what is an arm lift?
an arm lift, sometimes called a brachioplasty, is a type of cosmetic surgery. it treats sagging underarms by reducing extra skin, tightening and smoothing tissue, and removing extra fat. this can make your upper arms look more toned and defined.
aging and genetics both play a role in the development of sagging skin. you might also be left with extra skin after losing a lot of weight. regardless of what’s causing your sagging skin, there are several things to keep in mind when considering an arm lift.
preparing for an arm lift
you can take steps in the weeks and months before surgery to make your arm lift as safe and effective as possible. if you smoke, quitting one to two months before surgery can greatly reduce your risk of complications.
for example, a common smoking-related complication is slow wound healing, which increases your risk of infection. work with your doctor to come up with a plan to quit smoking before having surgery.
several weeks before your arm lift, your doctor will give you a preoperative evaluation. they’ll make sure you’re ready for surgery by looking at your current health and medical history. this is also a great time to ask your doctor any questions or bring up any concerns you have about the arm lift.
they’ll start by checking for any underlying medical conditions that could make surgery dangerous.
your preoperative evaluation might also include:
● lab work
● a chest x-ray
● an electrocardiogram
● a prescription for preoperative medication
● adjusting your dose of current medications and supplements
the results of your preoperative evaluation will help you doctor figure out the safest approach for surgery. you’ll also need to stop taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (advil, motrin), two weeks before surgery.
the arm lift procedure
on the day of your surgery, your doctor starts by marking your arm where they plan to make incisions. there are several ways of performing an arm lift, but the most common ones involve
incisions on the inside or back of your arms. other options include an armpit incision or one that extends from the top of your elbow to your armpit.
you’re then given either local or
general anesthesia, depending on the surgical method your doctor chooses. guided by the marks they made on your arm, your doctor goes in and tightens or reshapes the tissue in your upper arm. they then pull your skin back over the tissue and close the surgical wound with stitches.
if there are extra pockets of fat that might make it hard for your arm to fully heal, your doctor may use
liposuction at the same time to remove that fat. the entire procedure is usually done within three hours.
after having surgery, you’ll need someone to drive you home from the appointment and stay with you overnight to make sure you don’t have any problems.
arm lift risks
like all surgeries, an arm lift comes with some risks. in addition to pain and infection, you might also have:
● excessive bleeding
● permanent scarring
● fluid buildup
● nerve, muscle, or blood vessel damage
● fatty tissue death
● confusion
● pneumonia
● heart attack
● stroke
● death in rare cases
a very small percentage of people remain partially awake under
general anesthesia. make sure you go over possible risks with your doctor so you can learn how to recognize them and get treatment. learn about the 10 most common
plastic surgery complications.
recovering from an arm lift
while you recover from surgery, you might need to wear a compression garment to control
swelling. your doctor might also insert a temporary drainage tube in your arm to drain any fluid or blood that builds up after surgery.
your doctor will give you postoperative care instructions to take home. these will cover how to take care of your wounds, which medications to take and when, warning signs to look for, and a timeline for follow-up appointments.
it’s important to also avoid smoking while you recover from an arm lift. smoking slows down the healing process, which raises your risk of developing permanent scarring or infections.
you should be able to return to work or school and resume some activities within two weeks. within six weeks, you should be able to return to your normal activity level. tell your doctor about any pain or problems moving after the initial recovery period.
arm lift cost
the average cost of an arm lift is $4,257. the cost may change based on your health and the extent of your surgery. you should also factor in extra money to cover any complications, follow-up procedures, or repeat surgeries you may need.
arm lift results
while it carries the same risks as other surgeries, you can improve your results by following your doctor’s instructions before and after surgery. you’ll eventually lose some firmness over time due to age, but the overall results should last for many years.