Understanding the Limitations of Brachioplasty
It’s critical to have realistic expectations if you’re considering an arm lift. Arm lift surgery tightens the upper arm skin and reduces fat, but it can’t solve every problem in life. In this article, we’ll explore the limitations of this surgical procedure. After reading, you should gain a better understanding of what arm lift surgery can’t do.
Extended arm lift | Body Contouring Surgery Clinic Pty Ltd
What Can’t an Arm Lift Accomplish?
Let’s take a look at some of the limitations of arm lift surgery.
A brachioplasty procedure won’t make you healthier
Healthy diet and exercise
An arm lift removes extra skin and fat deposits on the upper arms. While some fat is removed, it won’t cure obesity or improve your overall health. However, an arm lift may reduce rashes, skin infections, and chafing from the arm skin rubbing together. Some patients also find it is easier to exercise after removing the excess skin, which may support a healthy lifestyle.
Brachioplasty surgery is not a solution for weight loss
Extreme weight loss patients often have loose skin and resistant fat that may necessitate body contouring surgery. Arm reduction surgery may be worth pursuing if the excess skin and fat bothers you.
While your surgeon may remove several grams of skin and subcutaneous fat during an arm lift, don’t expect to lose weight on the scale by much. Typically, patients undergo cosmetic surgery to remove saggy skin after reaching and maintaining a stable weight. Weight loss must always happen first. Skin removal surgery comes afterwards.
If your goal is weight loss, diet, exercise, or bariatric surgery is likely the answer. Unfortunately, rapid or massive weight loss often causes excess arm skin. After achieving your weight-loss goals, that would be the time to consider arm lift surgery to remove sagging skin and fat on your upper arms.
Arm lift surgery won’t improve skin elasticity
Arm lifts help the upper arms appear firmer and smoother. While your arms should look tight and toned afterwards, it won’t technically improve the quality of your upper arm skin. Collagen and elastin production, which slow with age, won’t be affected.
An arm lift won’t cure mental health issues
Arm lift surgery can improve the appearance of your arms, but it won’t change who you are inside. If you struggle with body dysmorphia, depression, or a negative self-concept, an arm lift won’t necessarily solve those issues. Ideal candidates for the surgery have a reasonably positive self-image despite wanting to improve the upper arm area.
It won’t make you look like a celebrity
Browse your social media and you’ll see models sporting toned, youthful arms. If you are considering an arm lift to tighten sagging arms and remove excess fat, you should know that your surgical results will not make you look like a new person. If all goes well, an arm lift should make you look like yourself, only better.
Reasonable Expectations are Important
Before embarking on cosmetic surgery (such as an arm lift), patients must ask themselves if their goals and expectations are realistic.
The surgery comes with some downtime
The reality is, you’ll need to take some time off to heal after surgery. Most upper arm lift patients drive and return to work within two to three weeks. As you recover from the operation, you will need to wear a compression garment on your upper arms to reduce swelling. Dr Beldholm will also advise you to avoid strenuous activities such as jogging and heavy lifting for a few weeks. Wear your compression garment as instructed and follow all your surgeon’s aftercare instructions.
The brachioplasty scar is permanent
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To correct excess tissue, your surgeon will make an upper arm incision. The arm lift scar placement can vary. The amount of the sagging on the upper arm after massive weight loss determines the scar location and length.Cutting into the skin always leave a scar.
The ideal candidates for arm lift surgery understand that they will have a permanent scar. The surgical scars usually fade to fine lines.
If your incisions don’t heal well or you develop keloid scarring, your surgeon may recommend scar revision procedures to make the scar look better. Options may include laser scar lightening, skin resurfacing, injectables, medicated scar creams, or scar excision.
Brachioplasty surgery comes with risks
Complications from surgery are possible, even in the hands of the world’s most experienced surgeons.
Some issues that can occur include an allergic reaction to medications, wound dehiscence, infections, raised scars, bunching at the skin closure, blood clots, discolouration, nerve damage, asymmetry, extensive bruising, or an adverse reaction to general anesthesia.
Dr Beldholm will ask about your medical history during your consultation. His goal is to make sure you don’t have any contraindications to surgery. He will only recommend a surgical procedure such as an arm lift if he believes it is reasonably safe for you to proceed.
Let your surgeon know if you notice any unusual symptoms after surgery, such as worsened swelling, difficulty breathing, or signs of infection. Most patients have an uneventful recovery, so long as they follow all aftercare advice and choose a qualified specialist surgeon.
