Brachioplasty
Arm Lift Surgery
Fit Your Sleeves
Brachioplasty is a surgical procedure to target saggy arms in slightly overweight patients.
Brachioplasty is a surgical procedure to target saggy arms in slightly overweight patients. It is a not a weight loss surgery for the arms in severe or morbid obese patients with BMI more than 35 or 40. Such persons should initially aim for weight loss with strict diet control and regular exercises or with bariatric surgery and then get brachioplasty done for excess bulky skin. Liposuction also can be combined in same or separate sitting with brachioplasty for resistant fatty areas for best results in such patients.
An arm lift, sometimes called brachioplasty, is a type of body contouring surgery. It treats sagging underarms by reducing extra skin, tightens and smoothens tissues, and removing extra fat. This can make your upper arms look more toned and defined. If your arms are bulky with sagging skin, then liposuction should be combined with skin excision to give you better results. And if your arms are bulky with excess fat but no sagging then only liposuction should be considered.
Aging and genetics both play a role in the development of sagging skin. You might also be left with extra skin after losing a lot of weight.
Brachioplasty can be done alone or can be combined with additional procedures also like tummy tuck and liposuction of other parts of the body. Dr Amit Agarwal believes in the safety of the procedure as well as for your smooth surgical journey. If the amount of liposuction required at other places of your body is less, then he can combine it with liposuction of the abdomen, flanks or thighs otherwise he prefers to stage it and do it as a second procedure after few months when you have completely recovered from the previous surgery.
Discussions during Brachioplasty consultation should include
- The reason why you want to opt for the surgery and your desired outcomes.
- Previous medical treatments, medical conditions and drug allergies
- Current medications and supplements
- Tobacco, alcohol and drug use
- Any previous surgeries
A candidate opting for brachioplasty should fill up these criteria for better results
- Patients who are slightly overweight or have lost a considerable amount of weight with sagging of skin in the arms
- You should be physically healthy and body growth should be complete
- You should be anon-smoker, and if you are a smoker, you should compulsorily stop smoking 2 weeks before the surgery.
- You should be confident and positive about your body to achieve the improvement following the procedure.
- You should be motivated enough to undergo the procedure.
- You should have realistic expectations
Dr Amit Agarwal's focus during brachioplasty consultation
- Measure and examine your arm that hasto be lifted.
- Discuss the options for your surgery like liposuction of the arms.
- Take photographs
- Any pre-existing health conditions and evaluation of your general health.
- Risk and complications related to outcome of surgery
- Highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle even after surgery
Questions to be asked with Dr Amit Agarwal about brachioplasty
- Are you a good candidate for the procedure?
- What are the risks and complications related to the surgery?
- How long will be your recovery period?
- When can I return to work and daily routines?
- What is expected of me to change in my lifestyle to get better results?
- When can I start exercising after the surgery?
Preparations to be done for brachioplasty
- You should be physically healthy.
- You should stop smoking if you are a smoker before at least two weeks prior to the surgery.
- Get the tests done prescribed by Dr Amit Agarwal.
- Avoid taking anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they aggravate bleeding.
- All pre surgical work up investigations should be shown to the operating surgeon and the anaesthetist, and we will evaluate your fitness for the surgery. You will be given date for the surgery only after you are declared fit for the procedure.
- Compression garment measurement should be given for post-surgical use.
- Admission will be done on the same day at the center.
- Written consent form will be signed explaining the procedure after the admission.
- Meeting with the anaesthetist for Pre-Anaesthetic check-up before the surgery.
- Nil per oral for minimum of 5-6 hours before the planned procedure
Brachioplasty Procedure
- In the first step, you'll be given local anaesthesia in your arms so that you won't feel any pain. It can be under general anaesthesia also if u want to avoid any discomfort during the procedure.
- Dr Amit Agarwal will make an incision along the pre marked lines made earlier during the discussion with you.
- Guided by the marks made on your arm, hegoes in and tightens or reshapes the tissue in your upper arm. He then pulls your skin back over the tissue and close the surgical wound with absorbable sutures.
If there are extra pockets of fat that might make it hard for your arm to fully heal, Dr Amit Agarwal may use liposuction at the same time to remove that fat.
