Did you know that 87% of Americans fear getting old? Old age typically comes with wrinkles, sagging skin, and many more unwanted changes.
Luckily, there are ways to feel confident in old age. Beauty treatments and cosmetic procedures exist to help with this. For instance, if you have saggy arms, you might wonder if there is surgery.
The short answer is yes; there is surgery for loose skin on arms. Patients that qualify can get an arm lift to have sculpted thin arms.
Keep reading to learn more about this procedure to solve loose skin on arms
Surgery for Loose Skin on Arms
Brachioplasty is the surgery for loose skin on the arms. It’s a type of cosmetic procedure that can improve definition and tone in the upper arms by:
- Removing excess skin
- Reducing pockets of fat
- Smoothing over the remaining skin
- Tightening supportive tissue
If your upper arms are sagging or drooping, you might benefit from Brachioplasty surgery. When the arms are raised, flaps of skin will hang down.
An arm lift (Brachioplasty) might be needed when you experience:
- Certain genetic factors cause your skin to sag
- Changes in skin elasticity that occur with age
- Losing a lot of weight without obesity surgery
- Lymphedema
Lymphedema is swelling that occurs when something affects your lymphatic system. This primarily affects the arms and legs but can also affect other body areas.
Is an Arm Lift Right for You?
Although you can get plastic surgery for sagging underarms, exercise might be a substitute. It depends on what you are looking for, though.
Resistance training, such as lifting weights, can improve upper arm muscle tone. However, exercise won’t able to tighten loose skin.
After an arm lift, you’ll want to keep up with healthy habits like working out to maintain the results for as long as possible.
Knowing how to get rid of flabby arms can help if you have loose skin on your upper arms. Once the surgery is complete, you’ll have to accept the appearance of a scar that will run the length of your upper arm.
It’s best to consult a plastic surgeon to see if you are a candidate. You’ll want to be a stable weight, be a non-smoker, and not have certain medical conditions that put you at risk of surgical complications.
It’s essential to stay at a stable weight because Brachioplasty won’t stop your upper arms from sagging due to weight gain or loss.
What Happens During an Arm Lift?
If a plastic surgeon decides that you are a candidate for Brachioplasty surgery and wish to proceed with the procedure, you’ll need to know what to expect.
First, you’ll receive medication to stay comfortable during the surgery.
This could include general anesthesia that can put you to sleep and block the sensation. You may receive a local anesthetic instead that numbs the surgical area to help you relax.
Surgeons will then make an incision on your arm’s back or inside. The larger the incision, the more extensive the procedure will be.
The surgeon will then remove excess skin by cutting it away. If you still have excess fat, the surgeon can use liposuction.
To tighten the supportive tissue, they will stitch the opening up. After closing the incisions, they will bandage your arm with sterile gauze to help with healing and reduce the risk of infection.
Benefits and Risks
There are benefits and risks of surgery for sagging skin on arms. The benefits include seeing a trimmer appearance on the upper arms.
For many people, this leads to a boost in confidence. You can feel more comfortable wearing clothes that let your arms show, like form-fitting tops, swimsuits, and sleeveless shirts.
Any plastic surgery will come with risks. This is no different if you get an arm lift. Some risks are minimal, while others are more severe but rare, therefore it is vital to choose the best and top plastic surgeons.
Arm lift risks include:
- Excessive bleeding
- Numbness
- Abnormal or excessive scarring
- Fluid accumulation
- Wound separation
- Surgical site infection
- Nerve, muscle, or blood vessel damage
If you experience any Brachioplasty complications, like blot clots, dehydration, fever, or shortness of breath following the procedure, contact your primary healthcare provider immediately.
There are fewer risks when you choose a qualified plastic surgeon to complete the procedure.
Brachioplasty Recovery
Once the procedure is complete, you’ll need to dedicate some time to recovery. Bandages will protect the incisions made while your arms heal.
You’ll likely need to wear a compression garment to minimize any swelling that may occur. There might be tubes under your skin to drain the excess fluid.
These are some of the main tasks you’ll need to complete during Brachioplasty recovery:
- Getting enough sleep
- Eating a healthy diet
- Changing bandages
- Wearing a compression garment
- Avoiding strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for some time
Immediately following the surgery, you’ll notice changes in the tone and shape of the upper arms. Long-term changes take time.
Bruising and swelling should go away within a few weeks. Scars might not entirely disappear, but they will fade over time.
Work With Award-Winning Plastic Surgeons
Consider an arm lift to eliminate hanging skin or loose fat from your upper arms.
Brachioplasty is surgery for loose skin on arms. Our award-winning plastic surgeons will assess the amount of fatty tissue in your arms and skin laxity.
We will recommend an arm lift if you are a candidate, but you might also be a candidate for liposuction or a non-invasive skin tightening procedure.
Ready to feel better in your skin and get rid of your loose skin on arms? Schedule an appointment with Plastic Surgery Group with an office in Montclair, New Jersey, today to get started.