Arm Lift Surgery in Williamsville, NY
Arm lift surgery is often the answer if you want to improve the appearance of your upper arms. This procedure involves removing excess skin and fat from the underside of your arms, tightening the underlying support tissue, and smoothing and reshaping your arms.
Am I a Candidate for an Arm Lift?
If you have excess fat and skin on your upper arms that has not responded to exercise or a healthy diet, you could be a good candidate for arm lift surgery. Some of the reasons you may have excess skin include:
- Significant weight loss
- Skin laxity due to genetics, age, or weight gain and loss
- Asymmetry in your arms because of extra skin or tissue
Patients who undergo an arm lift should be generally healthy nonsmokers without serious health problems. You should also maintain a healthy weight to ensure lasting results.
What Are The Benefits of an Arm Lift?
Besides making your arms look more proportionate with the rest of your body and allowing you to wear sleeveless tops with confidence again, an arm lift can also:
- Tighten and smooth the tissue underneath your arms
- Showcase weight-loss results by removing excess skin
- Eliminate rashes and debilitating skin conditions that may result from skin folds
Excess skin on your arms can also impair your ability to participate in some physical activities without discomfort. An arm lift can aid in restoring the full functionality of your arm, giving you more freedom of movement and an increase in range of motion.
What Is Involved in an Arm Lift?
On the day of your scheduled arm lift surgery, Dr. Schultz begins by marking your arms as a precise guide for the incision placement. Once you’re under general anesthesia, he uses these marks to make an incision on the underside of your arm that extends from the armpit area down to the elbow.
He will use liposuction to eliminate unwanted fat deposits and then remove any excess skin. Dr. Schultz will then suture the remaining skin together, reshaping and sculpting a more slender profile for your arms.
What Is Recovery From an Arm Lift Like?
After arm lift surgery, you must have someone drive you home and, ideally, stay with you for the first 24 hours after the procedure. Your arms will be bandaged and have some initial soreness and bruising, which will dissipate after a few days. You may take prescription medication or over-the-counter pain relievers as needed to ease any discomfort.
You should be able to return to work about a week after your surgery. During your recovery, you will need to limit your activities and avoid weight-bearing exercises and anything that requires lifting your arms over your head. It typically takes about six weeks before patients are fully healed and cleared to return to strenuous activities. Be sure to follow all post-op instructions provided by Dr. Schultz to minimize the risk of complications and ensure a smooth recovery.
What Results Can I Expect After Arm Lift Surgery?
While some of your arm lift results will be visible immediately, it will take about six weeks for full results to be evident. At that point, most of the swelling will have subsided, and you’ll be able to enjoy your newly slender and toned arm contour.
Arm lift results are considered permanent as long as you maintain a stable weight. Exercise and a healthy diet will help keep your muscle tone defined.
Arm Lift Surgery FAQs
What are the risks of arm lift surgery?
With any surgery, there is always a risk of complications, but arm lift surgery is generally safe. If you notice excessive bleeding, fever, wound seeping, excess fluid drainage, or if any sutures come out, notify Dr. Schultz immediately.
Will I have a scar after arm lift surgery?
Yes, you will have a visible arm lift incision scar on the underside of your arms. These scars will fade over time, especially with proper incision and scar care. Protecting your scars from the sun will help prevent them from darkening.
Does insurance cover an arm lift?
An arm lift is usually considered an elective cosmetic procedure, so it isn’t covered by insurance. However, if you are experiencing functionality issues or chronic infections from excess skin, contact your insurance provider to see if the surgery is covered.
Can I combine other cosmetic surgeries with my arm lift?
Yes. During your consultation, Dr. Schultz will work with you to create a customized treatment plan to address all your concerns.
Your Williamsville, NY, Arm Lift Experts
Dr. Raymond Schultz and the team at Artesia Plastic Surgery are dedicated to providing you with gorgeous arm lift results and a comfortable patient experience from the beginning to the end of the procedure and recovery. If you are interested in reshaping and slimming your arms, call us today at 716-650-4622 or fill out our online contact form.