With Arm Lift Surgery, Patients Can Go Sleeveless This Summer

With everyone going through their closets looking for sleeveless shirts to wear in the warm summer weather, those who are feeling insecure about their bare arms might be considering brachioplasty.

Although tank tops are the norm for summer, the thought of showing a little more skin can be a source of anxiety for many. Therefore, it is our job as healthcare professionals to educate patients about their options.

While lifestyle changes should always be the first remedy, patients who are unable to achieve their desired look through diet and exercise alone have several plastic surgery options to consider. Whenever I meet with patients who show concern about their arms, I walk them through the following list of available procedures.

Arm liposuction

Liposuction is an excellent option for those with excess fat in the upper arms but otherwise tight skin. By removing the excess fat, patients are left with smooth, slender, and toned upper arms that look great in sleeveless tops and bathing suits.

Arm liposuction can take a couple of hours to perform, but it is still an outpatient procedure. Since the incisions are minimal, patients can look their best in a matter of weeks, just in time for summer!

Arm lift

Brachioplasty removes loose, excess skin from the upper arms, which is typically the case for those who have experienced significant weight loss and are left with sagging skin. The removal of excess skin helps reshape the arm so that it appears tight, toned, and ready to show off.

Although the surgery only lasts 1-2 hours, arm lift patients will not be able to resume normal activities until about 4-6 weeks following the procedure.

Extended brachioplasty

An extended brachioplasty is much like a traditional arm lift in that it removes excess skin to create a more slender, toned arm. However, it also targets any excess skin that runs along the upper chest, and by addressing this additional area, it ensures solid aesthetic balance in the overall operative results. Both surgery and recovery time fall in line with traditional brachioplasty.

Minimal incision brachioplasty

This type of arm lift surgery is generally performed on patients who are fit but still have a minimal amount of excess skin. The most commonly targeted area of minimal incision brachioplasty is the upper armpit, where the skin gets pulled tight to create a smooth line throughout the arm span. The procedure takes about an hour and the recovery period is on par with standard brachioplasty.

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There is no reason why our patients should feel uncomfortable about showing their arms off this summer, because it is our job as healthcare professionals to inform them of their options and best courses of action. As I always say, education is the most effective way to guarantee our patients are happy and satisfied.

Robert T. Grant, MD, MSc, FACS, is Chief of the combined Divisions of Plastic Surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center. He is also Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University and Adjunct Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. For more information about Dr. Grant or to contact him, visit his website at www.robertgrantmd.com.