Arm Lifts
An arm lift or brachioplasty is an operation designed to rejuvenate the upper arms. .
The operation removes excess skin and fat from the upper arms. Some procedures require that liposuction be performed on the patient to rid the upper arm region of excess fat deposits, while other procedures are more extensive, requiring the removal of the excess skin.
Who is it for?
Arm lifts are often performed for patients with loose tissue in the upper arms as a result of ageing changes or massive weight loss.
The exact type of arm lift or brachioplasty operation needs to be tailored to the individual. Various types of arm lift procedures are available and may be combined with liposuction.
For patients following significant weight loss other adjunctive procedures may be required and may involve surgery to the axilla/chest wall or lower arms.
A consultation regarding the risks and limitations of surgery will help you to choose a procedure that will meet with your expectations.
Considerations
The arm lift operation is performed under general anaethesia and the operative time and your length of stay in hospital will be determined by the extent of surgery as discussed at the initial consultation. You will generally experience discomfort following the surgery and should aim to be off work for at least 2 weeks depending on the type of work you do.
The vast majority of patients are delighted with the arm lift procedure although common complaints include numbness, bruising, swelling especially around the scar line and a slight difference between the two arms. Uncommon complications include infection, haematoma, delayed healing/skin necrosis, seroma formation and thickened scar.
You will be followed up regularly in the clinic and you should refrain from any strenuous exercise for at least 2 weeks. The final result following surgery will not be apparent for at least 3 months after the surgery.