Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) & Thigh Lift Plastic Surgery
What is Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) & Thigh Lift Plastic Surgery? This procedure is usually performed in conjunction with liposuction. It effectively reduces the circumference of the upper arms and thighs through removal of excess lax skin and tissue, and is normally done after liposuction has removed all the excess fat. The need for this procedure is generally a result of excessive weight loss, genetic predisposition, and aging.
Brachioplasty, also known as arm lift or arm tuck, is a plastic surgery procedure designed to remove redundant, flabby, and sagging skin folds of the upper arms. Hanging arm skin folds, also known as "bat wings" or "bingo wings" are not only unsightly, but also interfere with one's ability to fit in sleeved tops, as well as causing underarm skin rashes and irritation. Candidates for arm lift surgery are often embarrassed by their large upper arms which are hard to hide.
Thigh lift addresses the excess skin folds of the inner or medial thighs, that of the outer or lateral thighs, or that of the entire thigh.
Who is a good candidate for an arm or thigh lift?
The majority of candidates for an arm or thigh lift are those who have lost massive weight following bariatric surgery, also known as "stomach stapling" or "lap banding." While these patients reap many health and psychological benefits from this weight loss, one of its aftereffects is sagging skin that hangs from the arms or thighs. Because the skin has lost its elasticity following years of obesity, no amount of diet or exercise can restore firmness and tone to the arms or thighs. Other candidates for an arm tuck or thigh lift are those who have developed upper-arm or thigh flabbiness simply due to the loss of elasticity that accompanies aging or chronic tanning.
Fortunately, an arm or thigh lift can help restore a person's ability to wear shirts or shorts comfortably, to show their arms or thighs without feeling self-conscious, and to conduct their lives with greater freedom and confidence.
Who is not a good candidate for an arm or thigh lift?
Men and women who are not good candidates for brachioplasty or thigh lift include those who predominantly have excess fat and are better served with first undergoing liposuction. Also, people with hidradenitis suppurativa (a persistent ongoing infection of the sweat glands in their armpits) should not undergo brachioplasty until treated appropriately. Finally, women who have had a radical mastectomy or extensive breast cancer surgery because they are at risk of developing chronic arm swelling after undergoing a brachioplasty.
What type of arm lift plastic surgery (brachioplasty) do I need?
The type of brachioplasty performed by Dr. Movagharnia depends upon the amount and location of your excess skin. If excess hanging skin is located within two inches from the armpit, he can potentially pull up and tuck this excess skin into the armpit with an axillary brachioplasty or mini arm tuck. For those whose excess skin extends like a "bat wing" from the armpit to the elbow, the only option is the complete removal of the arm flab in a standard brachioplasty or standard arm lift.
What are the risks & side effects of an arm or thigh lift? In practice, the following side effects happen quite rarely, and your physician will exam you thoroughly to minimize the risks.
Swelling and discoloration
Bleeding and hematoma
Seroma
Infection and/or abscess
Dehiscence (wound breakdown)
Bad scars
Pain (early, late, neuroma)
For more information about an arm or thigh lift, call our office at 770-951-7595.