Brachioplasty — Arm Lift — After Weight Loss
The skin of the upper arms is thin and not very resilient by nature. That's why just about everyone experiences some amount of sagginess in this area as they age. For people who lose a significant amount of weight, the effect is magnified. And though saggy upper arms may seem trivial compared to vast amounts of redundant tissue around the torso or deflated, droopy breasts, arms tend to be pretty visible body features. It's common for patients to be interested in brachioplasty, or arm lift surgery, after weight loss to recontour their arms.
The great news is that brachioplasty is most often a straightforward procedure with few risks and an easy recovery. Many patients elect to combine it with breast and/or abdominal procedures for complete midbody transformation. Request a consultation with Dr. Kaufman at Kaufman & Clark Plastic Surgery in Sacramento to learn more about brachioplasty and other plastic surgery after weight loss options.
Candidates for Brachioplasty
Just about anyone who has lost a significant amount of weight, or others with droopy, aging upper arm skin, can be a candidate for arm lift surgery. Since the biggest challenge with the procedure tends to be scarring, patients who will be delighted with their results are those who are ready to trade their "bat wing" arms for a scar.
Risks of brachioplasty tend to be quite minor. They include fluid collection, poor scarring and areas of numbness.
Arm Lift Surgery and Recovery
Brachioplasty is normally performed in an outpatient setting and takes about two hours. There are two primary methods for excising the extra skin. The most common involves an incision down the inside or back of the arm which can be extended below the elbow if required. An alternate method involves an incision concealed within the armpit; however, this procedure does not usually offer significant improvement and is only reserved for mild cases.
Scarring is by far the most problematic aspect of arm lift surgery. The thin skin of the upper arm usually leads to scars that are wider and more noticeable than in other areas of the body. When your arms are at your sides your scars will be hidden, but when you lift your arms your scars will be visible. Unfortunately, there's just no way to remove excess skin without leaving a scar.
Recovery from arm lift surgery tends to be very quick. Most people are off prescription pain medication within two or three days after surgery and are back to all their normal activities within about a month. Recovery time varies, of course, and will increase if you elect to combine brachioplasty with other post-weight loss plastic surgery.
When you call (916) 235-8838 and make an appointment with Dr. Kaufman, he'll be glad to acquaint you with the benefits of brachioplasty and other after weight loss surgery options. In his office in Folsom, the surgeon works with patients from the greater Sacramento area, the San Fransciso Bay Area and across the United States.
