What is an Arm Lift?
Age, significant weight loss, and bariatric surgery – these are a few of the reasons a patient might develop excess tissue and sagging skin on their upper arms. To combat this, JanigaMDs offers the brachioplasty procedure, or arm lift surgery, to address excess skin through conservative cosmetic surgery techniques. This cosmetic procedure is designed to tighten and remove excess fat and skin from the upper arm. Dr. Timothy Janiga has found this procedure to be effective for both men and women who are self-conscious about excess tissue and sagging upper arm skin.
Candidates for An Upper Arm Lift
The most common concern that people will come to our office with for an upper arm lift is hanging skin, tissue, or fat on the upper arms that many people refer to as “bat wings” or “bingo wings.” Although this can be partially genetic, this condition is usually due to a variety of factors, often including losing weight, getting older and experiencing skin laxity.
If these concerns sound familiar to you, or you’ve experienced significant weight loss recently, you are likely a good candidate for an upper arm lift. This surgery can tighten excess remaining skin on the arms while removing excess tissue that pulls this area down with gravity. The best candidates should be generally healthy adults at a stable weight who have reasonable expectations for the results this procedure can provide. You should also be willing to stick to a healthy diet and exercise regimen.
Before Your Arm Lift Procedure
Before your arm lift procedure, you’ll first want to have a consultation with Dr. Janiga. He will review your medical history, examine your arms and the loose skin there, go over any risk factors, and determine if an arm lift is the right procedure for you.
If an arm lift is right for you, he will also give you some instructions on how best to prepare for your surgery. This may involve stopping certain medications like blood thinners, stopping alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, and preparing for the recovery process. This will also mean filling medications, arranging for a friend or family member to drive you to and from surgery, and preparing a comfortable space in your home for your recovery.
Meet Your Specialists
Your Arm Lift Procedure
Dr. Janiga performs arm lift surgery in an outpatient surgery center using general anesthesia. It usually involves an incision along the inner side of the upper arm that allows for the removal of excess skin and fatty tissues. Liposuction can be incorporated into the procedure depending on the patient’s specific anatomy and desired outcome. Dr. Janiga can modify the extent of the incision depending on the amount of excess skin present and always chooses the smallest incision necessary to minimize swelling and speed up arm lift recovery. This procedure takes one to two hours with another hour of recovery time in the outpatient facility before going home.
A mini brachioplasty is available for the removal of minor amounts of excess fat and skin from the arms. This version of arm lift surgery can be performed by Dr. Janiga in the office or in an outpatient surgery center under general anesthesia as well. During the procedure, an incision is placed under the armpit. Excess skin and fat are removed, and the incision is closed.
After Your Arm Lift Procedure
After your arm lift, you’ll be able to go home almost immediately. That said, you will want to rest as much as possible in the first week or so as you do have stitches. Swelling and bruising may last a few weeks after your procedure. You can expect to return to work within five to seven days. Full results are expected within one to three. Dr. Janiga recommends a compression garment on the upper arm for a few weeks after brachioplasty to support the healing process.
What to Expect After Arm Lift Surgery
Once fully recovered, you can expect a slimmer, tighter, and more contoured upper arm. Initial results may be visible immediately, but it will take several weeks for all the swelling and bruising to go down and for you to see the most significant improvements.
Frequently Asked Questions about Arm Lift
Does arm lift leave a scar?
How long does it take for Brachioplasty scars to heal?
How painful is an arm lift?
Do arm lift scars fade?
How long does it take to recover from an arm lift?
Is an arm lift painful?
When will I see the results of my arm lift?
What is a mini arm lift?
When can I return to work?
Learn More About an Arm Lift at JanigaMDs
Arm lift surgery can help those with excessive laxity in the skin on their arms by removing fat and skin to provide a more tone appearance. For more information, or to set up a consultation with Dr. Janiga for an arm lift in our Reno plastic surgery offices, please send us an email or call 775-364-0224.
