How To Get Your Arms Looking Good With Brachioplasty After Weight Loss
Posted June 18, 2024 in Arm Lift
You’ve achieved an impressive feat in losing a significant amount of weight, whether through surgery, natural weight loss, or with the help of popular weight loss prescriptions. Now, however, you dislike the sagging excess skin left behind on your arms. Don’t let any lack of confidence in the appearance of your arms keep you from your dreams. In this blog, we discuss the benefits of an arm lift and explore how a brachioplasty can ensure you have gorgeous, sculpted arms.
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When you’ve sacrificed and endured whatever needed to be done to lose an impressive amount of weight, you probably have a specific aesthetic in mind when it comes to the way you look. For most people, losing a lot of weight is a life-changing event. However, realizing your vision for your ideal shape can be hard if you’re dissatisfied with how your arms look. Seeking a positive way to settle into your new body is more than normal after achieving weight loss goals. For anyone self-conscious about the appearance of their arms, options are available.
If you want your arms to look sculpted and svelte instead of sagging and drooping, an arm lift, known as brachioplasty, can help. In this blog, we discuss some common questions about arm lift surgery, including its benefits, arm lift options, and why you might choose an arm lift over liposuction.
Benefits of an Arm Lift
Sagging upper arms can happen as a result of several issues. Weight gain and loss, genetics, and the natural aging process can all affect the amount of drooping skin you have on your arms. An arm lift, or brachioplasty, can fix this problem. Benefits of an arm lift include:
- Removal of excess sagging skin under the upper arms
- Smooths and tightens underlying tissue to help contour the upper arm
- Reduces areas of exercise-resistant fat in the upper arm
Ideal candidates for an arm lift are patients who are nonsmokers, in good health, and who wish to eliminate excess skin and flab under their upper arms.
What are My Arm Lift Options?
Traditional Arm Lift
A traditional arm lift uses an incision that extends from your armpit to your elbow along the underside of your arm.
Extended Arm Lift
For patients with more significant correction needed, an extended arm lift uses the same incision as a traditional one, with the addition of an incision from your armpit to your chest.
You may also opt for liposuction only to slim your arms. The only way to know which type of arm contouring procedure is right for you is by visiting Careaga Plastic Surgery for a consultation.
Will Liposuction Give Me the Same Results as an Arm Lift?
The purpose of an arm lift is primarily to remove excess skin. While some fat can be removed during the procedure, and liposuction can be combined with your arm lift, the results can be markedly different.
If you wish to remove stubborn fat from your arms to give them a more sculpted look, liposuction can be a great tool to achieve that. However, the appearance of your arms after surgery will depend on two factors: the amount of extra skin on your arms and the elasticity of your skin.
If you already have excess skin and flab on your arms, liposuction alone isn’t the solution. Liposuction only removes volume from your arm, so while you will have less fat after the procedure, you will still have extra skin hiding the contours of your muscles.
Just like on your face, the skin on your body begins to lose elasticity as you age. Collagen and elastin fibers break down, and the production of these vital building blocks slows. That means if you lose weight or undergo a procedure like liposuction, you may end up with drooping excess skin. Without sufficient elasticity, your skin won’t “bounce back” after liposuction, and you’ll end up with saggy arms that can only be addressed via an arm lift.
Does Arm Lift Surgery Leave Scars?
Yes, an arm lift does leave a scar. Traditional arm lift scars will run the length of your upper arm from the armpit to the elbow, while extended arm lift scars continue from the armpit to the chest.
While these scars are inevitable in order to receive the results you desire, there are ways to diminish their visibility. Your scars will fade over time, eventually leaving you with a thin white line under your arm. To help keep your scar as invisible as possible, you should:
- Follow wound care instructions to ensure proper healing of your surgical incisions
- Keep the incisions and scars protected from the sun, which will cause them to become darker
- Once the incisions are completely healed, you can apply scar creams, gels, or silicone strips to help lessen the appearance of scars
When it comes to scars, it’s essential to be patient and plan ahead, as it can take a year or more for scars to fade significantly.
Learn More About Arm Lift Surgery in Coral Gables
Whether you’re looking to celebrate your weight loss achievement or are simply tired of hiding excess skin on your arms, an arm lift may be the ideal solution. To learn more about arm lift surgery and discover if you’re a good candidate, schedule a consultation with Dr. Careaga, Dr. Durand, or Dr. William today. Call our office at (305) 929-0445 or complete the online contact form to get started.