How to reduce the volume and the
Skin aging is often the cause of this excess, but significant weight loss can also cause this skin excess. The skin on the inner side of the arms, very thin and very fragile, is greatly altered during weight variation, explaining that, whether or not associated with excess fat, saggy skin is common in this region.
When the skin in this area sags, liposuction alone is not enough. Furthermore, it is necessary to tighten the skin in order to correct this anomaly: it is the arm lift or brachioplasty that will remove the excess damaged area.
The objective of the arm lift is to reduce the volume of fat by liposuction, but also to remove the excess skin to tighten it effectively. This is the only possible treatment for excess skin on the arms. The arm liposuction alone does not allow retraction of the skin, but it allows, in association with the arm lift, to reduce the arm’s perimeter.
Arm lift
Duration
1-3 hours
Anesthesia
Local +/- sedation or general
Stay
24 hours
Are you a good candidate?
Dr. Gagnon may recommend brachioplasty if you have any of the following concerns:
- The skin under the arm has become loose due to age or sun damage.
- Significant weight loss led to excessive and redundant skin.
- You are embarrassed about your appearance because of your loose skin.
It is best to reach a stable weight before undergoing this surgery, as further weight loss may affect the results.
What are the different
arm lift techniques?
Two techniques, alone or combined, are available to improve the aesthetic appearance of the arms. These are liposuction and lifting or brachioplasty.
In most cases, when the skin is thin and saggy, an arm lift will bring under tension the skin and remove excess skin.
Liposuction, associated with facelift, will help redesign the new shape of the arms. However, liposuction without being accompanied by a lifting, is only done if the skin is very toned, which is quite rare on the inner side of the arms.
Procedure
First, the fat is sucked up by liposuction. This leaves an excess of skin which is removed and leaves a scar. The shape and size of this scar depends on the severity of the observed abnormalities and the type of scar chosen.
The incision is either vertical (longitudinal), along the inner side of the arm, or horizontal, at the level of the armpit folds, or can even be both.
Longitudinal scar
In case of significant sagging of the skin with aesthetic and functional discomfort, the skin is removed by a longitudinal incision along the inner side of the arm. This technique is very effective but leaves a vertical scar on the inside of the arm, which remains visible even with time.
Horizontal technique
It is performed for less excess and saggy skin, on the upper arm only. The horizontal scar is hidden in one of the armpit folds. Over time, it is generally not very visible. The main advantage of this technique is its simplicity and its mild postoperative consequences. It can be repeated, if necessary, in the following years.
After incision and detachment of the skin, the skin is re-tensioned and the excess skin is removed.
The results
The postoperative effects consist of bruising and moderate edema for ten to twenty days. The pain is very bearable and eased by the usual analgesics.
The patient will be able to return to work after fifteen days, and to pursue physical activities after a month.
It should be noted that the result of cosmetic surgery to lift the inner side of the arms is considered final on average after four months. This time-window is necessary to let the edemas and saggy skin disappear.
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