Am I a good candidate for arm lift surgery? Most likely, yes. If you are healthy, without medical issues and have fat and/or loose skin of the upper arms, you will likely be a good candidate for this surgery. In our clinic, we treat men and women who are concerned with visible fat and loose skin of the upper arm due to genetics, changes with age, weight fluctuations or in cases of extreme weight loss (typically greater than 50lbs). Since there are a few types of Arm Lift surgeries (full, mini and with or without liposuction) it is good to define what you want to fix first. Once this is decided, you can then get recommendations from an office like ours. Here are some examples below:
Uneven appearing upper arms: Arm lift surgeries combined with liposuction can make uneven arms appear more symmetrical and toned. This is true for arms that are different sizes and/or shapes. The amount of loose skin will decide whether you need a full or mini Arm Lift.
Arms that are both large and saggy: With weight gain, severe weight loss, and aging, the upper arms can become large, heavy and saggy. A Full Arm Lift surgery can improve the appearance of your arms by making them smaller and less heavy by removing any sagginess. This lift has a scar that is hidden along the inside of your arm and is the most transformative of all the Arm Lift surgeries.
Arms that are only mild to moderately large and saggy: For those of you who only have excess fat and just a little loose skin, the treatment will often be liposuction alone with BodyTite. In these cases, the scars will be extremely small, barely visible and hidden. For those of you with visible loose skin of the arm limited to the upper 3rd of the arm (near the armpit), you may be a candidate for a mini Arm Lift. This procedure places the scar near your hair bearing armpit, is usually 2 to 3 inches in length and is much less visible due to its location. A mini arm lift can also be combined with liposuction and BodyTite of the entire upper arm allowing for a more transformative result.
You can expect this surgery to last a long time, especially if you maintain a healthy lifestyle and healthy weight after surgery. With that said, some sagginess can return over time as a normal part of aging. Also, if a large amount of weight loss occurs after arm lift surgery, the appearance of the arms can change. Therefore, it is best to be at a manageable weight before surgery. A full arm lift surgery takes around two hours to complete and is most often completed in the operating room setting. Less invasive options like a mini arm lift and/or liposuction procedures can be completed in the office setting.
Check out our Podcast, Beauty and the Surgeon for more information on Arm Lifts and we look forward to seeing you in our clinic for your complimentary consultation.