Jiggle arms: the word strikes dread into the heart of women across the nation. Even if you work out and eat right, you may still have embarrassing swinging slabs of flesh that dangle between your shoulder and elbow. How long have you wanted to wear a tank top or the red strapless number? How long has it been since you waved goodbye without consciously wondering if your arms are flapping in the wind? Are you disheartened because you have worked so hard to lose the weight you needed, but are now left with flappy, flabby arms?
Who Benefits from an Arm Lift?
If any of this speaks to you – have hope. There is a procedure that will bring back tone and shape to your arms. It is called brachioplasty, more popularly termed “arm lift.”
An arm lift is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures performed following large weight loss. Fat tends to accumulate on the underside of the forearms, stretching the skin and muscles. When that fat is lost, stretched skin and soft tissues are left behind, causing sagging which gives the bat wing flap appearance.
The bad news is that no amount of exercise will get rid of sagging skin. The good news is that surgery can remove it for you, toning and shaping your arms. Arm lifts can be performed with or without liposuction.
Who Does an Arm Lift?
Choose an experienced board certified cosmetic surgeon, as this can impact your level of satisfaction with the procedure. Ask to see before and after photos and bring in pictures of arms that you like. The surgeon will discuss your goals and expectations and ensure that you have realistic expectations.
What Can I Expect During the Procedure?
The length of the arm lift and the depth of anesthesia will depend on the severity of skin laxity. It is often performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia with a sedative – which means you will be awake but sleepy and not feel any pain. The arm lift can last anywhere between 1 and 3 hours. The more fat under the arms, the poorer the sun quality and the amount of stretching and damage there is, the longer the procedure will be.
The surgeon will make an incision on the inside or the back of the arm. The length of the incision again depends on the extent of the lift that needs to be done. For liposuction, a little incision in the armpit can be used, for a more extensive lift – an incision from elbow to armpit may be required. Talk with your surgeon.
What can I Expect During Recovery?
Expect some mild swelling, pain and bruising. Pain can be managed postop with prescription medication. You will notice improvement in your arm’s appearance immediately! Swelling is the most 2-3 days after the arm lift and decreases slowly over two weeks. Most people can return to work within 2-3 weeks, but your surgeon will likely restrict heavy lifting for 6 weeks.