What is an arm lift and why should I consider it?
An arm lift is one of the most common and, in recent years, one of the fastest rising stars in the field of cosmetic surgery because of the impact it has yielded in the weight loss trend. The T.Y. Steven Ip Clinics in Newport Beach, Orange County, and Beverly Hills have made this procedure more accessible to its residents, now making it easier for them to resolve drooping or sagging upper arms. An arm lift is a surgical technique that reshapes the area of the arm from the armpit to the elbow. The most common reasons for a patient to undergo this procedure are weight fluctuations or aging. When a person loses weight, all the exercise they do tones the underlying muscles, but the skin is left sagging because it loses its elasticity and cannot go back to its normal shape. This is quite similar to aging, only the muscles lose their tone leaving the skin sagging. This procedure is very useful in removing excess fat and skin from the upper arms and reshaping the patient’s arm to create more defined contours that give the arm a more proportionate and toned appearance.
What should I expect during arm lift surgery?
Traditionally, anesthesia will be administered to the patient to manage the discomfort during the procedure and then the surgeon can proceed to make the incisions on the inside or at the back of the arm. Incisions are determined by the amount and location of the excess skin to be removed, and may sometimes extend from the underarm to just above the elbow in some cases. For others, the incisions are less severe and make use of internal sutures to reshape and tighten the arm. Excess fat can be removed using liposuction in the process. Finally, the newly trimmed skin will be smoothed over the leaner silhouette of the patient’s arm, and the incisions can be closed with absorbable sutures or removable sutures.
What about recovery?
Postoperatively, doctors usually recommend having the arms wrapped in elastic bandages or in compression garments to minimize the swelling. Drainage tubes will also be put in place temporarily to allow excess blood or fluid to drain instead of collecting under the patient’s skin. The patient will be given specific instructions on how to care for the wound, and will receive prescriptions for specific drugs that will help manage pain and prevent infection. Immediately after the surgery, patients are given instructions to avoid exerting unnecessary force using the arms such as lifting heavy weights or performing intense exercises. Normal activity can resume at a later time when the patient has recovered completely.
What results will I get with an arm lift?
An arm lift will be able to create a tighter appearance for the patient’s arm and the amazing results will be immediately noticeable. However, it may take a few days for the final result to be seen because swelling and bruising will occur right after surgery. After the recovery period, the patient’s newly reconstructed upper arm will exhibit significant improvement on how it looks and feels.
