Although it is not as well-known as some plastic surgery procedures, an arm lift is a procedure that can assist many patients with having a more positive self-image. Below, we have a guide to arm lift procedure.

However, in order to maximize the results that you might glean from this kind of procedure, it may pay to educate yourself about some of the elements of the procedure. This can help you and your physician have a successful and safe procedure.

If you’re interested in some of the basics surrounding an arm lift, take a look at this guide, which provides an overview of the subject.

What Is an Arm Lift?

An arm lift is a type of plastic surgery that aims to adjust the appearance of the arms. In many cases, this means tightening the skin surrounding the arms to create a tighter appearance in this part of the body. It has the potential to amend the arms in a way that exercise and diet might not be able to do alone.

The Benefits of an Arm Lift

An arm lift is a type of cosmetic procedure that generally involves the following aspects:

Removing excess skin
Reducing fat in the arms
Smoothing over the remaining skin
Tightening the supportive tissues of the arms

There are many reasons that an individual might seek brachioplasty. This includes things like the following:

The normal changes in skin elasticity that occur with age
Having genetic factors that impact the appearance of your arms
Fluctuations

In addition, this type of surgery may prove beneficial for those who have recently suffered an accident or trauma to the arms. All patients can expect to receive a boost in confidence and feel overall more confident in their appearance.

The Risks of an Arm Lift Procedure

Although an arm lift is thought of as a relatively safe procedure, there are some risks to keep in mind if you plan on receiving this type of treatment. This includes things like the following:

Excessive bleeding
Fluid accumulation
Nerve or muscle damage
Post-surgical scarring
Numbness following your procedure
Surgical site infection
Wound separation

In addition, the surgery requires that the patient be placed under general anesthesia, which has the potential to be a somewhat taxing experience. You will have to be approved to receive this type of treatment during a pre-surgical evaluation prior to your procedure.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Brachioplasty?

The ideal candidate for a brachioplasty is a healthy individual who has moderate or mild amounts of excess skin and fat pockets in their arms. In addition, your physician will look for the following characteristics in terms of an ideal candidate for brachioplasty:

Realistic expectations in terms of how the surgery might impact your life
Individuals who do not smoke tobacco
Individuals who have good general health
Skin that is satisfactorily elastic to be utilized during surgery
Most of the excess skin is primarily localized to the upper arms

In addition, your physician will perform a general medical exam to determine whether or not you would make a satisfactory candidate for the procedure.

Guide to the Arm Lift Procedure

Should you decide to move forward with brachioplasty, then you can expect to walk through the following steps:

General anesthesia is applied, which takes you out of consciousness. The necessity of receiving general anesthesia is one of the sources for receiving a medical evaluation prior to your procedure.
Your physician makes an incision on the back of your arm. The size of the incision is somewhat contingent on how extensive the procedure is.
Your physician begins to remove excess skin by cutting and shaping the fat and skin of the arms.
The incisions are re-sealed using sutures to tighten the overall procedure.
Bandages and gauze are applied to the incision site to reduce the risk of infection and complete the procedure

It is important to note that the primary purpose of brachioplasty is to reform the skin of the arm in order to make it tighter and more aesthetically appealing. It can remove pockets of fat in the arms that might be stubbornly clinging to the body despite diet and exercise efforts.

That being said, brachioplasty is not considered a weight loss avenue. In addition, your arms may develop fat due to lifestyle issues. On top of this, there is another possibility that the skin in your arms may begin to sag again as time moves forward.

Preparing for Brachioplasty

Like any type of invasive surgery, preparing for a brachioplasty can mean following some specific steps and minimizing the level of stress that you take on prior to the procedure. This may include some of the following steps:

Refrain from imbibing excessive amounts of alcohol in the days leading up to the procedure
Moderate the amount of over-the-counter medications and herbal supplements that you might be taking
Talk with your doctor about any prescription medications that you might be taking. You may be asked to moderate your intake of these substances as well.
Engage in smoking cessation in the weeks leading up to your procedure

Depending on your medical profile, your physician may have more advice for you in terms of the steps you should take to have a successful and safe procedure. You should convey any concerns you might have regarding the procedure to your physician during the pre-surgical consultation period. This can help inform them about any special circumstances that might surround your own procedure and help to maximize your results.

Recovering from Brachioplasty

After your procedure, you should be able to return home the same day. Your physician will give you a set of instructions regarding your recovery period that you should attempt to follow as accurately as possible. You will likely be asked to wear loose-fitting clothing surrounding your surgical site for the first couple of weeks following your procedure.

There are other elements of the recovery period that many individuals can expect to experience, including the following:

Avoiding overly strenuous activity and any type of heavy lifting
Changing the bandages surrounding your surgical area frequently
Elevating your arm when you rest or sleep
Always wearing your compression garment for several weeks following your procedure
Getting plenty of rest in the following weeks after your procedure
Eating a healthy diet

Depending on the specifics of your medical situation, your doctor may have additional advice for you regarding your recovery period.

When Will I See Results?

Most patients will observe some changes to the appearance of their arms almost immediately following their procedure. However, you may experience some residual effects from the procedure in the weeks following your surgery, including the following:

Scarring that lingers for some time following the procedure
Looseness in the arm skin that takes some amount of time to tighten
Swelling
Bruising

All of these effects are considered normal and should not be cause for alarm. However, if they persist for longer than a few weeks following your procedure, you should contact your doctor to set up a follow-up appointment to ensure that there aren’t any issues with your results.

In addition, you should stay alert for any of the following symptoms, which may indicate that you’re experiencing an adverse reaction to your procedure:

Excessive bleeding
Blood clot symptoms, including abnormal levels of swelling in the surgical site.
Dehydration, vomiting, and inability to retain fluids
Sudden Fever
Pain that doesn’t respond well to medications
Shortness of breath or chest pain

Any of the above symptoms may indicate that you are having an adverse reaction to your surgery and may constitute a medical emergency, depending on the specifics of the situation.

Selecting the Right Surgeon

The most important thing to do to be sure your doctor is qualified to conduct the surgery you want is to confirm that they have board certification. This can give you a higher sense of security regarding your operation.

Those who have obtained accreditation from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) are known as board-certified individuals. Medical professionals who fulfill these requirements must abide by a strict set of rules that guarantee their safe practice of medicine.

These specifications include, but are not limited to:

Completed at least six years of surgical training, and obtained a medical degree
Completed a three-year residency program in plastic surgery.
Succeeding on several difficult written and oral tests
Graduating from a university with accreditation in medicine.
Fulfilling the annual CME obligations
Offer evidence that they have a track record of effective methods.

In addition, you should find a surgeon with whom you feel comfortable performing the surgery. This will make the sometimes stressful and intimate procedure of undergoing invasive surgery that much more manageable.

The Best Plastic Surgeon in Beverly Hills

Dr. Joubin Gabbay and the rest of the team at Gabbay Plastic Surgery are among the best resources in Beverly Hills for cosmetic body surgery. If you have some questions regarding a brachioplasty, contact our office today to set up an appointment.