There are several reasons your arms may start to look different over time. Maybe you’ve lost a lot of weight, or perhaps you’ve experienced skin aging. These scenarios can both lead to loose arm skin and extra fat deposits in the area.
At Southwest Michigan Plastic and Hand Surgery in Portage, MI, you can get an arm lift to address your changing arms after weight loss, aging, or other life events. With our skilled arm lift surgery, you can have slimmer arms that match your desired aesthetic.
Who Needs an Arm Lift?
You are a good candidate for arm lift surgery if you have excess skin and stubborn fat deposits along your arms.
During your individual consultation, we look at your arms and examine the tissues. Most patients who seek arm lifts are approved. The procedure is simple and enhances one of the most visible parts of your body.
These factors contribute to patients considering arm lift surgery:
Major Weight Loss
Losing large amounts of weight in short periods of time can lead to loose skin. This creates a jiggly, untoned appearance on your arms.
Your skin cannot always adapt to the loss of volume underneath after major weight loss. An arm lift can create the tighter, more toned appearance in your arms that you have been working hard for.
Aging
As you age, your skin loses collagen and elastin. These are two important fibers that give your skin the ability to bounce back into shape after being stretched or impacted.
Aging can cause “bat wing” arms, or loose skin that gathers between your armpit and elbow. If this is an area you would like to improve, schedule an arm lift consultation.
Stubborn Arm Fat
There are two types of fat: subcutaneous fat and visceral fat.
Subcutaneous fat settles directly underneath your skin and creates visible fat pockets. This is the type of unwanted body fat that we can remove during your arm lift procedure.
Genetics plays a role in how subcutaneous fat settles on your body. Some families end up with more arm fat than others, even if they are otherwise slim and healthy.
Visceral fat is different. It settles around your organs and is typically less visible on the outside. We cannot remove visceral fat with surgery; only traditional weight loss will get rid of that.
If you have fat deposits underneath your arms that just won’t go away with diet, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle, an arm lift may be right for you. Our patients often feel relieved when their excess arm fat is gone, especially if they have spent many years trying to get rid of it.
How Arm Lifts Slim Your Appearance
An arm lift is similar to any other cosmetic lifting procedure. Much like a facelift or eye lift, an arm lift removes excess skin and tightens the area in question. This lifting technique helps your arms look more youthful and fit.
The procedure starts when we make an incision somewhere on your arm. We may start with the back of your arm or in between your biceps and triceps. Once the incisions are made, we use liposuction to remove excess fatty tissue. We also cut away any loose skin that is no longer needed to cover your arm.
We will give you compression garments to wear after surgery. These garments help the healing process go smoothly and retain the desired shape of your arms.
The combination of skin removal and fat removal gives your arms more shape and a slimmer appearance. You can enjoy looking fitter in tank tops, short-sleeved shirts, and swimsuits after your arm lift.
Arm Lift Surgery Recovery
During the arm lift recovery process, you should continue to wear your compression garments. You will need to wear them for four to six weeks to ensure optimal results.
During the arm lift recovery period, you should avoid intense exercise and other strenuous activities. You can do light movements that are required for daily living, such as showering or lifting small children.
After four to six weeks of arm lift recovery, you will come in for a follow-up appointment. We will evaluate your arms and let you know whether you can return to normal exercise and other more intense movements.
Most patients only need up to six weeks to fully recover from an arm lift. You will start to see full results after your recovery period, including smaller, more shapely arms.
Why Should You Get an Arm Lift?
Instead of spending long, grueling hours in the gym trying to shape and tone your arms, you can get ahead of the game. Arm lifts remove stubborn fat that may not go away on its own through exercise.
You can get the arm aesthetic you’ve always wanted without stressing over calories, weight lifting, and other toning methods.
We still recommend exercising and eating a healthy diet after surgery. In order to maintain your arm lift results, you will need to keep excess fat and loose skin at bay.
Several types of clothing look different after an arm lift. You can wear tops and swimsuits that show off more of your arms and shoulders without worrying about extra fat and loose skin weighing you down.
Arm Lifts in Portage, MI
At Southwest Michigan Plastic and Hand Surgery, you can get an effective arm lift from our skilled, experienced team. We perform arm lifts to enhance a patient’s arm appearance and give them the body that they desire.
Contact us to book your consultation for an arm lift in Portage, MI, today.