Brachioplasty, more commonly referred to as arm lift surgery, is becoming a popular cosmetic procedure all over the United States. Thanks to advancements in medical technology, Plastic Surgeons can now accurately contour the upper arms and give patients satisfying results with less downtime and scarring.
What is Arm Lift Surgery?
Arm lift surgery is a cosmetic surgery procedure where the Plastic Surgeon removes the excess tissue in the upper arm (next to the armpit) and sutures the skin back in a way that the upper arm looks toned and well-shaped.
The Surgeon removes the excess tissue by cutting out the skin through excision. However, depending on the desired contour, this procedure may require a combination of both liposuction and excision.
The size of the incision will depend on the amount of tissue that needs to be removed. In most cases, the Surgeon will make a vertical incision running the length of the armpit to the elbow. However, if most of the tissue is in the area near the armpit, then the Plastic Surgeon will perform a short-scar arm lift requiring a much smaller incision.
What to Expect
The entire procedure, including anesthesia, prep time, and surgery, will take roughly 2 to 2.5 hours, and like any other form of contouring, it may get a little uncomfortable. However, it’s the time after the surgery when you really need to pay attention and aid your body in its recovery. Here’s what to expect.
- Right After Surgery
In the case of brachioplasty, the patient is discharged immediately after the surgery. For the first 3 to 4 days you can expect some swelling, bruising, and redness in your arms accompanied by a mild discomfort.
This is quite normal and you should be able to resume your regular activities within 4 days of the surgery.
- Stay Below the Shoulders
For the first 2 weeks of your recovery, be sure to follow all post-operative instructions and don’t overuse your arms. It’s important that you keep your arms lowered most of the time and try to avoid lifting them above your shoulders until about 3 weeks after the surgery.
Get yourself a few loose tops or shirts that you can open from the front so you won’t have to raise your arms to get dressed.
You may also want to wear a compression garment for the first two weeks to help your arms heal faster and to enjoy the best results. Your Plastic Surgeon can advise you on where to get one of these.
- Take Your Medication
Your Plastic Surgeon will prescribe a few antibiotics to take for the first few days after the arm lift. Take these meds regularly to prevent infection and allow your arms to heal effectively.
You may also receive pain medication to reduce the discomfort you may experience for the first few days.
- Drains
After the Arm Lift Surgery, the area will be wrapped with bandages and sometimes drains will be inserted into the arms to remove all the excess fluid and blood. The Plastic Surgeon will remove bandages and drains 1-3 days after surgery.
Most stitches dissolve on their own and the Plastic Surgeon will take off the remaining ones after 1-2 weeks.
- Scarring
The rate and degree to which scars heal will differ from patient to patient. Fortunately, the Plastic Surgeon will take great care to stitch the sutures into the least exposed areas of the arm. As a result, the scars will not be visible during most activities.
To minimize scarring, be sure to avoid intense physical activity in the first few weeks after the Arm Lift surgery. Exercise soon after surgery can cause the incisions to stretch resulting in increased scarring.
Be sure to avoid sun exposure which can cause the scarred areas to darken/lighten.
- Stay Healthy
One major benefit of Arm Lift Surgery is that it is a permanent procedure. This means that you can enjoy your new, toned arms for years to come. All you have to do is maintain a stable and healthy BMI and exercise regularly. Consequently, focus on exercises that tone your arms so that your contours do not change and you can flaunt them to the fullest.
Furthermore, diet plays a major role in maintaining your arm contours and eating plenty of vegetables ensures that your skin stays healthy and toned.
As with most cosmetic procedures, try to avoid smoking even after the procedure and limit alcohol consumption. Both these intoxicants cause damage to the skin cells, making them age and sag prematurely.
It’s Totally Worth It!
Brachioplasty is a highly sought-after cosmetic surgery procedure, and results are almost always extremely favorable. The recovery period is short and relatively painless. Even if there is scarring, the scars are minimal. Most patients claim that they prefer the tiny scars to the much larger ‘bat wings’ that they once sported on their arms.
Just take it easy, eat healthily, and don’t over exert yourself. You’ll be amazed at the results!
If you’re considering Arm Lift surgery to improve your appearance, please call us at 310-326-3636 to schedule a free cosmetic consultation with Dr. Rosso. Dr. Rosso is one of the top surgeons in the Los Angeles South Bay who performs cosmetic surgery on patients’ bodies and faces.
