subject: Can You Get An Arm Lift Without The Scars? [print this page] As the warmer months approach, many women consider undergoing cosmetic surgery to lift and sculpt problem areas. One such area that becomes of particular concern when it's time for tank tops and bathing suits is the upper arm. The skin and tissue in this area has a tendency to sag and wrinkle as we age. Arm lifts and arm tucks, also known as brachioplasty, are becoming a more and more popular solution to this problem.
The purpose of brachioplasty is to remove loose skin and tighten up the existing skin to eliminate the problem of loose flaps that can hang down when the limb is raised. This excess skin not only looks bad, it can cause uncomfortable chafing and rashes to develop and can limit your ability to wear certain types of clothing.
Arm Lift Scarring
Traditional brachioplasty techniques often leave women and men with a long and ugly vertical scar on the underside of their arms. New techniques now make an incision in the armpit that remains hidden from view during most kinds of movement and usually blends into the area when visible. This advancement has lead to even more popularity for the procedure. While it is not possible to avoid all scarring, the visibility and side of the scar is greatly reduced with this approach.
Who is a good candidate?
There are several groups who are excellent candidates for brachioplasty, providing they are in otherwise good health and are able to undergo surgical procedures. Men and women who have lost moderate amounts of weight and now have excess skin that they would like to remove are often recommended the procedure. It should be noted, however, that people who have lost very large amounts of weight are not likely good candidates for the "scarless" option. Arm lifts are also used to reverse signs of aging such as sagging and wrinkling, and can also be used to correct skin damage and elasticity loss caused by excessive sun exposure and tanning.
Arm Lift with Liposuction
In addition to lifting and tightening the skin, your surgeon can perform a liposuction procedure during the same operating period. The liposuction will allow your doctor to sculpt and contour the area into a more pleasing shape for the smoothest possible results.
Brachioplasty Recovery
The smaller incision of the hidden scar technique allows your healing time to be shorter, and you should experience less pain and discomfort than you would with a traditional brachioplasty. The operation itself takes one to two hours and you should be able to go home the same day. Within a few days your bandages can be removed, and you should be able to return to work within a week.
