What Arm Lift Surgery Can Do for You

November 25, 2015

An arm lift (brachioplasty) can help your upper arms go from flab to fabulous. This surgical procedure can produce a shapely upper arm that will complement the rest of your body and your wardrobe. Arm lift procedures are safe, and the scars are much less noticeable than found with procedures in the past.
Dr. Tavoussi of OC Cosmetic Surgery Clinique located in Newport Beach performs arm lift plastic surgery procedures on patients who have lost a large amount of weight. When people lose a lot of weight, there is generally a significant amount of skin left behind, and it is usually under the upper arm.

Preparing for Arm Lift Surgery

Dr. Tavoussi provides his patients with a list of pre-op instructions to follow leading up to the date of surgery. The instructions may include giving up smoking during recovery, as smoking slows the healing time.

You may also be told to stop taking certain medication, vitamins, and supplements to ensure your blood clots properly and that you are not at a high risk of blood loss during the surgery. You may also need to have lab work, a chest X-ray, and an EKG performed to make sure you are healthy enough for the surgery.

The Arm Lift Surgery

Arm lift surgery usually takes an hour to three hours to perform, but it all depends on the amount of excess skin being removed and other factors. Most patients opt for the general anesthesia, especially if it will last longer than an hour. On the other hand, some patients do get local anesthesia with an IV sedation, in which they remain awake but barely aware of what is going on; the type of anesthesia will be discussed, and Dr. Tavoussi will take your preference into consideration and will make the final decision based on your best interest.

After the incisions are made, the excess fat is sometimes removed via liposuction. The extra skin is then trimmed off, tightened, and stitched into place using absorbable stitches that will be removed in one or two weeks.

Recovering from Your Arm Lift Surgery

Patients should expect some bruising, swelling, and mild discomfort after the surgery. Swelling will usually dissipate within two weeks.

If you are considering an arm lift procedure, Contact Us today at OC Cosmetic Surgery Clinique, serving Newport Beach and Orange County, California.