Arm Lift

An Arm lift or brachioplasty is a procedure to remove excess skin and fatty tissue from the upper arm. Arm tissue relaxes and descends with ageing, gravity and significant weight loss and patients are left with stretched excess skin which no amount of exercise will improve. The best candidates for brachioplasty are those who have ‘loose hammock’ like deformity from the axilla to the elbow. The drooping of skin is from a stretching of the anchoring fascial system and loss of supporting fat. You should be physically healthy, psychologically stable and realistic in your expectations. 

Planning your surgery……….

Your surgeon will evaluate your health. It is best for you and the surgeon to be frank with each other, in discussing your expectations, the alternatives and the risks and limitations for each. In any case, your surgeon will work with you to recommend the procedure that is right for you, explain the anaesthesia that will be used and will come closest to producing the desired body contour.  Be sure to tell your surgeon about any large weight losses or gains at any time and inform your surgeon if you smoke, if you’re taking any medications, vitamins, or other drugs. 

Your surgeon will discuss your medical history and will check for medical conditions that could cause problems during or after surgery. He will explain the techniques and anaesthesia and any risks involved, and will answer any questions you may have, especially those regarding your expectations and concerns about the results.

For surgery in Cyprus, you need to stay for a minimum of 7 days, which includes a 1 night stay in the clinic and gives time for your recovery and primary post-operative care before returning home.

The procedure.…..

An arm lift involves excision of skin along the lower border of the arm and will leave a thin scar along the inside of the arm. There are different degrees of drooping deformity. The procedure can remove the excess tissue and reduce the circumference of the upper arm. Surgical correction depends on the amount of extra skin and how loose the supporting tissues have become. Extra skin is removed from incisions along the inner arm; incision must be placed where the tissue can be best tightened.

Before surgery, markings help guide the excision. The actual incision may curve or zigzag to minimise scar contraction. Liposuction can be useful to contour the fat layer. A small drain may be used after surgery to remove fluids.

Because of the level of the incisions, visible scars can be a major concern. It becomes a choice between loose wobbling skin and the scar from the excision. Other concerns and risks can be discussed at your consultation.

Getting back to normal……..

There isn’t usually significant discomfort after surgery and you should be up and about in a day, but plan on taking it easy at first. Your surgeon will give you more specific guidelines for gradually resuming your normal activities but above all, get plenty of rest and allow your body to spend its energy on healing. Most patients can resume work  just 1-2 weeks after surgery.

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