Arm Lift Brachioplasty Beverly Hills
- What is Arm Lift Brachioplasty?
- How Does Arm Lift Brachioplasty Work?
- Who is a right candidate for Arm Lift Brachioplasty?
- What will be the results of Arm Lift Brachioplasty?
- How about safety & side effects?
- How long is recovery time for Arm Lift Brachioplasty?
- Before Arm Lift Brachioplasty Instructions?
- After Arm Lift Brachioplasty Instructions?
- Testimonials form Arm Lift Brachioplasty patients?
- How painful is the Arm Lift Brachioplasty?
- How much does Arm Lift Brachioplasty cost?
- What are the Alternatives for Arm Lift Brachioplasty?
What is Arm Lift Brachioplasty?
This operation removes fat and skin to reduce the loose appearance due to weight loss or aging.
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How Does Arm Lift Brachioplasty Work?
The skin in the lower borders of the arm is removed along with some excess fat. A very light general anesthesia is common, and the procedure takes about two hours. There may be no incisions if liposuction alone is all that is needed. Otherwise, the incision may be completely concealed within the armpit or down the inside of the arm in an inconspicuous location for a variable length depending on the location and amount of excess skin. Drains are used for two days. Dressings and a light compression garment is used for several days. This can be combined with other plastic surgical procedures.
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Who is a right candidate for Arm Lift Brachioplasty
Adults who desire a more youthful and less flabby appearance in the upper arm. Liposculpture, in many cases, (when excess fat and not excess skin is the problem) may be a more appropriate alternative.
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What will be the results of Arm Lift Brachioplasty
Optimally, a beautiful, balanced and proportioned contour of the arms results, and one becomes more confident and comfortable in clothing, especially sleeveless dresses. The goal is a natural and presentable appearance in the first week that just gets better over the next three to six months.
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How about safety & side effects?
General: bruising and swelling lasting on average for two weeks but can continue for a month or more. Remember, the human body is asymmetrical and, even after surgery, both sides of the body may look different.
All surgery requires an incision and therefore will leave a scar. In most patients, the scar heals well, but in a small number of people, the scar remains thick and heavy.
At the time of surgery, the small nerves that supply feeling to the skin are damaged. This may cause changes in sensation including numbness. Although uncommon, bleeding and infection are risks and can be serious.
You will have pain and discomfort after this surgery. The pain usually only lasts for a few days. One percent of all operations lead to major complications.
Weigh up the pros and cons; it is for you to decide. This is a surgical procedure and as such may result in potentially serious complications such as a blood clot or embolus or an unexpected response to drugs or anesthetics.
Unique to this surgery: the scar may be long and may be slow to heal. It is not unusual to have scabbing along the scar for several weeks, and fluid (either blood or serum) can collect under the skin flap.
Make certain you understand all consent forms.
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How long is recovery time for Arm Lift Brachioplasty
You can go home after several hours or can stay overnight. You can shower on the third day after surgery.
There is only minimal pain that is mostly gone by the second or third day and is easily controlled by medications. Swelling is mild to moderate and peaks at two to three days, then disappears rapidly over the next three weeks. Minimal or no bruising is common. Some grogginess is present, which persists for about a week. You can resume many activities within the first week, and most by at least three weeks. The stitches are removed at seven days. Expect to be off from work for only three to seven days.
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How painful is the Arm Lift Brachioplasty
A very light general anesthesia during the surgery is common. There is only minimal pain that is mostly gone by the second or third day and is easily controlled by medications.
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Testimonials form Arm Lift Brachioplasty patients?
"There comes a point that you have gone through all diets and exercising known to man. You lift your arms in the air, only to notice that god has given you "wings" right under your arms . . . and no, they are not functional either. No amount of dieting or exercise can make them go away. As you loose more weight they get flabbier. For me this happened when I was only 31. It took me another 4 years to buildup the courage to have the surgery done. I am glad I did."
Laura Anderson, 35, Beverly Hills CA
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Before Arm Lift Brachioplasty Instructions?
