Upper Arm Lift
Upper Arm Lift
With age and weight gain, upper arm skin can become loose
and flabby. An arm lift, also known as a brachioplasty,
is a surgical procedure to remove loose skin and excess
fat deposits from the upper arm region. In some cases, it
may be appropriate to have an upper arm lift in conjunction
with liposuction or LipoSelection.
Working with the experienced doctors
and staff at The Metropolitan
Institute for Plastic Surgery, you can determine the
procedure that is right for you and be assured of the results
you desire.
Are You A Good Candidate for an Upper Arm Lift?
If through age, weight gain, or genetic predisposition,
your upper arm area has excess or sagging skin that does
not respond to diet or exercise, you may be an ideal candidate
for an upper arm lift.
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Meeting With the Doctor
Prior to scheduling your upper arm lift, you will meet at
length with the doctors and staff at The Metropolitan Institute
for Plastic Surgery to determine if the procedure is right
for you and to answer any questions you may have. At this
initial consultation, your upper arm region will be evaluated,
you will discuss how you want this area to look after surgery,
and it will be determined if liposuction or LipoSelection
will also be used to enhance the appearance of your upper
arms.
The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery
doctors and staff will:
· Review the various upper arm lift options with you
· Clearly discuss the potential risks of the procedure
· Outline in detail how the surgery is performed and what you can expect before, during, and after the procedure
· Provide detailed cost and payment information
· Answer all your questions
You will be asked to provide:
· Details about your medical history
· A list of all medications you currently take including over the counter medications such as aspirin, vitamins, and herbal supplements
· Information regarding your tobacco and alcohol use
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How The Procedure Is Performed
Your surgery will be performed at the Center for Ambulatory Surgery, Inc. (CASI), where the doctors and staff are dedicated to your complete comfort during and after the procedure. The procedure is usually performed using general anesthesia and takes between one to five hours to complete depending on the severity of the procedure.
To
start the surgery, the doctor makes an incision from near
the elbow, along the back of the arm, and into the armpit.
Though the incision may be lengthy, it is placed in as inconspicuous
a position as possible, toward the back of the inner arm.
The exact placement of your incision will be discussed with
you during your initial consultation.
Once the incision is made, the doctor removes excess fat
and trims away unwanted skin. Stitches are then used to
close the incision. Once the incision is stitched, gauze
dressings and tape are applied over the surgical area and
an elastic sleeve is placed over your arm to promote healing.
These dressings and the elastic sleeve are to be worn at
all times for several days after your surgery.
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What To Expect After Your Surgery
| Activity | When |
|---|
| Shower or Bath | Two to Three Days After Surgery |
| Back to Work | One to Three Weeks After Surgery |
| Driving | As Soon as You Feel Comfortable |
| Strenuous Activity | Six Weeks After Surgery |
| Fading of Scars |
Several Months to One Year |
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Immediately After Your Surgery
In most cases, upper arm lift surgery is performed on an
outpatient basis. You usually go home shortly after your
surgery is completed. You may be sleepy from the anesthesia
and the area around your incisions will be sore so you will
need to have someone drive you home. Once you go home, you
may want to have someone stay with you for the first few
days since you may experience mild to moderate discomfort.
Pain medication will be prescribed to alleviate as much
post-surgery pain as possible.
The First 24 to 48 Hours After Your Surgery
During the first 24 to 48 hours after your procedure, you
will feel tired from the anesthesia and may experience discomfort
in the area of the surgery. Pain medication will alleviate
much of the discomfort. There will be moderate swelling
and bruising in the area of the incisions; this will gradually
disappear within the first month after your surgery. Your
discomfort level will improve rapidly after the first two
days.
You must wear the elastic sleeves placed over your arms
after surgery at all times for the first several days after
surgery. These sleeves help the healing process and will
be removed at your post-operative visit to the doctor five
to seven days after the surgery.
Small amounts of bleeding and oozing are normal in the first few days after surgery. If you see more than just a slow staining of the gauze dressing, apply pressure to the area with your hand for 20 to 30 minutes to stop the bleeding. If this does not stop the bleeding, call The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery. Heavy bleeding is rare; however, if it does happen, call the Institute right away.
