How to Get Rid of Loose Upper Arm Skin
After a certain age or a dramatic weight loss, most people tend to avoid wearing sleeveless clothes. What happens is that the skin on the arms can become saggy and loose, having a negative impact on the overall appearance of the upper part of the body. When noticing saggy skin on the arms, the first thing that comes to mind is to try some physical exercises to tone the muscles. And this is what most people do before resorting to plastic surgery.
Suppose you can't enjoy your weight loss program's benefits because you are dealing with loose upper arm skin, and you have already tried sports. In that case, the chances are you need to schedule an appointment with an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options.
How to get rid of loose skin on the arms
We've mentioned physical exercises, and this can contribute to better muscular tonus and an improved aspect of the arms. However, if the skin is sagging, this can't be corrected with physical exercises. When the muscles are toned, and they increase their volume, it might look like sports is the way to get the arms you can be proud of. However, most people notice that the results are not as spectacular as they hoped in the beginning. The improvement is obvious, but saggy skin is still there.
Generally speaking, when we are dealing with an excess of skin, like loose upper arm skin, the only efficient solution to correct the problem is plastic surgery and the excision of the skin surplus. In other words, we need to eliminate the skin excess for better-contoured arms.
Woman with Slender Arms
Brachioplasty to Remodel the Upper Part of the Arms
Brachioplasty is the plastic surgery procedure recommended for people who are dealing with loose and saggy upper arm skin. The excess of the skin can also occur with the natural aging process. Still, the surgery is mostly indicated for people who had bariatric surgery or lost a significant amount of weight following a diet or program. This is the reason why, in many cases, the brachioplasty is performed in association with other procedures such as liposuction, breast lift, or tummy tuck to remodel the body further and achieve a superior aesthetic result.
After the arms lift surgery, the arms are supple, look more toned, and there is no loose skin.
How is Arms Lift Surgery Performed?
Just like other body lifting procedures, the brachioplasty is performed with the patient under general anesthesia. The duration of the intervention depends on the amount of skin to be eliminated and the complexity of each case. Some patients get the brachioplasty together with a breast lift surgery or a complete upper body lift, while others need liposuction to get the best possible results. Liposuction is recommended when there is an underlying fat deposit at the level of the arms that can be eliminated before excising the surplus of skin.
The incision performed to eliminate loose upper arm skin is positioned at the level of the axilla, while another incision can go along the length of the arm – on the internal part of the arms. The incisions are barely visible 8 to 12 months after the intervention was performed when they are completely healed.
The Ideal Candidate for the Arms Lift Surgery
The procedure is recommended for you if:
You are in good health and emotional condition and have no chronic or severe conditions that could trigger complications during the recovery period;
You don't smoke or can refrain from smoking for at least a few weeks post-op;
You have realistic expectations from the surgery;
You are committed to following the plastic surgeon's recommendations during the recovery period.
Brachioplasty Results
The procedure aims to improve the contour of the arms and remodel the area. It is important for patients interested in undergoing the procedure to understand what results can be achieved with the intervention. For example, some patients expect to have much thinner arms after arms lift surgery. However, this is not always the case. The intervention only eliminates the loose upper arm skin. This means that if your arms are naturally big because there is a lot of muscle or fat tissue, they won't get much thinner after brachioplasty. But if the amount of sagging skin is considerable, the results might be really impressive. It is all different from one patient to the other, and it's important to discuss the results that can be expected even from the first consultation with the plastic surgeon.
The Recovery Period After Brachioplasty
The arms lift surgery is a complex intervention, often performed only by the most experienced and talented plastic surgeons. There is a fine line between achieving superb results and being dissatisfied with the procedure. To make the most out of your plastic surgery experience, make sure to choose an experienced surgeon, and follow the recommendations to the letter.
After this intervention, the recovery period is often no longer than a week or two, but the final results need at least three months to occur. During the first few days after the procedure, patients can experiment a mild level of pain and discomfort. Swelling and bruising are also possible after a brachioplasty, as it is the case after any surgical intervention. To have a fast and uneventful recovery period after the arms lift surgery, it's important to avoid smoking, putting unnecessary pressure on the arms, and intensive physical activities.
Final Words
If you want to get rid of loose upper arm skin, brachioplasty is the only efficient solution that delivers long-term results. The procedure is performed to eliminate saggy skin and remodel the arms. Are you ready to wear sleeveless dresses and blouses again? Schedule an appointment with Dr. Essie Yates, a board-certified plastic surgeon at the Yates Institute for Plastic Surgery in Fort Lauderdale!