Arm Lifts do for the arms, what Tummy Tucks do for the tummy. Both procedures remove loose skin and unwanted fat while restoring or creating a toned appearance. When the skin is tight and the muscles are toned, Liposuction alone can improve the appearance of both areas. However, both the arms and belly are susceptible to skin laxity which makes Liposuction unpredictable. This skin laxity is especially pronounced after weight loss.
A Lift For Your Arms
The arm lift is often the icing on the weight loss cake. By removing excess skin, Brachioplasty thins the arms in ways that further weight loss cannot.
The plastic surgery term for the Arm Lift is Brachioplasty. Brachio refers to the arms while plasty is derived from the latin word plasticus: to mold, form or change in structure. The goal of Brachioplasty is to change the structure of the arms by removing excess fat and tightening the skin.
Brachioplasty Removes Skin and Fat
Brachioplasty changes the arms by removing excess fat and tightening the skin, something weight loss alone cannot do.
Fat on the arm tends to be stored on the lower half of the upper arm. As is seen in the preoperative photo above, this fat store tends to be larger in the upper third and tapers at the elbow and axilla. When the excess skin is excised during brachioplasty, the fat collection is also removed, thereby creating a smooth, well-proportioned arm.
Arm Lifts Smooth Uneven Arms
Arm Lifts tighten the skin from the elbow to the armpit. Excess fat in the area above, can also contain breast tissue.
When planned properly, the Arm Lift can be tailored to smooth out uneven distributions of fat and skin excesses. Lumps, like the one shown above, can be normal fat, lipomas to even breast tissue when close to the armpit. In the after picture, the scar can be seen in the shadow of the axilla, extending down the side. This type of closure allows the skin to be tailored to the concavity of the armpit.
Tightening the Arm and Axilla with Brachioplasty
Often the armpit skin is as loose as the arm skin. By extending the excision down the axilla, loose skin in the axilla can be tightened too.
Arm Lifts can be extended down the side of the chest to tighten loose skin below the axilla.
Arm Lift Consultations
Arm Lifts are a very specialized post-bariatric plastic surgery. Dr Mele is an Active Member of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgery, a professional group for Board Certified Plastic Surgeons dedicated to reshaping bodies after massive weight loss. If you are considering an Arm Lift, be certain to consult with a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery who is experienced with Brachioplasty.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, call (925) 943-6353 and schedule a private Arm Lift Consultation appointment.
Previous Post Next Post