Want Sculpted Arms? Consider Brachioplasty!
- Posted on: Apr 15 2020
We’ve come to acknowledge the prevalence of plastic surgery in our country and to regard various procedures as advantageous for beauty. This has made it more possible for people to openly talk about their interest in breast surgery, tummy tucks, liposuction, and facial rejuvenation. These procedures may get a lot of attention, but others are deserving of discussion. Here, we want to turn the spotlight on Brachioplasty, the arm lift procedure that has grown by over 5000% since 2000.
What Is Brachioplasty?
Brachioplasty is a lift procedure that focuses on the backs of the arms. Here, fat can accumulate and the muscle and skin that shape the arm may weaken and droop. This is especially prominent when a person has lost a significant amount of weight. However, we can’t overlook the fact that the backs of the arms are simply prone to the signs of aging and, in time, become loose and saggy. We call this “bat wings” because the backs of the arms hang down and wiggle when we wave a hand. Brachioplasty restores harmonious shape to the upper arms to reinstate proportion with the lower arm. This can allow a person to wear short-sleeves again without feeling self-conscious.
How is Brachioplasty Performed?
Arm lift surgery is an outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia. Before surgery, the patient is briefed regarding the details of surgery as discussed at their consultation, including incision placement and length. Incisions are usually placed on the backside or the underside of the arm, where scars are not noticeable unless the arms are raised. Incision length can vary from very short and near the armpit to a span of the armpit to the elbow.
After making incisions, Dr. Shridharani may perform minor liposuction. This technique removes any excess fat that may extend the circumference of the arm before muscle and skin are tightened. The muscle is tightened first, gently pulled to the desired circumference and then trimmed. The new edges are joined with internal stitches that will dissolve. The skin is tightened in the same way, set to lie flush against the muscle. Incisions are closed with sutures that will be removed during the follow-up about 10 days after surgery. The arms are bandaged and compression garments may be applied.
Arm Lift Recovery
Patients should have someone stay with them for the first day or two after Brachioplasty. Bandages will limit arm mobility and prescription pain medication can cause grogginess. By the end of the first week, swelling and comfort should be much improved. Arm mobility, however, will not increase much until about 4 weeks after surgery. It is important not to disrupt the internal stitches while the muscle heals. By six weeks after Brachioplasty, most normal activities can be resumed.
Would you like to wave goodbye to bat wings? Call our NYC office at (212) 508-0000 to schedule your arm lift consultation.
Posted in: Brachioplasty
