Arm Lift - Brachioplasty
The success and safety of your arm lift procedure depends very much on your complete candidness during your consultation. You'll be asked a number of questions about your health, desires and lifestyle, e.g. why you want the surgery, your expectations and desired outcome, medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments, use of current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drugs and previous surgeries. Your surgeon may also: evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors, take photographs for your medical record, discuss your options and recommend a course of treatment and discuss likely outcomes of arm lift surgery and any risks or potential complications.
Scars are the greatest drawback of arm lift plastic procedure. They will extend from the armpit to the elbow, along the inside of the arm. The arm lift operation exchanges one cosmetic problem (loose skin) for another (scars). In general, those with very loose saggy skin are most likely to find this exchange worthwhile. Those with a small amount of looseness will probably not want the scars. Fluctuations in weight, growing older and even heredity can cause your upper arms to have a drooping, sagging appearance. Exercise may strengthen and improve the underlying muscle tone of the upper arm, but it cannot address excess skin that has lost elasticity or underlying weakened tissues and localized fat deposits. Before the operation you may be asked to: get lab testing or a medical evaluation, take certain medications or adjust your current medications, stop smoking well in advance of surgery, avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding.
During Arm Lift Operation.
Step 1 - Anesthesia, general or sedation. Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedures. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.
Step 2 - The incision. Incision length and pattern depend on the amount and location of excess skin to be removed, as well as the best judgment of your plastic surgeon. Incisions are generally placed on the inside of the arm or on the back of the arm, depending on the surgeon's preference, and may extend from the underarm (axilla) to just above the elbow. If fat is to be reduced during your arm lift, it will be excised or treated with liposuction. Depending on your specific conditions, incisions may be more limited. Then, underlying supportive tissue is tightened and reshaped with internal sutures. Finally, the skin is smoothed over the new contour of your arm.
Step 3 - Closing the incisions. Your incisions will be closed with absorbable sutures, or stitches that will be removed within 1-2 weeks following your arm lift.
Step 4 - See the results. The smoother, tighter contours that result from brachioplasty are apparent almost immediately following your procedure, although initial results will be somewhat obscured by swelling and bruising. Your new, shapely and toned upper arm is dramatically improved both in appearance and feel.
If you experience shortness of breath, chest pains, or unusual heart beats, seek medical attention immediately. Should any of these complications occur, you may require hospitalization and additional treatment. The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although good results are expected, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure and another surgery may be necessary. Following your surgery, dressings or bandages may be applied to your incisions, and your arms may be wrapped in an elastic bandage or a compression garment to minimize swelling. A small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect. Following your physician's instructions is key to the success of your surgery. It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, swelling, abrasion, or motion during the time of healing. Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself.
It is natural to feel some anxiety, whether excitement for the anticipated outcomes or preoperative stress. Discuss these feelings with your plastic surgeon. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure you will undergo and any risks and potential complications. The risks include: unfavorable scarring, bleeding (hematoma), infection, fluid accumulation, anesthesia risks, poor wound healing, skin loss, blood clots, numbness or other, changes in skin sensation, skin discoloration and/or prolonged swelling, asymmetry, major wound separation, fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis), damage to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and lungs, pain, which may persist, deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications, sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation that require removal, possibility of revisional surgery.