There are many reasons that you might consider an arm lift. As you age, your skin may start sagging. Or, you may have lost a large amount of weight and you notice excess skin hanging loosely. If you happen to have a large percentage of body fat, then that could cause the skin of your upper arm to sag. Or, you might even just have genetics that predispose you to having sagging arm skin.

Regardless of the reason, an arm lift is a great solution to deal with sagging skin. Here at Bayview Plastic Surgery, Dr. Donna C. Rich and her medical team will work with you to achieve your goals.

What Is an Arm Lift?

The technical term is brachioplasty. Usually, it’s a form of liposuction that’s uniquely designed for the arm. The idea is to remove the excess fat from the region and then to remove the sagging skin that’s left behind. Thereafter, the surgeon uses fine sutures to put the remaining skin back together so that any resulting wrinkles are smoothed away.

One of the chief advantages of an arm lift is that it lasts longer than other cosmetic procedures. Barring any large weight gain or loss, it could be decades before you might need a touch-up. The other advantage is that an arm lift is a “one-stop” procedure. While liposuction can get rid of the fat in your sagging skin, it can do nothing about the sagging skin itself. That’s why an arm lift is the preferred procedure to correct the issue even if the potential scarring is heavier than it would be with just traditional liposuction.

What to Expect Before, During, and After the Procedure

Before the procedure, surgeons such as Dr. Rich will want to consult with both you and your general practitioner. If your procedure is slated to be done with general anesthetic, then you’ll have to abstain from eating or drinking for 12 hours beforehand.

What the procedure itself will be like depends on the type of anesthesia you receive. In some cases, the surgeon will be able to proceed with just a local anesthetic. In that case, you’ll be awake for it and can converse with your surgeon. In other cases, you might need general anesthesia, in which case, you’ll be asleep throughout and won’t experience anything.

Afterwards, the initial recovery is usually swift. You’ll have some soreness and swelling, and you won’t notice the full desired effects for about six to eight weeks.

Who Is an Ideal Candidate?

Ideal candidates for brachioplasty include anyone who has sagging arm skin for any reason. They also cannot be smokers and heavy drinkers. The substances they use interfere with proper healing.

Additionally, a person cannot undergo an arm lift if they plan to lose a significant of weight. In this case, it’s generally best to wait until the person finishes the weight-loss regimen before proceeding.

The Importance of a Professional Consultation

An arm lift is a good way to improve the appearance of your arms when you have sagging skin. By discussing everything with your medical team, you’ll know what to expect.

Dr. Hustak and Dr. Wentworth can advise you adequately regarding any surgical procedure, so having a meeting with her is necessary for you to be fully informed. She will also go over the associated risks so that you can decide how, or even whether, to proceed. When you’ve decided to get an arm lift, contact us for a consultation.