The First Two Weeks After Surgery
You will notice a marked improvement in your discomfort level during the first few weeks after your surgery.
· You can shower or bathe as soon as the doctor removes
the elastic sleeves placed over your arms after surgery.
Treat the surgical tape placed over your incision like your
own skin - bathe and dry off normally. If the strips become
loose, or curl on the ends, you can snip the ends off or
remove them completely.
· You can resume driving as soon as you experience no pain.
· Your stitches will be removed within two to four weeks of your surgery.
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Resuming Your Normal Routine
Everyone heals at different rates and you are the best judge
of when you are ready for certain activities, but the following
are general guidelines:
· Be careful and gentle while using your arms for the first
three to four weeks after surgery. The doctor will tell
you when you can resume using your arms as you did prior
to your surgery.
· Swelling and bruising gradually disappear within three to four weeks of surgery.
· You can most likely return to work or school within two to three weeks after your procedure. If your work is strenuous, plan to stay home from work for four to eight weeks, depending on how you heal and the type of work you do.
· You can most likely return to your physical exercise
program within six weeks of your arm lift. Our patients
are encouraged to plan an exercise program and discuss it
with the staff prior to resuming exercise.
· The scars caused by the incision should be protected from
sunlight for at least a year after surgery.
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Things To Be Aware Of After Your Surgery
· Initially, your surgical scars will appear red or dark
pink and will appear very narrow. Your scars may widen over
time; this is something that cannot be predicted or controlled.
Your surgical scars will fade in 6 to 24 months, depending
on your skin tone and color.
· Healing does not always occur evenly from side to side
and your arms may heal at different rates and in different
ways.
· On rare occasions, surgical interference with the body's lymph drainage system may require use of a compression "stocking" for the upper arm after surgery. This problem is minor and does not last long.
· You may experience a loss of sensation or numbness in the area of your surgery. This is entirely normal and may take several months to disappear.
· The skin in the area of your surgery may appear shiny due to swelling. Within a few weeks, the swelling will disappear and the skin will return to a normal appearance.
· You may notice a tingling sensation in the surgical area.
This feeling is a result of the healing of the nerves in
the area and will go away within several months of your
procedure.
· All swelling in the area of your surgery will be gone within three to six months.
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What Are Possible Side Effects or
Risks? Like all surgical procedures, there
are risks associated with upper arm lifts. During your initial
consultation with the doctors and staff of The Metropolitan
Institute for Plastic Surgery, your individual risks will
be assessed and discussed. As with any surgery, you can
help reduce the risks by closely following the pre and post-surgery
instructions provided to you. And the doctors and staff
of the Institute will be with you every step of the way
to ensure a safe and pleasing outcome.
Most likely risks include the following:
· Infection
· Loss of sensation
· Damage to sensory nerves
· Areas of wrinkling or slight depression in the skin
· Scarring
How Long Will the Results of Your Upper Arm Lift Last?
Upper arm lift surgery removes excess fat and tightens and smoothes the skin in this area. These results generally last five to ten years; however, large weight gain or pregnancy will affect how long the results last.
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Questions You May Have
· Are there other procedures that could be done along with upper arm lift surgery to enhance the overall appearance of my buttock and upper thighs?
LipoSelection is sometimes
used in addition to upper arm lift surgery to enhance the
overall appearance of this area. The doctors at The Metropolitan
Institute for Plastic Surgery are the first specialists
in the Washington DC area certified to perform LipoSelection,
a much gentler form of liposuction
that can be used to remove fat in the upper arm region.
· Will my insurance coverage pay for my upper arm
lift?
Upper arm lift surgery is considered cosmetic surgery and, therefore, is not covered by insurance. You are responsible for the full payment of the procedure. Cost and payment information will be fully discussed with you during your initial consultation.
· Are there alternatives to upper arm lift surgery?
Options for improving the look of your upper arms include
weight loss and exercise, especially toning exercises. LipoSelection
may also greatly enhance the look of your upper arms.
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