Brachioplasty is customisable, but the options are limited
Combined procedures may increase the chance of complications. Yet it is generally safe to have an arm lift and arm liposuction at the same time. Liposuction-based arm lifts have similar risks to a standard arm lift. By combining an arm lift and VASER liposuction, Dr Beldholm’s patients can tighten saggy skin and reduce stubborn arm fat in one surgery. However, it would be unsafe to have a major operation like a lower body lift and an upper arm lift on the same day.
You’ll need to maintain your results with a healthy lifestyle
The results from arm lift surgery aren’t necessarily permanent. To prolong your arm lift results, you must eat well, exercise regularly, and avoid habits like sun tanning and smoking, which may contribute to skin laxity over the years.
FAQs
Will an arm lift improve sagging on the lateral chest wall?
There are many types of upper arm lifts. Only one addresses the lateral chest wall. If you have sagging lateral chest wall skin, Dr Beldholm may recommend an extended arm lift. This procedure addresses two areas at once: the upper arms and lateral chest wall.
What is a scarless arm lift?
Scarless upper arm lift procedures can mean one of two things. The first possibility is your surgeon means a surgical technique called ‘minimal incision brachioplasty’, which leaves a less visible scar. It could also refer to minimally invasive arm lift alternatives.
Neither option is suitable for the massive weight loss population since the loose skin is usually too extreme. ‘Scarless’ procedures may improve the upper arm area, but the results are modest compared to a standard arm lift. If you have a substantial amount of excess skin and fat after significant weight loss, you may need a conventional arm lift incision, which leaves a noticeable scar on the upper arm skin.
Essentially, scarless brachioplasty alternatives exist, but they are unlikely to be an option for a massive weight loss patient. Moderate-to-severe arm skin laxity can be greatly improved with a traditional arm lift.
Limited incision brachioplasty
Mini Brachioplasty | Body Contouring Surgery Clinic Pty Ltd
Some cosmetic surgery providers consider a minimal incision brachioplasty a “scarless” arm lift because the scars are smaller than a traditional arm lift. Calling a surgical procedure “scarless” is misleading. While the scars may be smaller, there will still be a scar. These procedures do not remove much extra skin. Some surgeons do not bother offering scarless lifts since the results aren’t as dramatic as most patients are hoping for.
In-office arm contouring procedures
So-called “scarless arm lifts” may refer to options such as BodyTite or Renuvion (which require tiny incisions) or non surgical upper arm fat reduction. Services such as CoolSculpting or TruSculpt ID reduce excess fat deposits without cutting into the skin.
Can I have arm liposuction and arm lift surgery at the same time?
Yes, this is usually a possibility. The surgical techniques used during arm lift surgery will remove the extra upper arm skin and the fat attached to it. Liposuction may be added to remove even more fat cells and refine the arm contours. Combining an arm lift and liposuction is medically known as ‘suction assisted lipectomy’ or ‘liposuction-assisted brachioplasty surgery’.
Why do I need to wear a compression garment after removing loose skin from my arms?
You will need to wear compression sleeves to reduce swelling after undergoing a cosmetic surgery procedure that removes excess skin on the upper arm.
Is there any way to avoid arm lift complications?
The first step is choosing a surgeon that will review your medical history to let you know if surgery is reasonably safe for you. Dr Beldholm will examine you and provide a list of pre-operative and aftercare instructions to promote a successful surgery. For example, you’ll need to avoid smoking and limit heavy lifting until fully healed, or you might end up with wound dehiscence or other complications after removing loose skin.
What is the difference between a full arm lift and an extended arm lift?
Full brachioplasty removes excess skin that hangs on the back of the upper arms. Extended brachioplasty is a body contouring procedure that removes excess arm skin and addresses sagging on the lateral chest wall. Extended arm lifts are usually for massive weight loss patients. After massive weight loss, many people have significant skin laxity on their upper body.
How much skin and fat does an arm lift remove?
An arm lift is customised to you. The exact amount of extra skin and fat removed differs from person to person.
What is the medical term for sagging arm skin?
The proper terminology is ‘brachial ptosis’. A more common name for brachial ptosis is excess skin on the arms.
Can I have liposuction instead of an arm lift?
Liposuction only removes fat cells. It won’t tighten the skin or underlying tissues. Dr Beldholm can help you decide whether you would benefit from arm lift surgery, liposuction, or both. He also offers TruSculptID to remove fat without going under the knife.
What arm lift option is right for me?
It all depends on how much extra skin and subcutaneous tissue you have. To learn what type of arm lift is appropriate for you, ask your GP for a referral to speak to Dr Bernard Beldholm in NSW today.
