Love Your Arms: Facts About Arm Lift Surgery
Warm weather is on the way, and now that you’ve reached your target weight, you’re looking forward to showing off your new contours at the pool or on the beach. However, after losing all that flab, you are concerned and embarrassed by how your upper arms will look in that new sundress; you are now left with excess upper-arm skin and fat often referred to as “bat wings.”
It’s not unusual for many people—especially women—as they become older to experience declining muscle mass and the resulting pockets of loose, flabby skin on their upper arms.
If you are unhappy about your upper arms, talk to Dr. Florrence Mussat in Chicago, IL, about arm lift surgery. She will be happy to discuss the benefits of the procedure with you, and together, you can determine if you’re a good candidate for the procedure.
What Is Arm Lift Surgery?
While exercise and a healthy diet can improve muscle tone and reduce fat, the excess skin on your upper arms can only be trimmed away by an arm lift, also known as brachioplasty. During this procedure, Dr. Mussat carefully removes the excess sagging skin and creates smoother, tighter, and firmer-looking arms.
Arm lift surgery is a minimally invasive surgery that removes fat cells from under and around the arms and any excess skin, creating a toned appearance. All the bagginess under the arms that make it challenging to wear sleeveless shirts is removed, and the smooth skin surface on your upper arms is restored by pulling the skin tight.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Arm Lift Surgery?
Regardless of age, there are areas of a person’s body that don’t seem to respond to exercise. Even though following a healthy diet and being physically active are both good habits to maintain, these may not prevent your arms from becoming a loose.
If the skin under your arms is hangs down unnaturally, and the following attributes apply to you, then you may be a good candidate for arm lift surgery:
- You have significant upper arm skin laxity
- Your weight is relatively stable, and you’re close to your target weight
- You are healthy without medical conditions that could impair healing or pose a risk to surgery
- You are a nonsmoker
What Happens During Arm Lift Surgery?
Dr. Mussat will give you a general anesthetic, making sure you won’t feel any pain during the surgery. An incision will be made in the inner portion of your arm and positioned so that any scarring will be barely noticeable. The excess fat and skin will be removed, giving your arms a taut and toned appearance. Should it be required, liposuction may be used to remove excess fat before the remaining loose skin is trimmed away.
How Long Does It Take to Recover?
Fortunately, since this is a minimally invasive procedure, recovery should take about 2—3 weeks. You’ll wear compression sleeves to help with your healing process, and it’s best if you restrict your activities for a few days after the surgery. Any redness, swelling, or bruising on your arms should soon disappear. Make sure you get plenty of sleep, follow a healthy diet, and stay hydrated during your recovery.
Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Mussat in Chicago, IL
If you would love to have taut, smooth arms to show off this summer and are interested in an arm lift procedure, please contact board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Florence Mussat in Chicago, IL. Schedule a personal consultation with her online or call (312) 751-9000 today!