Arm Lift: Q&A
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Minimal Incision Brachioplasty
I just recently lost about 45 pounds and I noticed that I have minimal sagging and stretch marks on my arms. I inquired to a plastic surgeon about this and she said because it is minimal and I am so young (20 years old), it would not be worth the scar. Is there any solution to my problem that is not as severe? Would any among Mini Brachioplasty, arm toning with exercise, or laser skin tightening be a good option for me? Any advice would help seeing as I am very insecure about this and would like to handle it now while I am young.
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19 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
gabriela80
in long beach ca
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Mini arm lift is valid procedure in the right patient
There is a mini arm lift procedure that involves a relatively smaller incision mainly in the axilla. Patient selction is key to get a good result. Different versions with different incision lenght could be done. Hope that helps!
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You have options
The key point in the decision is the condition of the skin elasticity. If you have minimal laxity, you may do well with liposuction, or perhaps ultrasound assisted liposuction. This will get rid of excess fat, while encouraging the skin envelope to shrink to the smaller form.
A mini-brachioplasty, as I define it is one that places theincision in the axilla (arm pit) at a right angle to the long axis of the arm. A full brachioplasty extends the incision down the upper arm toward the...
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Start with toning your arms through exercise
The arm lift or Brachioplasty leaves a long scar extending from axilla (armpit) to the elbow. As with any cosmetic surgery it is a trade off: is the scar worth the improvement in contour? For women who have lost a lot of weight and have a lot of hanging skin (bat wings) on their arms, the scar is very worth it. For women who have only a little loose skin the scar would not be worth it. At your age, with only a little loose skin, I think with some exercises to tone up the arms ( think...
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There are options for arm toning.
Congratulations on your weight loss. At 20 years old and with a 45 lb weight loss, your skin tone is most likely reasonably good shape. The four things that contribute to upper arm laxity are poor muscle tone, excess fat, excess skin and loose fibrous connections. Your first step should be to try to improve your muscle tone with exercise and weights to see if this does the trick. If unsuccessful, in young patients a combination...
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Short Scar Brachioplasty great procedure for the right person
If there is limited fat and loose skin close to the arm pit then a short scar technique also called a "minimal incision Brachioplasty, leaving the final scar in the arm pit may be possible.It is a great procedure for the right person.
This is to be compared with a traditional arm lift, brachioplasty, where Incisions are placed in a subtle location on the underside of the arms, between the armpit and the elbow. General anesthesia is usually used for this procedure. The...
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Hidden Inner Armlift
The hidden inner armlift is not good for patients with massive weight loss as they have significant posterior arm redundancy. The hidden inner armlift is only good for mild to moderate inner arm laxity or the inner third of the arm. None of the non-evasive skin tightening or laser procedures work in this area.
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Mini armlift
The mini arm lift with a smaller axillary incision works if you have a small amount of sagging. If you have real bat wings, it would not produce the desired outcome. If you skin has sag already, liposuction would not be appropriate as the goal of that procedure is to remove fat. Arm lift is not a generic operation but needs to be tailored to individual patient needs.
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You can be better.
Gabriela,
You can definitely be helped. I would recommend an agressive type of liposuction in which very little fat would be removed circumferentiallly, at which point the suction machine would be turned off. The canula, which is the name of the instrument used for liposuction, would be passed back and forth to injure the under side of your skin to stimulate contraction of your skin. After the surgery you would have to wear a conpression garment for...
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Minimal incision brachioplasty
Without an exam it is really a hrd to suggest to you what would be best. You would need to have a consult to figure this out.
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At 20 you need to exercise, not do an arm lift
20 is far too young for an arm lift and it's scar. Mini lifts do very little other than making a permanent scar on you. At your young age, you should spend a session with a trainer who can tll you how to exercise your triceps and biceps to add some muscle volume there which will drape your skin better and make it seem tighter. Good luck!
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Laser skin tightening instead of an arm lift is almost always a disappointment.
If the laser tightens skin at all, it is modest. This is from a plastic surgeon who owns this technology. Most patients who request a brachioplasty will be disappointed by the procedure, but not all. If skin needs to be removed, there will be a scar that goes with it.
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Arm Lift
There are several types of arm lift procedures depending on the excess in skin and arm tissue. If you have minimal skin and fat, then a limited arm lift may be a suitable procedure. However, most my weight loss patients will need an extended arm lift to get optimal results. It is best for you to be seen and evaluated properly.
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Mini-brachioplasty is appropriate for a select few patients
The problem with a mini-brachioplasty is that the procedure will really only address skin laxity in the upper 1/3 of your arm. If you notice draping, loose skin down to your elbow, the procedure will not be a good solution for you. Seek out a board certified plastic surgeon in your area that does a lot of brachioplasties and get an opinion.
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Limited incision brachioplasty
If you have minimal excess skin in your upper arms from weight loss, you may be a candidate for a limited-incision brachioplasty. This involves an incision which is placed in your armpit, not along your upper arm from elbow to armpit. You must be a good candidate for this procedure in order to achieve a good result. This is difficult to determine without seeing or examining you in person. I do recommend getting your body weight down to your goal weight prior to considering any body...
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Consider the "bat wing" procedure
Gabriela,
At your young age, you may be candidate for the so called "bat wing" procedure, which was highlighted on the Today Show in 2003. It involves a circumferential liposuction of the upper arm. This may be a better option than a minibrachioplasty, which, I agree, is a limited and minimally effective procedure. Of course, any plan is contingent on the elasticity of your skin. Try another opinion/consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon for options. Good luck!...
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Alternatives to arm lift surgery
Hi there-
It would be difficult to know for sure without first meeting you to review your goals and perform an exam, but I have had a lot of success in patients who don't quite need an arm lift but want improvement in their arms through a combination of VASER lipo and aggressive frequent lymphatic massage treatments beginning early in the postop period. The results we've seen have been remarkable.
Find a board certified plastic surgeon with experience in VASER and talk it over with them.
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Alternatives to arm lift surgery
To really answer your question I would have to know what you weigh now and see pictures of your arms that show the amount of residual fat and the quality of your skin.
In some situations liposuction can be a workable alternative.
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Try Thermage.
Hi!
From your description, I doubt very much that the scars of a conventional arm lift would make sense for you. And the mini brachioplasty does not work.
In New York City, we have a number of women who are quite happy after Thermage skin tightening of the arms. Even a subtle improvement in the arms tends to make women very satisfied.
Thermage gets mixed reviews because it is often done incorrectly. You need sufficient energy applied, which requires a large treatment head. These are more...
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Armlifting?
Thank you for the question.
Unfortunately, there is no substitute for direct examination to determine whether a patient is a good candidate for liposuction surgery or arm lifting surgery.
I would suggest consultation with a well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon.
Keep in mind that if excess skin is present then liposuction surgery will not achieve satisfactory results. A minimal incision brachioplasty will likely results in minimal results.
I hope this helps.
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