Dear C.J., Congratulations on your weight loss- that is quite an accomplishment. As you have observed first-hand, it is very common to have excess skin in the upper arm area following a dramatic weight loss. Also, as we get older, our upper arm skin can become loose and flabby. Loose upper arm skin is most often related to weight loss. When people are overweight, they tend to develop heavy upper arms. To accommodate the increased volume of the upper arms, the skin stretches. After weight loss, skin often fails to tighten; and therefore, it sags. The way to improve this problem is through an arm lift, also called brachioplasty. An arm lift is a surgical procedure to remove loose skin and excess fat deposits in the upper arm. An arm lift can help tighten this skin, which can do wonders for self-esteem.
Prior to surgery, the plastic surgeon marks the areas of excess skin to be removed. Once the skin is removed, the wound is stitched together and occasionally a drain is used. The operation is most commonly done as an outpatient, which means you can be home within a few hours. After surgery, bandages are applied. This can be anything from an extensive absorbent bandage with elastic support to a simple dressing with paper tapes (steri-strips). Patients are usually back to work within a week. Exercise can usually be resumed within about 2 weeks.
One of the drawbacks of this surgery is the scarring. Scars will extend from the armpit to the elbow, along the inside of the arm. In general, those with very loose saggy skin are happy to exchange the loose skin for the scars; however, those with a small amount of looseness will probably not want the scars. Those people with a small amount of loose skin can benefit from skin tightening effects delivered by radio waves, in treatments such as Thermage or Titan. These methods can be effective by themselves or combined with minimal suction.
In some cases, your plastic surgeon may suggest that liposuction be used in conjunction with the arm lift to remove excess fat in the upper arms. Your plastic surgeon can help evaluate your needs and discuss treatment options.
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Dr. Daniel Man is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has dedicated his life’s work to helping people look younger and improve their appearance through cosmetic surgery. He is a noted author, artist, inventor and educator. Dr. Man has been featured on major television networks, as well as national and local magazines and newspapers for his work as both a plastic surgeon and an artist. He has a successful private practice in Boca Raton, FL. For more information about Dr. Man, visit www.drman.com.
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