Your surgeon will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding vitamins, iron tablets and certain medications. If you develop a cold or an infection of any kind, especially a skin infection, your surgery may have to be postponed. Though rare, your doctor may recommend that you have blood drawn ahead of time in case it is needed during surgery. Also, while you are making preparations, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure and, if needed, to help you at home for a day or two. Special accommodations are available for patients who are coming from out of town.
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After Arm Lift Brachioplasty Instructions?
After surgery, you will likely experience some fluid drainage from the incisions. Occasionally, a small drainage tube may be inserted beneath the skin for a couple of days to prevent fluid build-up. To control swelling and to help your skin better fit its new contours, you may be fitted with a snug elastic garment to wear over the treated area for a few weeks. Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection. Do not expect to look or feel great right after surgery. Even though the newer techniques are believed to reduce some post-operative discomforts, you may still experience some pain, burning, swelling, bleeding and temporary numbness. Pain can be controlled with medications prescribed by your surgeon, though you may still feel stiff and sore for a few days. It is normal to feel a bit anxious or depressed in the days or weeks following surgery. However, this feeling will subside as you begin to look and feel better.
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How much does Arm Lift Brachioplasty cost?
$1800-$4500, depending on the extent of the procedure. Combining different procedures may reduce the overall cost of the surgery. All fees are subject to change without prior notice.
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What are the Alternatives for Arm Lift Brachioplasty
- Weight loss
- Exercise
- Liposculpture
Does Arm Lift Brachioplasty work for men too?
Yes
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Arm Lift Brachioplasty Articles and Information
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Article-1-Treatment Details / Upper Arm Lift
Background
An upper arm lift (sometimes known as a "Brachioplasty") is part of a cosmetic surgery procedure called body contouring which is designed to remove skin and fat from the upper arms.
The first body lifting operations began in Brazil and France in the 1960s and 1970s. Thigh lifts, buttock lifts, abdominoplasty ("tummy tuck"), and arm lifts were performed using the surgical techniques which were available at that time. Although a "tummy tuck" is now a popular cosmetic procedure, in the 1970s, there were problems with unpredictable results, odd body shapes, poor scarring and other complications which made surgeons more cautious in offering these operations.
From the late 1980s, a better understanding of how skin and fat are built up, and of how the body changes shape with age, have allowed surgeons to redesign these operations and they are now much more successful.
In recent years body lift procedures have started to gain in popularity, and according to 2003 statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), 10,595 upper arm lifts were performed in 2003 in the U.S., an increase of 68% on 2002 statistics.
No official figures are yet available for the U.K., but there are a few surgeons who are starting to offer this procedure.
If you're considering an upper arm lift, the following information will give you a basic understanding of the procedure. It can't answer all your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient and the surgeon. Please ask your surgeon about anything you don't understand.
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What happens during the procedure and how long will it take to recover?
Your first discussion with a surgeon should clearly set out your expectations and whether the operation can give you the results you desire.
Careful discussions regarding the reasons for wanting an upper arm lift and your suitability for this type of surgery are very important at this stage. Make sure that you obtain as much information as is necessary to enable you to make a fully informed choice and make sure you receive satisfactory answers to all your questions.
It may be that liposuction alone will achieve the results that you desire. You need to talk this option through with your surgeon, along with all your other concerns, at your first meeting.
A medical history should also be taken to make sure that there are no reasons why you shouldn't have this operation. You would normally be asked to sign a consent form which means that you have understood the potential benefits and risks associated with an upper arm lift.
Photographs may also be taken by the practitioner as a "before and after" comparison at a later date.
The surgeon may also wish to write to your G.P. giving details of the operation so that if there are any problems associated with surgery in the short or long-term; your doctor is aware of the procedure and can help you to recover.
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Anesthesia
Upper arm lifts are usually performed under a general anesthetic.
Please take into account that a general anesthetic carries more potential risks than a local anesthetic - this should be clearly explained by the surgeon before you make any decisions about the anesthetic.
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The operation
If you make a decision to go ahead with an upper arm lift, the actual procedure may take place in an outpatient surgical clinic, but most surgeons and patients prefer a hospital where you can recover overnight.
