Brachioplasty

As we age, loose arm skin is something that we all deal with. Sometimes, loose skin can be a result of rapid weight loss, but it can almost always be attributed to the simple act of gravity taking over. Either way, heavy arms can be an annoyance and an embarrassment. One way to remedy this is through Brachioplasty or an upper arm lift. This procedure removes excess skin from the upper arm in order to provide people with smoother, tighter looking skin.

The Procedure

The Brachioplasty procedure starts with the surgeon making an incision on the underside of the arm that leads from the elbow to the armpit. Once the incision is made, excess skin is trimmed from the area and, if needed, excess fat will be suctioned away. Once the skin is removed, the incision will be sutured closed.

Patients should seriously consider this procedure before going through with it because they will be trading one cosmetic imperfection for another. Patients will lose the excess skin, but they will gain a scar at the same time. Patients should also discuss liposuction as an option. Brachioplasty is a procedure that simply removes excess skin from under the arm. If patients are exploring this procedure as a solution to excess fat problems, it might be more efficient to undergo liposuction or to combine the two procedures together.

Will It Hurt?

Patients will be placed under either a local or a general anesthetic during the Brachioplasty procedure. Once the procedure is finished, bandages will be placed around the arms in order to reduce the amount of swelling.

What Will My Results Be?

The procedure can last anywhere from one to two hours. It is an outpatient procedure so patients will be able to return home that same day. Patients will feel a moderate amount of discomfort for the first several days but pain can be controlled with pain medication. Swelling should subside after the first several weeks; the swelling reduction will allow the patient to finally see their results.

Patients can return to work after about a week, but exercising and strenuous activity should be kept to a minimum for the first month following surgery. Patients should realize that it takes time for scars to heal and mature. It could take up to six months before patients will be able to see their full results.

Costs:

Upper arm lifts can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $8,000. These prices vary depending on the location of the patient and the doctor that performs the procedure. Cost may also differ if the surgery is combined with other cosmetic procedures such as liposuction. Patients can greatly benefit from the Brachioplasty procedure because it can significantly reduce excess skin and completely refine the shape of your arm.