If you’re unhappy with how your arms look, an arm lift might be the perfect solution. An arm lift eliminates excess fat, tightens loose skin, and helps to create a more attractive arm contour. The end results? Thinner, more toned-looking arms that you’re actually excited to show off. Pacific Sound Plastic Surgery can make this a reality for you as we offer arm lifts for men and women in Bellevue. Keep reading to learn more about our arm lift procedure and how it can benefit you!
Even if you lead a healthy, active lifestyle, it can still sometimes be difficult to eliminate fat from your arms. An arm lift, also known as brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure that can help you get rid of unwanted fat and tighten loose, flabby skin on your upper arm area. This procedure involves your plastic surgeon making incisions in your upper arm, removing excess fat through cannula (liposuction) tubes, and trimming and reshaping the remaining skin.
Many different types of people are considered good candidates for arm lift surgery, otherwise known as brachioplasty. If you have recently lost significant weight or undergone gastric bypass surgery leaving you with stretched skin, you are considered a great candidate for an arm lift. Other candidates for arm lift surgery included anyone with significant aesthetic concerns about their arm’s shape, contour, or appearance.
Whether your arms have been a problem area your whole life, or you’ve just recently noticed you don’t like the way they appear, an arm lift can provide you with a whole host of benefits such as:
Before your arm lift, you’ll visit our Bellevue office for a consultation. During this time, board-certified surgeon Dr. Kris Day will get to know your aesthetic goals, show you before and after photos, and debrief you on the ins and outs of this procedure. He will also evaluate your arms, specifically examining your skin condition and muscles. In order to be a candidate for this type of surgery, you will need to have a certain amount of arm fat and skin laxity that is resistant to coming off naturally. Dr. Day will discuss this with you during your pre-operative appointment.
He will also inform you of any medications to avoid a few weeks before the procedure and fill any necessary prescriptions. If you smoke, he will ask you to stop at least six weeks prior to the surgery and six weeks following.
Following your arm lift, Dr. Day will have you wear a body contouring compression garment to help minimize swelling and further shape your arm contour. He will also provide you with oral and topical medication to help with pain and scarring. Post-surgery, you can typically expect to feel sore and tired, as well as experience some swelling and bruising.
We recommend that you take 1-2 weeks off of work and exercise so you can rest. You likely won’t be ready for high-impact exercise or rigorous activity for up to 4-6 weeks postoperatively. You will also be asked to wear your compression garment for up to six weeks. Patients can generally shower 48 hours following surgery but should avoid submerging their wounds under water for at least 3 weeks.
Your arm lift surgery will happen at our Bel-Red Center for Aesthetic Surgery in Bellevue. Once you arrive, you’ll be greeted by your board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kris Day and an anesthesiologist. Your anesthesiologist will give you medication to relax, if needed, and administer general or localized anesthesia. This is typically a 2-3 hour long procedure; however, the length depends on what type of arm surgery you are undergoing.
During your Bellevue arm lift surgery, Dr. Kris Day will make a small incision in the back area of your upper arm. The length and position of this incision depends on your type of arm surgery. For instance, a minimally invasive arm lift only involves making one small incision near the armpit. In contrast, a traditional arm lift requires a longer incision from your armpit to your elbow.
After making the incision, he will use a liposuction technique where he inserts oscillating metal tubes, also known as cannulas, to break apart and suck out excess fat deposits. Then the loose skin is reshaped and tightened with internal sutures. After sewing up your incisions, your arms will be bandaged and covered with a compression garment.
The type of arm lift board-certified surgeon Dr. Day will recommend will depend on your arm size and shape, amount of excess skin, skin laxity, and your particular goals. Here at Pacific Sound Plastic Surgery in Bellevue, we offer three options for arm lifts.
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A traditional arm lift is one where a standard incision is made on the inside of your arm. The incision typically spans from the armpit to the elbow.
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A limited or minimally invasive arm suitable for patients with a smaller amount of localized fat. An incision is made close to the armpit, and fat is folded inside the armpit region.
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A Hunstad arm lift combines a traditional arm lift and a liposuction procedure. Adding liposuction to the arm area dramatically improves one’s overall body contour and silhouette.
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Similar to other cosmetic surgeries, brachioplasty comes with some risks and possible complications that are important to be aware of. These include infection, swelling, bruising, pain or discomfort, loss of sensation, and poor reactions to anesthesia.
After an arm lift, patients typically engage in a light activity like walking after a few days and can return to work after 1-2 weeks. You will need to abstain from heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for usually 4-6 weeks. The full recovery time for an arm lift is eight weeks.
Generally speaking, most patients have enough energy to resume normal activities 1-2 weeks post-surgery. You can resume driving around this time as long as you are not longer needing narcotic pain medications.
You will need to wear a compression garment for six weeks to reduce swelling. Dr. Day will also provide you with some prescription topical medication. On top of these measures, we also recommend resting, minimizing stress, and using ice packs on any affected areas.
You can receive an arm lift and liposuction simultaneously. This may be a good option if you have a lot of excess fat or want to further shape your arms.
The cost of your procedure will depend on the type of arm lift you choose. Dr. Day will go over pricing during your pre-operative appointment and is more than happy to answer any questions.
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