INITIAL RECOVERY TIME: 10 DAYS
FINAL RESULTS: 3 MONTHS
Shapely, smooth upper arms are something many people wish for—and spend hours in the gym trying to get. Unfortunately, no amount of toning exercises will help loose, sagging skin on the upper arms. If you are frustrated with loose, flabby skin or “bat wings,” then you may want to consider an upper arm lift.
Arm lift surgery, called brachioplasty, removes excess, hanging upper arm skin to restore a more slender, firm and youthful contour to the upper arms.
A healthy diet can help you keep your weight in check, and strength-training can tone your muscles. However, a loose, flabby arm appearance is due to excess, stretched skin—something neither diet nor exercise can address. An upper arm lift removes the excess skin and tightens sagging arm tissues, helping you enjoy a slimmer, smoother arm contour. The confidence-boosting benefits are many:
SEE UPPER ARM REJUVENATION RESULTS
Surgery typically involves a lengthwise incision, located on the inside of the upper arm. Dr. Chen removes excess skin and sagging tissues, restoring a tighter, slimmer contour.
The resulting scar can be concealed by most sleeves, and will not be visible with your arms naturally at your side. With proper care, scars should fade significantly and eventually will be more difficult to detect, especially at a distance.
An arm lift is a common procedure to include in body lift surgery after weight loss, helping restore more slender proportions to the upper body. Arm lifts are also popular to help offset age-related skin sagging on the upper arms.
The length of your recovery depends on the extent of surgery. If you are having an upper arm lift alone, you will be able to return to work about 1 to 2 weeks after surgery. Post-operative pain is minimal. Bruising and swelling are common after an arm lift; these effects subside gradually after the first 3 to 5 days or so. Light exercise, such as walking, is allowed within the first week, but more strenuous activity, including lifting and high-impact exercise, are off-limits for about 4 to 6 weeks. Results are close to their final form within a month or two, and will continue to improve subtly for 3 to 6 months.
With the loose, excess skin gone, your new, shapelier arm contour will last for years. However, it’s important to maintain a stable weight. Significant weight fluctuations could result in the skin re-stretching and becoming loose once again. You can help your results look their best by following Dr. Chen’s post-op care instructions and keeping your incision sites protected from the sun (sun exposure can result in darker, more visible scars).
If you have more questions about arm lift surgery, we’d love to help!