fluctuations, or genetics. This surgery may be right for you if you have sagging skin on the underside of your upper arm that cannot be reduced with exercise.
What will cause fat upper arms?
You may have fat upper arms because of a massive weight gain and loss.
This causes your skin to stretch as you gain weight, to enable it to hold a higher volume of fat tissue.
When you lose weight, the upper arm skin retracts, however, it can retract only so much.
Once your upper arm skin has reached its retraction limit, it cannot get any smaller, and you are left with bat-wing upper arms, tuck shop arms, or ta-ta arms.
You may also have loose and saggy upper arm skin because of the aging process.
As you age, your body produces significantly less Elastin and Collagen, two vital proteins supporting your tissues.
Collagen and elastin are produced less throughout the body, although this change is most apparent in the skin.
The decreased protein production in combination with the gravitational pull will leave you with saggy upper arms.
What is an invisible arm lift surgery?
During a limited-incision Brachioplasty or Invisible arm lift, the extra upper arm skin is removed using a C-shaped incision in the armpit area. This may be right for you if you are satisfied with your current weight, or have limited arm skin laxity to remove. This process includes:
Making the incision
Removing extra skin
Reattaching the skin under the armpit, (where it will gradually heal and leave a difficult-to-notice scar).
Who is a good candidate for an arm lift?
You may be the right candidate for an arm lift procedure if you:
Have lost a significant amount of weight resulting in loose upper arm skin,
Have issues with the new appearance of your upper arms,
Understand what a Brachioplasty can and cannot achieve.
Have been able to maintain a stable weight for at least six months to a year before the surgery,
Are in good health and have no chronic medical conditions. For example; heart or lung-related disease,
And do not smoke.
Would you need to lose weight before an arm lift?
Losing weight before getting an Arm Reduction Procedure or an upper arm Brachioplasty is necessary. Since brachioplasty is not a substitute for healthy eating or weight loss, if you are satisfied with your current weight you may have the surgery to get rid of excess skin.
What is the Maximum weight for an arm lift?
In order to undergo an arm lift surgery, you should be approximately 5-7kg from your ideal weight. Meaning your BMI should not be greater than 30, since any increase in weight increases the chances for in-surgery complications. Also, you’ll need to keep a healthy diet and regular exercise to have a quick and successful recovery.
How much skin can be removed in an arm lift?
A brachioplasty can remove significant amounts of skin depending on your condition. This does not mean that Upper Arm Reduction is a weight loss solution, but rather a surgery that should remove excess skin and marginal amounts of fat after your weight loss.
How much weight will you lose with an arm lift?
Generally speaking, an arm lift or upper arm Brachioplasty will remove between 600-1800 gr of fat and extra upper arm skin.
What are the risks of a brachioplasty surgery?
Scarring: Incision scars from an arm lift are permanent but are typically placed in areas that aren't easily visible. Rarely, incisions can result in raised, red scars. Injections of a corticosteroid medication or other treatments might be used to improve the appearance of scars.
Asymmetry in the shape of your arms: This could occur as a result of changes during the healing process. Also, while the surgeon will try to make your arms look as symmetrical as possible, perfect symmetry isn't possible.
Changes in skin sensation: During an arm lift, the repositioning of your arm tissues can affect superficial sensory nerves. You'll likely feel some temporary numbness.
Problems with stitches: Stitches used to secure the arm's new shape might work their way to the surface of the skin and need to be removed. This can cause inflammation of the affected skin. As a result, you might need additional surgery.
After an arm lift procedure
After the surgery, your incisions will be covered in bandages. Elastic bandages will be wrapped around your arms to minimize swelling. You’ll probably need to have a checkup with your surgeon in the 1-2 days after surgery. They may also make you wear a compression sleeve for a few weeks to keep swelling down.
During the first days after your arm lift, you should avoid lifting your arms above shoulder level (for 3-4 weeks). Avoid any physical activities with your arms that can stretch the incision (for 4-8 weeks). Take prescribed medications to avoid wound infections. After an arm lift, contact your doctor immediately if you have:
Shortness of breath
Chest pains
An irregular heartbeat
Redness of the skin and a fever
Conclusion
In conclusion, a brachioplasty, or arm lift, is a procedure that can significantly improve the contour of the upper arms by removing excess fat and sagging skin. It is considered a safe, low-risk procedure and the results are typically permanent, although new sagging can develop with age or weight gain. The procedure is particularly beneficial for those who have experienced significant weight loss or have loose skin due to aging. However, it’s important to note that there can be visible scarring, which some individuals may find undesirable. Ultimately, the decision to undergo a brachioplasty is a personal one and should be made in consultation with a qualified medical professional. It appears that many individuals who have undergone the procedure appreciate the results, reporting increased confidence and satisfaction with their appearance.