With or without liposuction, an arm lift can make your arms look less “flabulous” and more “fabulous.” This procedure can help you get sculpted upper arms that look good on your body and with your clothes. Arm lifts are safer and leave much fewer noticeable scars than they did in the past.
Are You a Good Candidate to have an Arm Lift?
The Society of Plastic Surgeons says that arm lift is one of the top four most popular plastic surgery procedures for people who have lost a lot of weight. This is because when people lose a lot of weight, they often have a lot of extra skin hanging under their arms.
The arm’s soft tissue gets loose, which sets the stage for ptosis, also called “bat wings.” Aging and genetics can also cause thin people to have upper arms that sag. People who do Pilates and strength training regularly can’t get rid of the extra, sagging skin that forms in this area.
How to Get Ready for an Arm Lift Surgery?
In the days and weeks before your arm lift, your doctor will give you a list of preoperative instructions to follow. One of these instructions could be to stop smoking, since smoking can slow the healing of a wound. Your surgeon will also ask you to stop taking certain medicines, like aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and some vitamins and supplements, which are known to make bleeding more likely.
Some doctors may also suggest that you take certain supplements before your surgery to reduce swelling and bruises. Some of these are arnica and bromelain. A diet high in protein may also help the body heal. Talk to your doctor about what kind of diet you should follow before your arm raise.
How do Arm Lifts Work?
Depending on how much work needs to be done, an arm lift usually takes between one and three hours. It could be done with local anesthesia and intravenous sedation, which would keep you awake but not fully aware. It could also be done with general anesthesia.
People with smooth skin and only a little bit of fat may only need liposuction. People who have a lot of fat under their arms, bad skin, or skin that has been damaged by the sun may benefit from the arm lift procedure.
Your doctor will make cuts on the inside or back of your arm to do an arm lift. The pattern of the cuts depends on how big the surgery is and how your surgeon wants to treat you. Most incisions go from the armpit to just above the elbow.
Some people may only need small cuts where the inside of the upper arm meets the armpit. This is called an arm lift with few cuts. If you have a small amount of extra skin near your armpit, you might be a good candidate for an arm lift with small cuts.
People who have had bariatric surgery and lost a lot of weight may have more extra skin and need an incision that goes from the elbow to the armpit and up the side of the chest to remove it.
After the cut is made, liposuction can be used to get rid of the extra fat. The extra skin is then cut off, tightened, and stitched back into place with sutures or stitches that dissolve over the next week or two. At this point, your skin will be smooth over your arm’s new shape.
Recovery after Arm Lift Surgery
After the procedure, you may have some swelling, bruising, and mild pain, but your arm should look trim and toned almost right away. Your doctor can give you pain medicine on prescription to help ease this pain.
The swelling will be at its worst two to three days after your arm lift and will usually go away in two weeks. Putting pillows under your arm can help reduce swelling and make you feel better while you’re healing.
Most of the time, dressings are put on the cut. Most of the stitches will fall out on their own, but the ones that don’t are usually taken out within a week. Your doctor may give you a compression garment to help the skin stick to the tissues underneath.
One week after the procedure, you can take a shower, and most people can go back to work two to three weeks later. Your surgeon will probably tell you not to do any hard exercises for a month and not to lift anything heavy for at least six weeks. Each set of instructions is different.
Some cosmetic procedures, like hair removal in the forearm and upper arm areas, can make your arm look even better.
Arm Lift Surgery Risks and Complications
There is no such thing as a risk-free surgical procedure. Risks associated with arm raises include the following:
- Anesthesia complications
- Hands that be swollen and painful
- Hematoma
- Infection
- Lack of feeling or sensation
- Seromas (fluid-filled masses along the incision line)
- Scarring
Arm Lift Cost in Dubai
The cost of an arm lift includes the fee for the surgeon, the fee for the anesthesia, and the fee for the operating room. Statistics from Dubai Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Center show that an upper arm lift costs around 15,000 AED on average in Dubai and across the country. If the cost of an arm lift is too much to pay all at once, talk to your doctor about making payments over time.