Upper Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)
What should you know about an upper arm lift surgery (brachioplasty)? What happens during the first consultation?
The fat on the upper arm can be removed by liposuction. But for those over 40 years old, the skin is not so flexible. As the arms lose their natural tone, liposuction is not sufficient, and an arm lift is also necessary. During the first consultation, after an examination, our plastic surgeon discusses the necessary procedure(s) with you.
He explains to you the course of the arm lift surgery, the risk factors, and shows you where your incisions will be located after the operation. At the consultation you have the chance to see the reference photos of the plastic surgeon.
Preparing for the arm lift
Before the arm lift surgery you must go for a complete medical check-up. The reason for this is to find out whether you have any health problems that could have an influence on the arm lift. All preliminary examinations are made at our Plastic Surgery Institute, so you do not need to queue up and wait in other health centers. In the course of the medical check-up laboratory tests and as occasion requires, other examinations (ECG, X-rays, etc.) are performed according to the plastic surgeon’s suggestion.
In certain cases we advise our patients to change their lifestyle in the days preceding the arm lift surgery. To facilitate proper recovery it is important that you do not smoke because nicotine slows down the process of regeneration and harmfully influences the healing of the wound. In the days before the arm lift surgery you should eat light foods, drink lots of fluids and take some vitamins (vitamin C, selenium, zinc). Two weeks before the arm lift you should avoid the use of aspirin, ginko biloba and other naturopathic products.
Arm lift surgery
During the arm lift liposuction is carried out and depending on personal factors, the superfluous skin of the arm is also removed if necessary. Arm lift surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Depending on the type of arm lift, surgery takes 1-1.5 hours.
Techniques of arm lift surgery
The technique of the operation means the choice and localization of the necessary incisions. The superfluous adipose tissues of the upper arm are removed by liposuction. Through previously marked incisions, a thin tube is inserted. Using vacuum and back-and-forth movements, the plastic surgeon loosens and eliminates the superfluous adipose tissues. Then the plastic surgeon removes the superfluous skin. The incisions are made along the side of the arm so that the scars stay completely hidden. Because we use high-quality, American made, dissolvable sutures, the scars heal quicker and much more aesthetically.
Recovering and risks of an arm lift suegery
At our Plastic Surgery Institute we aim to make the period after the arm lift as convenient as possible for you. In order to do this, waterproof bandages are placed on the wounds, so you can even have a shower at home. After the arm lift surgery you must spend one night at our Plastic Surgery Institute. To achieve the perfect result and look we work with self-absorbing stitches, this way the scars heal much more aesthetically and we save you the possible inconveniences of stitch removal. After the arm lift you must wear special compression garment for 6 weeks. Our institute provides you with these items of clothing.
During the first 2 weeks of the recovery all demanding physical activities must be avoided. After 3 weeks you can start to do light exercises. Sunbathing, the use of solarium and sauna must be avoided for 2 months. After the arm lift you have to attend control examinations on the 7th and 14th day, and the 6th and 12th week. The recovery time of the outer scars is 6 months, while the inner scars heal completely in 2 years.
To facilitate the healing of the wound it is advisable to use scar creams. Before the arm lift surgery we aim to filter out the possible risk factors with preliminary examinations but even so unpredictable complications may occur. Arm lifts count as routine plastic procedures. The chance for the occurrence of complications is extremely slight, but it cannot be excluded. These complications can be the following: infection, oedema, serous oedema, and formation of the keloid scar.
Results of the arm lift
The results of the arm lift will be visible after a few weeks, but the final shape will be obtained after a half year. After the arm lift surgery you can finally say good-bye to the flabby, sagging upper arms (known as „bat arms”), and once again use your favorite sleeveless T-shirts.
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