Arm Lift in Chicago and Northbrook, IL
Arm Lift Surgery (Brachioplasty)
What is arm lift surgery?
Arm lift surgery is the surgical excision of excess, sagging skin of the upper arms. Weight loss does wonders for our overall health, but it wrecks havoc on our skin elasticity. Besides weight loss, genetics or age also play a factor in whether or not we will develop the dreaded batwings.
Am I a good candidate?
Brachioplasty candidates are women or men who have excessive hanging, flabby folds of loose skin from their upper arms and who are willing to trade in their batwings for a scar that will extend from the inside of the elbow up to the arm pit. Additionally, if you are in good health, and have realistic expectations about the procedure, the recovery and the long term results, then you are a good candidate for Brachioplasty.
The Procedure
During an arm lift, a plastic surgeon excises the sagging skin and other tissue then sutures the remaining skin to create a tight and smooth contour for the arm. Depending on the severity of the case, most brachoiplasty patients have a scar that runs from the armpit to the elbow, along the underside of the arm. Some patients who need less skin removed may end up with a scar from the armpit to about halfway to the elbow. In extreme cases, someone with a great deal of hanging skin to be removed may end up with a scar that extends past the elbow.
The Recovery
After the surgery, patients leave our Northbrook office in the greater Chicago area wearing a protective sleeve-like wrapping. This is a post-operative compression garment worn to ensure proper healing and to minimize swelling. The incisions will be bandaged to avoid any outside contact that may cause infection. A small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the patient’s skin to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect during the healing process.
The first post-operative appointment will be three or four days after surgery. Suture removal happens about two to three weeks after the surgery. Significant healing should be seen after about two weeks after the surgery. The swelling of the incision area will take about three to six months before it fully fades out. Our patients from Northbrook and the greater Chicago area must avoid doing any strenuous activities for the first two weeks after the procedure so that the incision areas won’t be put under pressure. It is important to take the prescribed medications as instructed by your plastic surgeon to avoid any surgical complications. Most patients are able to return to work after two weeks of recovery from arm lift surgery. Finally, the scars of the incisions will fade almost completely in six months to two years after the procedure.
Arm Lift Surgery
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is there anything that can lessen the appearance of the elbow to armpit scar?
At North Shore Aesthetics, we offer scar management via FDA-approved scar gel along with laser treatments.
