Blog Article
Lift Your Spirits with an Arm Lift
Be it sagging skin, excess fat, or both—many men and women struggle to love their arms. A common problem, many notice that as they age, the skin on the upper arms can start to loose or saggy. Self-conscious of your upper arms? Brachioplasty may be the solution. More commonly known as an arm lift, the goal of brachioplasty is to remove excess skin and underlying fat from the upper arm—reshaping the entire underside of the upper arm. An increasingly popular procedure, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the upper arm lift has seen an astounding increase of 4694% in the past 15 years.
What Is Brachioplasty?
As Dr. Mouchantat explains, “during a brachioplasty, the skin and fat that are excess are removed”. Through a precisely placed incision made on the inside of the upper arm, Dr. Mouchantat is able to access and remove excess fat and skin. To help give your arms optimal contour, liposuction is often performed in tandem with an arm lift. The remaining skin is then stretched and recontoured—giving your arm a smooth, more appealing youthful tone.
Alternatives to a Full Arm Lift
For some, a full brachioplasty may not be necessary. For those, it is worth considering:
- Liposuction alone can provide a slimmer arm for men and women with good skin elasticity. The skin loses its natural elasticity—its ability to bounce back—due to a number of causes including genetics, thin skin, muscle loss, or significant weight loss. In cases where skin elasticity is lacking, an arm lift is necessary.
- A mini brachioplasty is available for individuals who have minimal sagging in their upper arms. Tucking the incision into the armpit, Dr. Mouchantat is able to remove and tighten the arm without the extended incision of a full brachioplasty.
Scarring & Recovery
Brachioplasty is known to have some residual scarring—however, most of our arm lift patients are happy to trade in their less-than-toned arms for the resulting minimal scarring. For those with more severe sagging, a scar may extend from the armpit to the elbow on the inside of your arm.
It is important to work with a plastic surgeon who is both competent and experienced. Board certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Dr. Mouchantat is careful to take every measure possible to minimize the appearance of the incision site. To help lessen the visibility of scarring, Dr. Mouchantat meticulously places the incision on the inside of the arm.
By following proper aftercare instructions, you can further reduce the appearance of scarring. It is not advised to smoke in the weeks leading up to your surgery as this behavior increases the risk for more dramatic scarring. It is also important that you exercise caution and avoid any strenuous movements as this can increase the risk of unfavorable scarring and can possibly cause the incision site to reopen—hindering and prolonging the healing process. We also encourage our patients to consider wearing compression sleeves to reduce swelling and expedite the healing process. During your consultation, Dr. Mouchantat will provide you with detailed instructions specific to your individual arm lift.
Better Arms = ↑ Confidence
At Mouchantat Plastic Surgery, we understand that many of our patients our self-conscious of their upper arms “even in their clothing”, wearing long or baggy sleeves. Speaking from experience, Dr. Mouchantat says that his patients are “happier without excess and saggy skin”. We encourage you to schedule a consultation with us today to learn how you can benefit from an arm lift.
