True or False: Arm Lift Surgery
Body contouring extends far beyond surgeries to improve the appearance of the abdomen and chest areas. In fact, I perform body contouring procedures that can help remove excess skin and fat from areas all over a patient’s body. This includes the arms. As we age, it’s natural for the upper arms to accumulate sagging skin and stubborn fat that cannot be shed with diet and exercise alone. Arm lift surgery (or brachioplasty) can help patients create a slimmer, more youthful arm contour. In order to help patients gain a better understanding of what the procedure is (and is not) capable of, I have broken down a few true and false statements about arm lift surgery below.
True or False: Arm lift surgery is only meant for older patients
This is false. While there may be a common association between aging and the accumulation of loose, sagging skin and excess fat in the upper arm area, the truth is that many people experience these issues far earlier in life. For some people, these concerns can result from weight fluctuation, gravity, or a natural lack in skin laxity. According to The Aesthetic Society, over 30% of all arm lift procedures performed in the US last year were on patients between 35-50 years old.
True or False: An arm lift is just liposuction for the arms
This too is false. While liposuction may be included as one component of an arm lift procedure for patients who experience stubborn, hard to lose fat from the upper arm, liposuction alone will not be able to treat loose, hanging skin.
True or False: Recovery after an arm lift is pretty straightforward
Thankfully, this is true. While some degree of downtime is always expected and required after plastic surgery, recovery after an arm lift procedure is often fairly simple. I tell my patients to plan for 1-2 weeks away from work following surgery. It’s important to avoid lifting your arms above shoulder level and stay away from arm exercises for three to four weeks after the procedure. After 6 weeks, heavier lifting, contact sports, and more strenuous exercise can typically begin again.
Arm lift surgery may not be the first thing that comes to mind when trying to achieve a more trim and healthy body contour, but my hope is that these answers have illustrated how helpful this procedure can be. The results are typically outstanding and long-lasting. For more information on arm lift surgery or to schedule a plastic surgery consultation today, please contact me, Dr. Frank Elliott. You can follow along with me on Facebook and Twitter for additional cosmetic surgery tips, photos, news, and more.