An upper arm lift will usually take around 2 hours, depending on the extent of work required, and whether any other procedures such as liposuction are also involved.
This operation requires the surgeons to make long cuts through your skin and, therefore, you will be left with long scars after the surgery. The length of the scar will depend on how much excess skin you have.
Depending on the surgeon, and the extent of the body lift procedure, scars may run from the armpit to the elbow, and may be curved or zigzagged. This should help healing by enabling the scars to close up as quickly as possible. Crescent or "smile"-shaped segments of skin and fat from underneath the skin are removed from the upper arm, and the remaining skin and tissue are lifted to achieve a tighter and smoother effect.
After an upper arm lift, dressings will be applied, and temporary tubes may be put in to drain excess fluid from the area of surgery. Firm elastic bandages are then applied to support the area.
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Recovery time
Depending on the extent of the procedure, you may be allowed to go home from hospital after a day or so.
Recovery takes one to two weeks, depending on what was done. Returning to work depends on the nature of the job you do, but most people usually go back after about 2 weeks.
You can usually resume vigorous exercise after approximately four to six weeks.
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Does it hurt and what could go wrong?
There is quite a severe amount of pain and discomfort during the healing process, but this can usually be controlled effectively with painkillers.
Bruising is visible after surgery and can spread down the arms. Swelling can also be very obvious and can take up to three or four months to disappear. You may also experience numbness of the skin around the upper arms and it may take several months for the sensation to return.
Like all surgical procedures, there is always a possibility of complications and, although rare, these can include infection, a reaction to the anesthetic, blood or fluid collection underneath the skin, nerve damage, blood clots, and an irregular or a "lop-sided" appearance of the arms after the operation.
The surgery does produce a permanent scar. Your scars may actually appear to worsen during the first three to six months as they heal, but this is normal. Expect it to take nine months to a year before your scars flatten out and lighten in color.
Excessive scar formation, however, can occasionally occur where the scars become broad and thick.
It may take you weeks or months to feel like your old self again. If you are fit when you have this operation, you will recover much more quickly than if you are out of shape.
What should you do after an upper arm lift?
It is very important that you follow the advice of your surgeon carefully after an upper arm lift.
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Post-surgery advice may include:
- Making sure that you have someone to take you home and who can look after you for at least a couple of days following this procedure;
- Using recommended painkillers as required;
- Needing to return for surgical drains to be removed and any surface stitches or staples to be removed after 5 to 10 days;
- A surgical stocking will need to be worn for 3 - 4 weeks to help provide support and help with the skin re-draping, especially if liposuction was performed;
- Light exercise is usually recommended as it helps with the healing process and reduces the chance of developing blood clots, but you must not undertake strenuous exercise routines. Your surgeon will advise when you can return to normal activities;
- Contacting your surgeon immediately if you notice any signs of infection or if you experience bleeding or a sudden increase in pain.
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Who should not undergo this procedure?
There are few absolute medical reasons why you should not undergo an arm lift as long as you are in good general health and have realistic expectations of this procedure.
This surgery is not suitable after a mastectomy (breast removal) or operations in the axilla lymph nodes. Those with multiple infections of the sweat glands may also not be candidates for Brachioplasty. This is because there may be problems with draining the fluids from your arms as a result of your previous surgery. If you were to have another operation, your arms could swell very badly and this may be permanent.
An upper arm lift, however, is not an alternative to losing weight. In fact, many surgeons will suggest an alternative to surgery for patients who are more than 15 percent over their ideal body weight.
Also, if you are considering losing weight, you should wait until after your target weight is met before having this operation. You may need more surgery to remove the excess skin after you have lost the desired weight. This would mean that your first operation would have been a complete waste of time!
If you have experienced healing problems with any past surgical treatments or if you are prone to keloid (red, angry, raised) scars, your surgeon may not recommend a body lift or may advise you that your scars could be very visible.
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What sort of practitioner can perform an upper arm lift?
Only fully trained and qualified surgeons should perform this procedure.
For more information about practitioner training, qualifications and relevant medical organizations please view the information contained within the Market Place section of the Consulting Room.
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