upper arm lift abroad

Genetics, age or excessive weight loss can cause the skin to lose thickness, elasticity and adherence to underlying tissue. Gravity pulls the upper arm skin down and creates a flabby appearance that is unresponsive to diet and exercise. An upper arm lift, also called brachioplasty, can reshape the arm by tightening the hanging skin. By removing extra skin and fat, an upper arm lift will dramatically reduce flabbiness and result in a firm, more youthful contour. An upper arm lift makes the arm more in proportion with the rest of the body and patients often find that their clothes fit better.

Upper arm lift surgery will be performed by our bariatric & cosmetic surgeon Dr. Rein Adamson.

About the procedure
For an Upper Arm Lift, it can be chosen between intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. In case of general anesthesia, you will sleep through the entire operation. If the option is intravenous sedation, sedatives will be injected to help you relax. The best anesthesia method depends on your individual case and what your doctor is recommending. You will decide with him what is better for you.

Although the procedure is tailored to your individual needs, tumescent liposuction of the upper arm is first performed through small incisions near your elbow and axilla. This is followed by removing a generous ellipse of tissue from the axillary area. This results in a scar that is well hidden in the axillary fold. If more extensive skin excision is required, an additional wedge of tissue is removed from the inner arm. Deep tissue tightening is performed at this time, followed by closure of the skin and deep tissue in the shape of a "T" on its side. An elastic bandage or pressure garment is then applied, completing the procedure.

Recovery
Depending on your individualized procedure, you will leave the hospital with either a pressure garment with sleeves or elastic bandages around your arms. Although you will be able to use your arms right away to wash your face, eat and write, we discourage extending your arm and shoulder greater than 90 degrees from your body for approximately 2 weeks. Expect to be off from work for only three to seven days.

After arm lift surgery, you will likely experience some fluid drainage from the incisions. Occasionally, a small drainage tube may be inserted beneath the skin for a couple of days to prevent fluid build-up. Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection. Don’t expect to look or feel great right after surgery. Even though the newer techniques are believed to reduce some post-operative discomforts, you may still experience some pain, burning, swelling, bleeding and temporary numbness. Pain can be controlled with medications prescribed by your surgeon, though you may still feel stiff and sore for a few days. It is normal to feel a bit anxious or depressed in the days or weeks following surgery. However, this feeling will subside as you begin to look and feel better.

Risks
Just like any surgery procedure, there are some risks. General risks of arm lift surgery include: Bruising and swelling lasting on average for two weeks but can continue for a month or more. Remember the human body is asymmetrical and even after surgery both sides of the body may look different. All surgery requires an incision and therefore will leave a scar. In most patients the scar heals well, but in a small number of people the scar remains thick and heavy. At the time of surgery the small nerves that supply feeling to the skin are damaged. This may cause changes in sensation including numbness. Although uncommon, bleeding and infection are risks and can be serious. You will have pain and discomfort after this surgery. The pain usually only lasts for a few days. One per cent of all operations lead to major complications. This is a surgical procedure and as such potentially serious complications such as a blood clot or embolus or an unexpected response to drugs or anesthetics can occur. Unique to this surgery: The scar may be long and may be slow to heal, it is not unusual to have scabbing along the scar for several weeks, and fluid (either blood or serum) can collect under the skin flap.

Results
Optimally results of Upper Arm Lift procedure can be beautiful, balanced and proportioned contour of the arms. More confident and comfortable in clothing, especially sleeveless dresses. Natural and presentable appearance in the first week that just gets better over the next three to six months.
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