Surgery of the arms
Our skin is as firm as it can be, for the time that it can be. But afterwards, due to an important change in weight or simply due to age, it can reach a point that certain areas are no longer elastic and do not retract.
The arm is one of the areas more susceptible to suffer from this problem of excess skin. Patients funnily refer to this area as “bat wings” and normally search for improvement in the hanging of the skin of the arms which makes getting dressed difficult.
With an arm lift we first eliminate the excess fat which usually hangs. And also, logically, the excess skin.
Treatment
Elimination of the fat and excess skin of the arms.
Type of anaesthetic
Local with sedation or general.
Side effects
Scars, which depend on the state of the arm and how much excess skin there is for example.
Duration of result
Permanent, with stable post-operatory weight.
Duration of the treatment
2 hours.
Hospitalization
Normally outpatient
Recuperation
Return to work: 7-10 days. Better activity: 2-3 weeks.
Frequent questions
We do not recommend this surgery in obese patients. If the patient presents obesity, the best idea would be to lose weight previously. We recommend the surgery of an arm lift to patients with excess skin, fat and flaccidity in the arms.
Logically it depends on the type of work the patient has. A job that requires a lot of physical effort is not the same as another that doesn’t need as much. If you have to strain yourself in your job, we recommend at least 15 days rest and if you are a person with less strain in your work, 7 days should be sufficient.
You can go to the beach or the pool from the moment that the wounds are completely closed which is usually within two weeks. You must be careful of the sun. If you have any bruises we recommend that you wait until they have disappeared.
You can exercise and lift weight a month after the surgery. If you can, we recommend that you do not lift weights in the gymnasium as it implies moving the muscles of the arms, in a month and a half.
When you leave the operating theatre, you will be wearing a compressive corset which allows the inflammation to reduce and the body to heal well from that moment on. You will wear this corset continuously for about two days. From this moment on, you can shower normally.
You can go out in the sun after the stitches have been removed, which is usually after two weeks. If you are going to the beach you have to wear 50+ sun protection on the scars and on the skin. If you have bruises we recommend that you postpone going to the beach until they have healed and even then, you should wear sun protection.
A week after the intervention you can depilate.
You can travel perfectly on an aeroplane after the surgery.
You should wear a compressive corset in the area of the liposuction for at least a month. This way the tissues heal well and the result is better.
After the surgery you will be irritated. It will not be pain, but irritation. You will have the sensation of aching, stiffness and some pressure. You will take medication for the pain which means that you will have more irritation at bed time, due to the bandage, the antibiotic etc. which will provoke discomfort more than pain.
The scars of an arm lift in general, are good. The incision is made inside the part of the arm which is less visible. However, multiple treatments exist which improve the final result of scars such as silicon patches, rosehip oil, creams, laser, etc. etc.
You should avoid taking aspirin or any other medication which provokes anticoagulation. Let us know if you usually take vitamin supplements or medicinal plants. Some make the blood coagulate more slowly.
You should avoid taking aspirin or any other medication which provokes anticoagulation. Let us know if you usually take vitamin supplements or medicinal plants. Some make the blood coagulate more slowly.