Arm Lift
An arm lift, or brachioplasty, procedure is intended to provide smoother, tighter upper arms. When a person’s weight fluctuates, excess skin can collect on various areas of the body, including the arms. Also, after a certain age, when skin elasticity and tone has decreased, a condition of sagging upper arm skin can occur. People who experience this condition often complain that they cannot wear certain types of clothing because they feel insecure about the appearance of their upper arms. If you are bothered by your arm’s appearance, Little Rock cosmetic surgeon Dr. Rhys Branman can re-contour your upper arms so you can wear whatever you want with confidence.
Who is a good candidate for an upper arm lift?
Proper candidates for surgery include those with sagging, redundant skin, and limited fat on the upper arms. Arm lift surgery is mainly intended to reduce excess skin, so patients who exhibit a significant amount of fatty tissue in the upper arms should first lose weight. In some cases, liposuction can be used to remove fatty tissue beforehand.
What is arm lift surgery like?
Redundant skin and tissue that is on the upper arm, armpit, and part of the chest can be eradicated through arm lift surgery. Dr. Branman starts by making an incision around the inner or back side part of the upper arm, which may extend from the armpit to the elbow. Incision length will vary in different individuals. A small amount of fat is removed through liposuction, skin is removed and tightened, and the incisions are closed with sutures.
To undergo arm lift surgery, patients must be able to accept scars that are somewhat prominent. The appearance of scars will improve over time, but they still remain evident. Most patients who benefit from arm lift surgery are willing to accept this drawback in order to attain better-shaped arms.
“I have had a fantastic experience with Dr. Branman and his entire office from the moment I stepped in for my consult to my last follow-up appointment. Dr. Branman, specifically, is what I would consider the benchmark for professionalism and expertise.”
Arm Lift Recovery
The recovery period for surgery is roughly two weeks. During this time, the arms will need to be elevated and strenuous, repetitive activities will need to be avoided. A compression garment will be provided to reduce swelling and aid in the healing process. If necessary, Dr. Branman can prescribe a pain medication to make the recovery period easier for you.
What do arm lift scars look like? When can I drive after an arm lift? Check out our blog post where Dr. Branman answers 10 common questions about arm lift surgery.
- Key Benefits
- Glossary
- Tighter, smoother arm contours: Removes excess skin and fat to create a more toned and defined appearance in the upper arms.
- Reduction of sagging skin: Eliminates loose, hanging skin, especially after significant weight loss or aging.
- Enhanced muscle definition: Reveals the underlying muscle tone, giving the arms a more athletic and youthful look.
- Anesthesia: Medication used to block pain during surgery, typically general anesthesia for arm lifts.
- Arm Contouring: A surgical procedure aimed at reshaping the upper arms by removing excess skin and fat for a toned appearance.
- Brachioplasty: The medical term for an arm lift, a cosmetic surgery that removes excess skin and fat to improve the upper arm’s appearance.
- Cellulite: Dimpled skin caused by fat deposits beneath the skin’s surface. Arm lifts may improve the appearance of cellulite in some cases.
- Compression Garments: Special post-surgical garments that help reduce swelling and support the healing of newly contoured arms.
- Excess Skin: Loose skin that can occur after weight loss or aging, often removed during an arm lift procedure to create smoother contours.
- Excision: A surgical technique involving the removal of excess skin and tissue during an arm lift.
- Fat Deposits: Localized areas of fat that can accumulate in the upper arms and are often removed during an arm lift, sometimes through liposuction.
- Incision: A surgical cut made during an arm lift, typically placed along the underside of the arm to minimize visible scarring.
- Liposuction: A procedure often combined with an arm lift to remove stubborn fat deposits from the upper arms.
- Loose Skin: Skin that lacks elasticity and hangs loosely, commonly treated during an arm lift procedure.
- Muscle Definition: The visibility of muscles beneath the skin, which can become more pronounced after an arm lift due to the removal of excess skin and fat.
- Postoperative Care: The care required after surgery to ensure proper healing, which includes rest, wearing compression garments, and attending follow-up appointments.
- Scarring: Marks left on the skin after surgery. Surgeons aim to minimize scarring by placing incisions in less noticeable areas, like the inner arm.
- Sutures: Stitches used to close the incisions after the removal of excess skin and fat, allowing the skin to heal properly.
- Tissue Elasticity: The skin’s ability to stretch and return to its original shape. Reduced elasticity can result in sagging, which is treated with an arm lift.
- Upper Arm Lift: A specific type of arm lift surgery that focuses on reshaping the upper arm by removing excess skin and fat.
- Weight Loss: A common factor contributing to excess skin in the arms, which may prompt a patient to seek arm lift surgery to remove loose skin after losing weight.
- Recovery Period: The healing time following surgery, during which patients must follow specific guidelines to minimize complications and ensure optimal results.
- Skin Redundancy: An excess amount of skin that often occurs after significant weight loss or aging. Arm lift surgery removes this to improve the appearance of the arms.
If you have questions or would like to learn more about brachioplasty, we are here to help. Dr. Branman has been helping Little Rock arm lift patients since 1998 meet their cosmetic goals, and he would be happy for you to come in for a consultation. Contact us to schedule a consultation with award-winning cosmetic surgeon Dr. Rhys Branman at our cosmetic surgery center in Little Rock, AR.
