Arm lift, clinically known as brachioplasty, is a plastic surgery procedure to reduce sagging skin on the upper arms and restore fitter and more youthful arm contours. In some cases, an arm lift may also involve removal of excess fat tissue. Several surgical techniques are available today to perform this procedure. The surgeon will help the patient choose the appropriate technique according to their natural arm contours and personal aesthetic needs.
An advantage of arm lift surgery is that even when a subtle improvement is made to the appearance of the arms, it can make the whole body appear noticeably more youthful and slimmer. Board certified and highly experienced cosmetic surgeon Dr. Gary Motykie provides arm lift and other procedures to patients in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and surrounding locations.
Candidates
Adults in all age groups may qualify for an arm lift procedure, provided they still have a fair amount of skin elasticity in the arms. The candidate should also be clinically fit to tolerate anesthesia. A lot of people who seek arm lift plastic surgery are ones who have undergone a major weight loss procedure or women who have experienced weight fluctuations due to pregnancy. The candidate should have a stable weight before undergoing the surgery.
Surgical Techniques
Two major techniques that are commonly used to perform an arm lift include:
Upper Arm Lift
With this technique, the cosmetic surgeon will remove loose skin that is sagging from the upper arm. The surgeon will place an incision discreetly along the arm to perform this procedure. The placement and length of the incision will vary depending on the extent of skin to be removed and the location of the excess skin flap. The incision usually extends from the armpit to the elbow. A curved or Z-shaped incision may be created to ensure minimal scarring.
A more extended upper arm lift may be performed if the patient suffers from severely lax skin. In this case, the incision will extend from the armpit and down along the side of the chest. The longer incision will enable the surgeon to remove more skin. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Motykie receives patients from Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and nearby areas for this procedure.
Mini Arm Lift
Some patients may only require a minor revision to the upper arm skin. In such case, a mini arm lift instead of a full arm lift may be performed. The size of the incision is significantly smaller in this procedure, while the procedure to remove excess skin and fat remains similar to that of a full upper arm lift. A skilled surgeon will be able to perform this procedure by placing the incision in the armpit, which will ensure near-invisibility of the scar.
Recovery
Mild inflammation and soreness may occur after the arm lift surgery, which can be addressed with pain medications as prescribed by the surgeon. In the first few days, the patient should sleep with the arms elevated to minimize swelling. The patient can expect to return to their normal routine in about 10 days.
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