According to data from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the number of women in the United States that underwent an arm lift, also known as a brachioplasty, increased by an incredible 4300% between the years of 2000 and 2012. This dramatic increase makes brachioplasty the fastest growing procedure in the field of plastic surgery.
There are many reasons for the significant increase in arm lift surgery. At the top of the list is the increase in Americans having weight loss surgery, such as gastric bypass. Patients who are successful in losing a tremendous amount of weight may find that they are left with loose and sagging skin in the upper arm area. Another possible explanation for this spike in demand could be social media trends. On social media, there are thousands of posts from celebrities and regular folks showcasing a firm physique with well-defined arms. Unfortunately, no amount of exercise can tighten the loose skin under the arms. Many people turn to plastic surgery to help give their upper arms a more desirable appearance.
In some cases, patients’ arms have good skin without a lot of sagging. These patients may benefit from liposuction alone, which will help contour the upper arm and allow more muscle definition to show. However, if there is loose skin hanging from the upper arm, just performing liposuction will further deflate the arms, making the appearance of loose skin even worse. In cases like this, an arm lift is necessary to improve the contour of the arm by removing both excess fat and loose skin. The surgeon may also utilize liposuction in conjunction with the arm lift procedure. During your consultation, your doctor will suggest the best course of treatment to achieve the best possible result.
During a brachioplasty, an incision is made from the elbow up to the armpit. The length of the scar is typically the biggest drawback to the surgery. A qualified plastic surgeon will place the scar so it isn’t visible from the front or back of the arms when the arms are by the patient’s side. When the arms are raised, the lower portion of the scar can be somewhat visible. However, once the scar is fully healed (about a year post-op), most patients find that it is almost invisible. At Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery, we provide all arm lift patients with scar gel to aid in the healing of scars.
If you are interested in improving the shape of your arms schedule a consultation with one of our award-winning, board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Peter Butler or Dr. Jocelyn Leveque.
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