When the weather is nice, that means it’s time to break out the short sleeve t-shirts and tank tops.
Unfortunately, not everybody feels comfortable showing off their arms. Some people have excess skin that makes their upper arms appear flabby or sagging. Often, these people have tried working out their arms, but they aren’t seeing results. This is because working out can’t change the appearance of excess skin. However, there is a solution – an arm lift!
Learn more below about how an arm lift, also known as brachioplasty, can rejuvenate one’s appearance and then request a consultation with Dr. Ashruf at our Hanover, Maryland location.
About Arm Lifts
Many people have excess skin that hangs down from their upper arms; it’s a common problem. Excess skin can arise from a number of factors including weight loss, aging, gravity, and genetics. Unfortunately, no amount of lifting weights or upper body exercises can correct the appearance of excess skin.
Our skin has a natural elasticity that allows it to bounce back, but if it stretches too far then it can never return to its original shape. Also, it naturally loses elastin over time that increases its laxity. A way to fix the issue of excess arm skin and reveal definition is an arm lift.
An arm lift, or brachioplasty, utilizes a concealed incision in order to remove the excess skin from the arm and redrape it for a more contoured and attractive appearance. Dr. Salman Ashruf is one of the foremost plastic surgeons in Maryland and has extensive experience providing arm lifts for patients from all over the east coast with high satisfaction. Request a consultation today and find out how our team at Cosmetic Plastic Surgery & Laser Center of Maryland can help make you proud to show off your arms!
Good Brachioplasty Candidates
Patients should have a full comprehension of the procedure and understand what it can and cannot accomplish.
For patient’s who are concerned with the appearance of their arms despite continuous diet and exercise, an arm lift may be a good procedure to consider. The candidate should have excess skin hanging on their arms that mask the muscle, not allowing any definition visibility. Patients must be at a healthy and stable body weight, as major fluctuations in body weight can negatively impact the results of an arm lift.
An arm lift will not create arm definition; it helps to remove the sagging skin and sculpt the arm to show already present muscle definition. In order to help the patient have realistic expectations for the procedure, they will be provided with before and after photos of previous patients. However, they should keep in mind that results will vary depending on the individual’s case. Finally, to be considered for an arm lift procedure, the patient should be in good overall health.
Preparing for an Arm Lift
In order to prepare for their arm lift surgery, patients may be asked to stop taking certain medications or supplements that could negatively impact the procedure. These will include anti-inflammatory medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen that can increase risks associated with bleeding and bruising.
If the patient smokes, they will need to quit for at least two weeks in advance of the surgery. The patient will also be asked to fill any pertinent prescriptions in advance and make arrangements for a ride home following the surgery.
The Procedure Process
The arm lift procedure is typically performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia. On the day of surgery, the patient will arrive and be taken into a private room where Dr. Ashruf will mark their arms to show exactly where the incisions will be placed. Then, an anesthesiologist will administer general anesthesia.
Dr. Ashruf will make the proper incisions. There are three basic types of incisions that can be used for an arm lift.
- Traditional: The traditional arm lift incision runs from the elbow to the armpit. It is placed under the arm, where it will be seen from the least amount of angles.
- Mini: For patients with a minimal amount of excess skin, the doctor will make a smaller incision running just below the armpit.
- Extended: The extended incision is reserved for cases where the patient also has excess skin around the armpit and side of the chest. This incision, sometimes called an L-shaped incision, runs from the elbow through the armpit and down along the side of the chest. This offers the most comprehensive results, but will also leave the most scarring.
After Dr. Ashruf has made the necessary incision, he will excise the excess skin. He will then redrape the skin so that the arm regains proper contour and tautness. The incisions will be sutured and the patient will be taken into a recovery room where they can wake up surrounded by our attentive and caring staff.
Arm Lift Recovery and Results
Following the procedure, the patient’s arms will be wrapped in a compression garment to aid in the healing process. The compression garment will help minimize bruising and swelling and ensure that the skin settles into its final contoured shape.
The patient should plan on getting plenty of rest for the first few days following surgery. However, they will be instructed to take frequent, brief walks to aid in blood flow and perform some light stretching exercises. Patients will be able to return to work in one to two weeks if they have a desk job. If they have a job that requires heavy lifting, they may be instructed to take more time off work.
The patient will be provided with a prescription for medication that will help with any discomfort following the procedure. They may also choose to alleviate any pain with an over the counter medication. However, they should avoid anti-inflammatory medications, including aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Also, the patient should not smoke during the recovery period.
The results from an arm lift are long-lasting, so long as the patient maintains their body weight. An arm lift will not be able to reverse any future natural changes to the body that result from aging.
Additional and Alternative Procedures
It is important that patients understand that while an arm lift will help correct the appearance of excess skin, it will not be able to remove stubborn fat pockets or create muscle tone. If a patient has excess deposits of fat on their arms that they would like to get rid of, then they should consider an alternative or additional procedure.
CoolSculpting
At Cosmetic Plastic Surgery & Laser Center of Maryland, we offer state-of-the-art CoolSculpting and dual sculpting technologies. CoolSculpting is developed for patients who have a minimal amount of fat that they wish to get rid of without undergoing an invasive surgery. The technology can be effective at slimming the arms for patients without excess skin or for patients who have already undergone an arm lift procedure.
CoolSculpting freezes fat cells located in the body, which kills them. The dead cells then make their way out of the body by natural processes for lasting results. Plus, there is no recovery period or downtime for CoolSculpting patients.
Arm Liposuction
In some cases, liposuction can be used to enhance a patient’s desired results. Liposuction with an arm lift would be best suited for candidates with excess skin and also small fat deposits in their arms that they wish to get rid of. Dr. Ashruf will be able to determine whether or not liposuction would be necessary on the arms during the consultation.
Pricing
The cost of brachioplasty can vary depending on a number of factors. Some of the factors to take into consideration include incision length, anesthesia, additional procedures, and necessary post-operative garments. Once Dr. Ashruf and his attentive staff have had a chance to work with the patient and develop a surgical plan, they will be able to provide the patient with a pricing quote. This is best done at the end of the consultation.
In order to schedule a consultation, please contact our Hanover, MD office and find out all that Cosmetic Plastic Surgery & Laser Center of Maryland can do for you.