Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)
Arm Lift Overview
Following significant weight loss you are left with loose, unsightly skin that often times interferes with daily activities and causes rash or irritation. Other factors that might contribute to excess skin in the upper arms might also include:
- Aging
- Gravity
- Chronic tanning
Aside from the physical downside, it is not cosmetically appealing to have the excess skin either. Arm lift surgery, also known as Brachioplasty, can help to remove excess skin, as well as reduce the circumference of the upper arm.
The ideal candidate for arm lift surgery is:
- Someone who has maintained a stable weight
- Someone who is physically healthy
- A non-smoker
- Someone who has lost considerable weight due to weight loss surgery
- Someone with realistic expectations
- Someone who has taken into consideration the resulting scars that will be left following the surgery
Arm lift surgery can be done alone or in conjunction with other surgical procedures such as liposuction. Dr. Chahin will discuss with you these procedures, and what is mutually felt to be the best method of treatment to aid in achieving optimal results for you.
Why Choose Dr. Chahin?
Dr. Chahin prides himself in providing his patients with an environment of safety, comfort and care along with a high level of skill and expertise in the field of plastic surgery. Over 20 years of surgical experience has allowed him to build his practice in such a way that you will feel at ease and confident throughout your entire journey. Dr. Chahin strives to achieve natural looking, attractive results with a minimal recovery time and high patient satisfaction. With utilizing the most advanced, safest and least invasive techniques available in today’s sophisticated world of plastic surgery, he is specialized in providing the ultimate refinement of his skills in body contouring, facial aesthetics and breast sculpturing surgical techniques. Dr. Chahin provides his patients with an individualized plan, highlighting his exquisite attention to detail and personal touch. Through kindness, sophistication and exceptional quality of work, Dr. Chahin and his experienced team of staff members will go above and beyond to ensure their patients’ profound confidence and satisfaction.
“Thank you for all of your patience and help, I appreciate you and all of the work you do for the office and your patience. Thank you for always being there whenever I had questions. Everything you do, you do with a welcoming spirit.”
“Dear Dr. Chahin,
We wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you for your fantastic care of my daughter. Your quality and integrity as a surgeon and more fundamentally as a human being.”
“Dearest Doc,
Every day is a special day for your patients to have you! How lucky and grateful we all are for all of your expertise and care you give to each person.”
– Thank You, Ann
“Thank you for all of your patience and help, I appreciate you and all of the work you do for the office and your patience. Thank you for always being there whenever I had questions. Everything you do, you do with a welcoming spirit.”
“Dear Dr. Chahin,
We wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you for your fantastic care of my daughter. Your quality and integrity as a surgeon and more fundamentally as a human being.”
“Dearest Doc,
Every day is a special day for your patients to have you! How lucky and grateful we all are for all of your expertise and care you give to each person.”
– Thank You, Ann
FAQ – Arm Lift
There are various different types of arm lift surgeries including but not limited to: mini arm lift or extended brachioplasty, L-arm lift, etc. After losing a significant amount of body fat, while your shape returns to a slimmer size, the skin is often left drooping and sagging. This is because after being stretched for a long period of time, skin begins to lose its elasticity. Diet and exercise cannot reverse these effects and a tailored arm lift will be customized to best suit your body and circumstances.
Liposuction is typically an added and helpful tool done at the same time as the procedure. Its aids in optimizing outcomes and removing any excess fat in order to tighten the skin on the arms more.
Along with bandages, you may have to wear a compression garment. This will help keep any swelling down. Because of the anesthesia and post operative pain medication, it’s important to have someone drive you home.
Typically drains are used during arm lifts. The drains will need to be monitored carefully. The drains will be removed anywhere between 5-7 days by Dr. Chahin at your follow up appointment.
Since an arm lift involves an incision along the length of the arm in order to remove the extra skin, there will be a scar. Your incision line will regress and refine as you heal. It’s important to avoid direct sunlight for a year after surgery. This helps to avoid discoloration of the scar. The scar may be bright pink at first but will fade to your normal skin color over time. The scar will fully mature in about 12-18 months.
During your arm lift recovery, it’s common to have some discomfort. Don’t be alarmed if you experience swelling, soreness, or bruising. These will lessen after the first few days but do plan for 1 – 2 weeks of recovery time following an arm lift procedure as it will take the tissues in your arms a few weeks to fully heal.
You’ll want to use pillows to keep the arms elevated for at least the first week following surgery. This helps to increase circulation and reduce swelling. Wearing comfortable loose clothing which is easy to take on and off (such as zip or button up shirt rather than a pullover) will make your early recovery period a lot easier.