Arm Lift After Weight Loss

Due to a massive weight loss, aging or genetic factors, you may be left with excess fat deposits and sagging skin on your upper arms. Arm lift surgery, also known as brachioplasty, is a cosmetic surgical procedure which is performed to get rid of the excess fat and sagging skin that often looks like “bat wings”. The procedure contours your upper arms from the axilla or the underarm towards the elbow. The location of the incision made is often on the inner side or the back side of the upper arm. Its length and the techniques used will depend on desired cosmetic goals, preferences and the experience of your surgeon. Dr. Bloch is a board certified expert plastic surgeon in Chicago and performs arm lifts to achieve great cosmetic outcomes. The doctor has an experience that spans over 30 years and can conveniently be booked for a consultation at www.bodybybloch.com.

Purpose of the arm lift surgery

An arm lift surgery is basically performed to get rid of the upper arm’s excess skin and fat left behind after losing a lot of weight. it can be performed as part of a body contouring procedure if a patient has other areas of the body where localized fat and excess skin may also need to be removed. Fats may be excised or removed through a liposuction procedure.

Am I a good Arm lift candidate?

To be a good candidate for an arm lift, you need to trade of between getting rid of the sagging skin or excess fat from the upper arms and risking scars. Scars sometimes may not be ugly but often they do. Many patients would however not mind that because the sagging skin and excess fat to them doesn’t look good at all. Before your surgery, Dr. Bloch will discuss with you every aspect of the procedure to make you understand what results you can expect and any possible risks. You are examined to make sure you do not have medical conditions that can increase surgery risk or impair healing. You will also need to have a near normal weight to make a good candidate for the procedure.

Preparing for arm lift surgery

In preparing for arm lift surgery, you may be asked to:

• • Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
  • Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
  • Stop smoking
  • Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding

Arm lift surgery may be performed in an accredited office-based surgical facility, ambulatory surgical center, or a hospital.

Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery, and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.

Limitations And Risks

Fortunately, significant complications from upper-arm-lift surgery are infrequent. This surgery remains the gold standard for arm rejuvenation and is usually performed without any major problems.
All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Some of the potential complications of all surgeries are:

• • Adverse reaction to anesthesia
  • Hematoma or seroma (an accumulation of blood or fluid under the skin that may require removal)
  • Infection and bleeding
  • Changes in sensation
  • Scarring
  • Allergic reactions
  • Damage to underlying structures
  • Unsatisfactory results that may necessitate additional procedures

You can help minimize certain risks by following the advice and instructions of your board-certified plastic surgeon, both before and after your upper-arm-lift surgery.