You’ve tried arm exercises. You bought undergarments that promise to hide that unsightly flab. Even dieting has done nothing. You’re still left with jiggly, saggy arms. Arm lift surgery might be the answer for you. Read on to learn more about this procedure.
What Is Arm Lift Surgery?
It is also known as brachioplasty. During the procedure, the surgeon removes excess tissue from the upper arm. He or she will either do this by cutting directly (known as excision) or incorporating a combination of excision and liposuction. Liposuction is a procedure where fat is sucked out of the body through a vacuum.
The purpose of arm lift surgery is to remove excess skin on the arms that droops downwards, tighten and smooth the tissue that defines the arm’s shape and reduce fat pockets in the upper arm.
Why Choose Arm Lift Surgery?
There are certain things that cause the buildup of excess fat on the upper arms. Sometimes, arm exercises will reduce that buildup and prevent it from returning. However, sometimes they don’t.
When your weight fluctuates, fat deposits can form on your upper arms. You will see the same process taking place as you get older, too. Did either of your parents have fat deposits on their upper arms that no amount of exercise would erase? Heredity is another factor.
Arm exercises, no matter how vigorously you perform them, won’t have any impact on these factors. What will make your arms look better is undergoing arm lift surgery.
What You Need to Know about Arm Lift Surgery
Before the surgery, the patient is sedated. In most cases, the patient will receive general anesthesia. The type of anesthesia will depend on the patient’s health which is determined by the surgeon and anesthesiologist.
The surgeon will make an incision from the armpit to the elbow. This incision is along the inside of the arm, so it is more difficult to see after the operation. After the surgeon removes the fat, he or she will close the incision with stitches or absorbable sutures. As the name implies, absorbable sutures are a type of stitching that uses materials that are absorbed into the body. Standard stitches are not absorbed by the body, and the surgeon has to remove them a week after surgery.
After the surgery, the surgeon dresses the incision to allow it to heal. He or she also places a compression garment on the patient’s arm. This helps to minimize swelling and supports the new contours of your arm. The patient may also need a temporary drain under the skin to remove excess fluids post surgery.
Patients can expect some scarring at the incision site. However, the scar should fade after approximately three months.
Is an Arm Lift Right for Me?
Not everyone is a candidate for arm lift surgery. When you meet with a plastic surgeon, he or she will decide whether the surgery is right for you based on your medical history.
The best candidates for arm lift surgery are people who are in good health, have maintained a stable weight for at least a year and who have excess fat on their upper arms that they want to remove.
Patients must also be realistic about their goals for the surgery.
Choose an Expert to Perform Your Arm Lift
If nothing you’ve done can get rid of the excess fat on your upper arms, talk to a plastic surgeon about arm lift surgery. This surgery can help you achieve the toned upper arms you’ve always dreamed about.
Dr. Kenneth Dickie offers patients a personable approach to cutting-edge surgical and non-surgical procedures. We proudly offer plastic surgery services to Barrie, Collingwood, Sudbury, Orillia, Huntsville, Bracebridge and surrounding areas.
Fill out the form on the right to schedule a personal consultation with plastic surgeon Dr. Kenneth Dickie. Or call us at the phone number posted at the top of the page.