The sagging and loose skin on the arms are one of the biggest discomforts for women. This problem is more noticeable with sleeveless clothing. Even by doing sports regularly, skin care and weight control are not enough to stop aging. Patients who are very discontent by the loose and sagging skin on their arms can have arm lift surgery done. The purpose of the surgery is not only to make the arms thinner but also to make them tighter and look younger.
The surgical technique to be performed is decided by the surgeon considering the amount of sagging skin and the thickness of the adipose(fat) tissue. If the sagging occurs due to weight loss, firstly liposuction is applied and then the excess skin is removed surgically. Sometimes sagging skin is very subtle near the armpit, in this case the surgeon can perform the operation by making a small incision in the axilla which is aesthetically better. However in most cases the sagging occurs starting from the axilla towards the elbow, therefore an incision is made in the inner arm from the axilla to the elbow but it can not be noticed easily from the front and the back after the surgery.
It is performed usually under general anesthesia or sedation. Incision is stitched up and a light dressing is made by the surgeon. The patient can return to the daily life on the 4th or 5th day and 1 week after all the stitches heal. After an arm lift surgery, patient has to wear a compression corset for arms. Therefore all the stitches heal better and the skin adapts easier. Patient can achieve the final result in 6 months mark.
General
1-3 Hours
4 Weeks
6-12 Months
3 Days
1 Week
1 Night
1-2 **
*It is for informational purposes only, be sure to consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
**Pain rating scale: from 0 = absence to 5 maximum pain.
Due to aging, the effect of gravity, loss of elasticity of the skin and decreasing of the amount of fat tissue cause skin to sag especially from the inner side of the arm and upper back(triceps).
After severe weight loss, skin sagging problems may occur throughout the body. The sagging of the breasts is generally associated with the sagging of the arm from the axilla. Therefore, breast lift surgery can be done together with arm lift. In this way, it is possible to obtain a more pleasant appearance.
After the arm lift surgery, the excess sagging skin of the upper arm is removed, but a thin scar is left from the axilla following towards the elbow and remains in the inner arm. The scar may be reddish and swollen in the early stages, but it usually begins to fade and become hard to notice after 6 months. However, depending on the patient’s skin type, scars may remain more obvious. In such cases, the appearance of the scars can be improved by laser treatment or various injections, but it is not possible to completely eliminate them.
After arm lift, aging and rapid weight loss may cause further sagging in the arms. However, it never returns to its original condition before the procedure. It is important for the patients to pay attention to their weight and have skin care and do sports in order to maintain the result achieved.
Usually it is performed in patients above the age of 40. But if the problem is severe at early ages due to severe weight loss, it can be performed for any patient above the age of 18.
Usually it is performed in patients above the age of 40. But if the problem is severe at early ages due to severe weight loss, it can be performed for any patient above the age of 18.