Recovering From An Arm Lift

As you age, your skin begins to lose some of its elasticity. Exercise can stem the tide, to an extent, but you can't fully reverse the natural aging process. Not without a little outside help, anyway. To maintain that ultra-toned look even as they age, many women are choosing to get arm lifts.

The results of this procedure are often described as "dramatic" and the shape of your arms is completely transformed within a matter of hours. Although it's a surgical procedure, the recovery process is actually quite tame.

Here's what you can expect in the days and weeks following your arm lift:

What Is An Arm Lift?
An arm lift, also known as a brachioplasty, is a procedure to remove excess skin from the upper arms using direct excision (cutting). Arm lifts don't simply remove the skin, they reshape the area to give it a trim and tight look. Occasionally they are combined with liposuction to remove excess fat as well. There are many advantages to having an arm lift including:

• The removal of excess fat and skin under the arms
• Smoother, more contoured skin
• Greater definition in arm muscles
• Tighter, more toned skin on your arms

The results of this procedure are permanent but should you gain more weight the excess skin and fat could return. For that reason you should plan to stay healthy and active once you've recovered.

What To Expect Immediately After The Procedure
Most patients don't report much pain during or after the procedure. You should expect some light scarring and bruising around the incision site. You will be heavily bandaged and you may need a drainage tube to prevent liquid buildup. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and you will be in no condition to drive afterwards, so make sure you plan to have someone take you home and keep an eye on you.

The First Few Weeks After Your Arm Lift
The first week is critical to your overall recovery so it's important to follow the directions given by your surgeon. You will be told to avoid exercise, get a lot of rest, and generally limit your activity. Ideally you would take the week off of work and have someone around to take care of any household duties. After the first week you should be ready to remove your stitches and begin returning to normalcy, but you should still take it easy and avoid needlessly exerting yourself.

Long-Term Recovery
You should be able to return to your normal life as soon as two weeks after the procedure, depending on your overall level of health, although you should still hold off on exercise for a few more weeks afterwards. Long-term complications associated with brachioplasty are very rare. Some light scarring is possible, as with any surgical procedure, but for the most part scars should heal and fade within a few weeks. If any noticeable scars do remain they will be light and easily covered up.

Ultimately, what you're left with are firm, toned arms with little to no noticeable scarring.
Interested in learning more about arm lifts? Please, contact us at the Florida Center for Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery today. Dr. DeMercurio is a licensed surgeon with more than 9 years of experience in reconstructive cosmetic surgery.