Cosmetic Surgery Arm Lift Procedure

Overview of Arm Lifts
As skin ages, it begins to lose elasticity and sag. Even individuals who lose a large amount of weight experience excess or sagging skin, which often makes them self-conscious or dissatisfied with where they are in their weight loss journey. With arm skin, the area that most often shows sign of age is the upper area, and most especially the rear area of the upper arm. People call that wobbling bit of skin by various names, none of them complimentary. Today, more individuals are undergoing an arm lift to get rid of that flabby skin on the back of the arms. Also known as a brachioplasty, an arm lift procedure tightens and reshapes arm muscles.

Once an individual has decided he or she wants to go through with an arm lift, consulting with a surgeon to discuss the process and evaluate the health of the patient is a must. After discussing what type of contouring the arm will undergo, the surgeon will explain to the patient what needs to be done in the days leading up to the procedure.

Arm Lift Cosmetic Surgery Procedure
Most arm lift procedures are done at an outpatient facility or plastic surgeon's office. Depending on the extent of the surgery, or if there are other procedures involved, an overnight hospital stay might be required. Patients will then undergo general anesthesia and be asleep during the procedure. A small incision is made on the inside of the arm from the armpit all the way down to the elbow, and the various muscle groups are separated. Then, the surgeon reshapes the arm muscles based on the desires of the patient, In some cases liposuction is performed at the same time to further smooth out skin and arm fat. The surgeon then removes excess skin and re-sutures the incision, creating a slim and jiggle free arm.

Recovery depends on the amount of skin and excess tissue removed. It is imperative that the arm(s) stay immobilized so they heal properly. Elastic supportive sleeves should be worn to compress the newly shaped arms so they retain their shape during the healing process. Individuals must often wear the compression sleeves for about two weeks before they come off, and the arms might also experience swelling and bruising. After three to four weeks, the surgeon removes the sutures. Swelling and bruising completely goes away within two months. Despite some residual swelling or bruises, patients are able to carry on with their life about two weeks after their procedure.

Benefits of an Arm Lift Procedure
For those who feel self-conscious wearing short sleeves, an arm lift is a beneficial procedure to enhance self-confidence. Those who undergo an obesity procedure often feel better about losing the excess weight, but feel like their journey toward a new appearance is not complete until they remove excess skin, that has been stretched and has lost its elasticity to snap back after excess weight is removed. Arm lifts also restore the youthful appearance to individuals who feel that their skin is losing elasticity caused by age and have tried toning muscles with strength training without success.

Cost of Arm Lift Procedure
Elective and cosmetic or plastic surgery procedures in the U.S. are not covered by health insurance plans and are quite costly. In the United States, an arm lift procedure costs approximately $7,000 in addition to anesthesia costs, facility costs and any medications that might be needed for a patient. In Latin American countries however, medical travelers benefit from lower costs such as in Columbia, where costs for arm lifts are approximately $3,400 and in Argentina, where costs are approximately $3,200.

Choosing a Cosmetic/Plastic Surgeon
Choosing a plastic surgeon that specializes in arm lifts is ideal to ensure that the surgeon of your choice has the most experience and qualifications. Be sure to check all certifications, make sure facilities are state of the art and whenever possible, check for accreditation in both the county of origin and by international organizations and associations. In addition to checking certification or qualifications, ask the surgeon to see before and after photos to get an idea of their work. Ask questions about pre or post operation preparations, so that healing is quick and reduces potential complications. Always ask to see proof of training and ask if surgeons belong to professional organizations or associations in his or her country of origin, or again, in international provider organizations.