Arm lift

Depending on the individual case, local or general anesthesia may be used. The duration of the operation is about two hours.

At the discretion of performing liposuction and / or BodyTite procedure, as an individual technique or in addition to conventional brachioplasty, small incisions are made in the armpit and on the back of the elbow. The excess fat is removed through them and the skin is tightened through the radio frequency energy of BodyTite. Adjacent areas that can be treated at the same time include: the shoulder, armpits, forearms, back or the bra-bulge area.

In people with very sagging and drooping skin, but without a significant excess of subcutaneous fat, the solution is to remove a longer or shorter ellipse from excess skin. The boundaries of the area to be covered depend on the extent and volume of the excess –  from the back of the elbow, along the line between the inside and back of the arm, curving into the armpit and even to the lateral surface of the chest. The incision is made so that the scar is as inconspicuous as possible.

Some patients have both types of problems – they have both excess fat and excess skin. In these cases, liposuction and skin removal are combined.

Your surgeon will give you detailed information for the preoperative preparation a few weeks prior to your plastic surgery.

The most important advice for smokers is to stop smoking for at least 2 weeks (or 4 weeks and even more, if possible). Smoking prevents healing and increases the risk of complications. You should not smoke until the wounds heal well, at least two weeks after surgery.

You should stop taking aspirin or medicine containing aspirin, anti inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they all increase the risk of bleeding. Your surgeon will advise you how long prior to the operation you should stop taking these medicines. 

High blood pressure also needs to be well controlled during surgery. So if your blood pressure is elevated, you should discuss it with your surgeon.

It is extremely important to discuss your expectations with your plastic surgeon. This will allow him to assess whether they are achievable with the selected procedure. In some cases, two or three sessions may be needed to achieve the desired effect, and in others – it may be necessary to combine procedures for a better result. 

You will be accompanied by an employee of ours to the clinic and where you are staying before and after the operation.

If you only perform liposuction with / without BodyTite, you will have minimal to moderate swelling and probably bruising which is transient. You may feel a slight stiffness, but you will not have restriction in the movement of the arm. You will need to wear a special compression garment for 2-4 weeks.

If excess skin is removed, recovery will take a little longer. You may feel pain and slight discomfort for the first few days until you remove the bandage. The bandage may cause swelling that will go away in a few days. Your surgeon may prescribe painkillers if you need them. You will have to be absent from work for about 2 weeks. You should not exercise or work out for 2 months after the procedure.

You will need to wear compression garments after the procedure. How long exactly – this will be determined by your surgeon, depending on the intervention. Compression garments are worn to reduce swelling and help achieve better end results.

For faster recovery, you must follow your surgeon’s instructions.

All possible risks will be discussed with you during the consultation with your surgeon. Some of the normal risks are bleeding, larger scars, infections, loss of sensitivity for a while and asymmetry. To avoid all these risks after the operation, you will need to trust and follow exactly all the instructions given by your surgeon.

Possible complications of this type of intervention are – visible scars, contracture, contour deformities, hypertrophic scars and keloids and others – all possible risks will be discussed with you during the consultation with your surgeon. A skilled and experienced surgeon can minimize many of the possible complications, but the patient’s co-operation in following all postoperative instructions also plays a huge role in this prevention. Some specific complications and side effects, such as hypertrophic scarring with rough scars and keloids, are genetically predisposed.