A toned and proportionate body is reflective of one’s good health and wellness. While diets and exercise regimens can help us get closer to our ideal look, issues like excess sagging skin on the upper arms are often unaffected by these protocols. Factors such as weight loss and the natural aging process often play a major role in the development of this issue, making patients feel less confident about the way they look. These patients often feel hesitant to wear short-sleeved or sleeveless shirts due to their dissatisfaction with the appearance of their upper arms.
Patients who are noticing sagging in the undersides of their upper arms can benefit from an arm lift. Arm lift procedures are designed to reduce excess skin and fat and recontour the arm, giving it a smoother, better-toned, and more proportioned appearance. Patients who undergo this treatment walk away feeling proud of their strength and underlying muscle tone.
Arm Lift Procedure
An arm lift, otherwise known as a brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure that addresses sagging skin in the upper arm region. Arm lift procedures typically take about 2 to 3 hours to carry out. They are performed on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia.
The size and formation of the incisions in an arm lift procedure ultimately depend on the amount of skin being removed and where that skin is located. The treatment areas are typically located along the inside of the arm and span down into the underarm area.
Recovery
Following the procedure, the patient’s arms are wrapped with elastic bandages or special compression garments to keep swelling at a minimum. Most patients have to take at least two weeks off of work, as they need to limit their arm movement. Patients will be prescribed some pain medication following their treatment to help them deal with any discomfort they may experience.
Arm lift surgery involves many sutures. Some of these are internal dissolvable stitches that will be naturally absorbed by the body. The stitches located on the skin’s surface, however, will be removed within 1 to 2 weeks following the treatment.
Once the patient’s swelling and bruising have dissipated, their new contours will be more apparent. The results from the treatment will continue to improve over the course of 6 to 9 months. That said, patients should be advised that any fluctuations in weight could nullify their results. Maintaining a stable weight and healthy lifestyle will enable patients to maintain their results for many years.
