GET RID OF FLABBY ARMS WITH
A BRACHIOPLASTY IN LONDON

Brachioplasty or cosmetic arm lift surgery can effectively improve the appearance of your upper arms. During the surgery, excess skin and fat are removed from the upper arm, between the elbow and the armpit. After removing the fat using a liposuction procedure, the remaining skin is placed on the newly created contours to create a toned and firm look.

When the skin on the upper arm loosens and sags because of old age or significant weight loss, it causes the upper arms to have a droopy appearance. Brachioplasty can correct this condition. Although exercise is essential to strengthen and improve the muscle tone of the upper arm, excess skin due to loss of weight or lost elasticity cannot be brought back to its original form.

Undergoing a Brachioplasty surgery can restore tightness on your upper arms and eliminate the sagging undersides. This will boost your confidence as your body image is improved.

Brachioplasty is done either under local, IV sedation, or general anesthesia. During the arm lift surgery, your doctor will mark your body and make incisions on the loose skin on the undersides of your arm. The length and pattern of the incision normally depend on the amount of skin that needs to be removed.

After making the incisions, your plastic surgeon will move on to tightening the underlying tissues. Sometimes, Brachioplasty is assisted by liposuction to remove more fat from the underarm area before stitching the underlying tissues together (arm liposuction). After removing the excess skin, the remaining skin is draped over the new contours and stitched together to close the incisions.

There are three methods to do an arm lift surgery, which depend on the amount of sagging skin and excess fat.

Mini Arm Liposuction/ Mini Arm Lift – If you have sagging arms due to moderate weight loss, you may be recommended to undergo the mini Vaser arm lipo or mini arm lift. This is a limited-incision procedure involving minimal elimination of subcutaneous fat and loose skin. A small incision is done to remove excess fat and the sagging skin is tightened.

Full Arm Lift or Standard Arm Lift Brachioplasty – This is ideal after losing a significant amount of weight, especially after bariatric surgery. In this process, the incision will be done from the armpit to the elbow. Compared to a mini arm lift, the full arm lift involves longer incisions that let the plastic surgeon tighten and smooth out more skin.

Extended Arm Lift Brachioplasty – Lastly, patients who have had a massive weight loss might need to undergo the most extensive procedure, called the Extended Arm Lift Brachioplasty. In this, the incisions are done from the armpit to the elbow and then from the armpit down to the chest.

The ideal candidate should be a healthy person who has achieved a healthy weight. He or she should not have fluctuating weight or any medical condition that could interfere with the healing of the wound.

Prior to ensuring your candidature for the Brachioplasty, your plastic surgeon will review your medical history and past and present health condition. You will have to discuss the medication you are on, including any herbal supplements.

As a possible Brachioplasty candidate, you must have realistic expectations about the resultant appearance of your arm after the procedure. You must stop smoking prior to the surgery and after the surgery, as tobacco can slow down the blood flow to the skin and thereby slow down the healing process.

Your plastic surgeon will check your previous medical history prior to recommending the procedure. The surgery will show desirable results only on people who are generally healthy and do not have any previous history of having cardiac issues, pulmonary emboli, excessive bleeding, seizures, immunodeficiency disorders, or deep vein thrombosis. People with such conditions are discouraged from undergoing this procedure due to a higher risk of surgical complications.

People who are on certain anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant drugs are also discouraged from undergoing an arm lift surgery. Further, people with poor skin elasticity are also less suitable candidates for the procedure.

The cost of Brachioplasty in London depends on the following factors:

• Skill and experience of the plastic surgeon
• Standard of the clinic/ hospital where the surgery will be performed
• Amount of skin to be removed
• Extent of body contouring involved
• Whether the procedure involves arm liposuction too

It is advised to get an initial consultation from a specialist plastic surgeon to know the cost applicable to your case and your eligibility for the procedure.

At our accredited clinic in London, Brachioplasty is mostly performed under local anesthesia or IV sedation without the need for General Anesthesia.

We recommend you schedule at least 1-2 weeks off from work after your arm lift surgery/ arm liposuction. The complete healing and recovery after the surgery will need more time.

Take note that even after the 2 weeks off, you might be required to avoid specific activities until you are fully recovered. For people whose work involves strenuous physical activities, you’ll need an extended time of another week or two to wait for your full recovery.

Brachioplasty is a very safe procedure but following complications may be seen:

• Asymmetry of arms
• Swelling
• Prominent scarring
• Excessive bleeding
• Temporary numbness
• Temporary or permanent loss of sensation in the area of surgery Contour irregularities

“Most patients experience pain and discomfort after the surgery when anesthesia effects diminish. You will start to feel comfortable after a couple of days.

Immediately after the Brachioplasty surgery, the arm incisions will be covered in bandages. These loosely wrapped bandages will help minimize the swelling. Sometimes, a small tube will be placed in your arm to drain excess blood and lymph fluid. After removing the bandages and the tube, your plastic surgeon will recommend you wear a compression sleeve for a few weeks to aid the healing process and keep the swelling down. It is normal to feel some loss of sensation in your arms after your arm liposuction. This temporary numbness will go away once your arm is completely healed.”

“During your first week of recovery, you can expect issues with pain and bruising. The pain is managed with prescribed medications and the bruising through cold compresses or Arnica gel. You should get plenty of rest during this time, though you should walk lightly in order to promote circulation and avoid blood clots.

After the first week of recovery, it is necessary to do a follow-up visit with your plastic surgeon to monitor your progress— to check the incision sites. Attend all your follow-up visits to help with the full recovery process.”

“For the first 3 to 4 weeks, avoid lifting your arms above the shoulder level. It is advised to stay away from all physical and athletic activities which require stretching your arm for about 4 to 8 weeks after the surgery. Take your oral antibiotics to prevent any sort of infections.

After the first month, you will have recovered enough to return to your normal routine. Pain is no longer a major issue and major bruising will have faded.

It is still best to do follow-up visits with your plastic surgeon for continuing post-surgical care.”

Post-surgery, there will be an immediate visible improvement in the shape and appearance of your upper arm. Most of the loose and sagging skin would have gone. After a few months, you will see a noticeable improvement in the overall appearance of the arms and the scar appearance as well. After the first year, the scars usually start to fade.

For best results, strictly follow the care instructions of your plastic surgeon, prior to, and in the aftermath of the surgery. For lasting results maintain a stable and healthy weight.