With all of the sleeveless fashions we wear in San Diego, there’s one place where this slackening is most unwelcome — the underside of our upper arms. Significant weight gain or weight loss, or simply the relentless march of time, can create loose skin on the upper arms. This results in unsightly, inelastic flabby areas on the bottom of both upper arms, sometimes referred to as “bat wings.”
Dr. Kearney can deal with this problem with a plastic surgery procedure called brachioplasty, commonly known as an arm lift. This procedure removes excess skin and fat in the upper arms.
Sometimes if a person is overweight, he or she will simply assume that losing the weight will firm the upper arms back up. The reality is that this may exacerbate the problem. The same is true of performing only liposuction on the upper arm area. And no matter how many triceps dips you do, that loose skin isn’t going anywhere!
An arm lift, sometimes done in conjunction with liposuction, is the path recommended by Dr. Kearney.
How is an arm lift done?
In an arm lift, Dr. Kearney will make an incision either on the inside or on the back of the arm near the elbow. The length and pattern of the incision, which could extend all the way up to the underarm, will depend on the amount and location of the excess skin present. Fat deposits in the area may be removed through excision or liposuction. Once the fat has been removed, the supportive tissues in the arm are tightened and contoured using internal sutures. The skin is then re-draped and smoothed to conform to the new tighter contour.
What results can I expect?
There will be bruising and swelling, but your new firmer upper arms will be noticeable immediately after the procedure. Dr. Kearney will have you in compression sleeves to help minimize the swelling and to help your skin adapt to its new contours. There will also be some scarring, but it fades relatively quickly.
An arm lift can bring long-lasting results, especially when the patient maintains a stable weight and exercises regularly. However, the firmness of the arms may still be affected by the natural effects of aging.
Don’t be afraid of sleeveless fashions! Get an arm lift with Dr. Kearney. Call us at (858) 677-9352 to schedule a consultation.
