An arm lift, also known as a brachioplasty, is a cosmetic surgery that treats sagging underarms by tightening the loose skin and removing excess fat from the area. Then, the leftover skin will be placed back over the freshly contoured underarm to improve the region’s overall appearance.
Genetics play a significant role when it comes to the development of sagging skin. Beyond that, excess skin can also follow a substantial loss of weight. Regardless of what causes your skin to sag, you should consider several items, discussed in more depth below, before getting an arm lift.
Preparation Before an Arm Lift
The preparation process before an arm lift procedure will begin weeks, or even months early to optimize your surgery’s safety and efficiency.
One recommendation is to quit smoking a month or two before the procedure, which can significantly decrease your chance of complications. Frequent smoking has been linked to slower wound healing, increased chances of developing an infection, and reduced blood flow. You can formulate a plan beforehand with your doctor to make quitting smoking as stress-free as possible.
Weeks before your procedure, your surgeon will put you under a preoperative evaluation entailing a physical exam and full medical history review. This step is necessary to determine if you’re eligible for surgery, as the doctor will weigh factors such as your overall health status and medical history. Take this time to ask your doctor anything that will clear up your concerns. The results of this evaluation will help your surgeon determine the best approach to your surgery.
An additional mandatory element is that you stop taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication two weeks before the procedure.
The Brachioplasty
As a first step, your surgeon will put markings on your arm to assist with the creation of incision. The most common way this procedure is performed involves making incision on the inside or back of the arms.
Depending on the process, you’ll receive either local or general anesthesia. Guided by the marks made, the surgeon will tighten and restructure the tissue in your upper arm. Your skin will then be pulled over the tissue and closed with stitches.
In the case that there is excess fat that complicates the healing process, liposuction may also be used to remove the fat. The procedure usually lasts around three hours.
Make sure you have someone to transport you from the operation center or hospital to your home, as you won’t be able to drive post-operation
Recovery Process
After the surgery, you’ll need to wear a compression garment to help deal with the swelling. You may also be given a temporary drainage tube to dissipate any fluid build-up. The doctor will provide instructions for caring for your wounds, what medicine you should take, and additional items to be aware of.
Patients should be able to get back to their daily routines in around two weeks. After six weeks, a full recovery should have been made, and restrictions subsequently lifted.