Recovery after the surgery
After surgery, the treated area is covered with pressure garment. This garment helps in the compression of the skin and also reduces swelling giving you desired body shape and improved contour. You will need to keep your arms elevated for next few days to increase circulation and to avoid swelling of your forearm and hands.
In few cases, some temporary drains are placed under the skin to remove excess fluid. These drains are removed on the second day of the surgery, and you can go home thenfollowed by the weekly visits or as suggested by Dr Amit Agarwal. You will be made to walk on the same day of the surgery. We may send you home with drain if there is excess fluid in the body. It might be preferable to remove the drain at a follow up visit.
- There can be substantial swelling and bruising of the surgicalarea which usually subsides in 3 to 4 weeks
- The sutures will be mostly on the under arms area and inside the skin which will be dissolvable and do not require to be taken off.
- In the days following surgery, there will be pain which can be subsided by the pain killers given by Dr Amit Agarwal.
- Soreness might last for few weeks.
- You will be made to walk 2 -3 hours post-surgery depending on your will and wish.
- You can start exercising after four to six weeks post-surgery.
- You can return to work depending on your will power and the type of work required between 2 to 3 weeks.
- You can return to your normal lifestyle after three weeks of surgery.
There will be some specific instructions given to you by Dr Amit Agarwal which includes
- How to take care of the surgical site.
- About the follow up dates.
- How to take the medications or application of creams. There are not many medications though.
Risks and complications post-surgery
The complications and aftermaths of the surgery vary from person to person and his physical well-being. The factors which affect are poor circulation, a history of blood clots, diabetes or heart, lung or liver infection.
Brachioplasty usually gives desired results but there can be some risks involved which include:
- Risks related to general anaesthesia which are very rare-General Anaesthesia is very safe in present times and with best machines and a qualified anaesthetist, chances of encountering any complication is less than 0.1 percent in a healthy individual. We at Kayakriti Plastic Surgery and Dental Centre are equipped with world class anaesthesia workstation, other equipments and two very qualified intensivists for the surgical procedures to be very safe and smooth.
- Accumulation of the fluid i.e Seroma formation, which usually decreases and stops in few days.
- Infection which is very rare. It usually subsides with good antibiotics.
- There can be persistent swelling and bruising in the surgical area which reduces with time.
- If you have a poor blood supply, the healing will be poor (more common in smokers, people with high BMI, diabetics, hypothyroidism and in people with multiple diseases)
- Sometimes irregular contours are seen, which can be corrected with the use of the pressure garment.
- Sometimes change in skin sensation is noticed which recovers with time.
- Irregular pigmentation or hypertrophic scarring of the surgical suture line which also recovers with time or might require application of creams.
- Chances of bleeding or haematoma formation which is also rare but might require drainage
- Rare chances of nerve compressions or damage in the arm.
- Rare event of Deep Vein Thrombosis, fat embolism, pulmonary or cardiac complications, lidocaine toxicity can occur or precipitate in patients with multiple pre-existing diseases diagnosed or undiagnosed by routinely available standard tests and if multiple procedures are done in the same sitting.
These are the risks and possible complication which should be discussed by you with Dr Amit Agarwal before the procedure.
The total benefits of brachioplasty will be seen after the swelling and bruising subsides. It is also very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle to maintain your shape and contour. If you are unable to maintain it or plan an exercise regime, there can be deposits of unwanted fat at other sites other than the surgical. Then probably you may have to go under another surgery.
Do's and Don'ts of brachioplasty
- You should never force your doctor for excess fat removal as it can create complication like nerve compressions or damage in the arm or compromise in the blood supply of the raised arms skin flaps.
- You should not get into surgery if you are having any major chronic illness and you should not hide it with Dr Amit Agarwal.
- You should always wear the pressure garment as it reduces swelling and improves your contour.
- You should improve your lifestyle to avoid any further fat deposits in other body parts. So to maintain a shape and slimmer arms you should pursue exercises and proper diet.
- You should consult Dr Amit Agarwal immediately if you have any complication.
Frequently Asked Questions
You will be discharged next day after the surgery when your drains are removed.
You have to wear it for at least 3 months and may extend to 6 months depending on Dr Amit Agarwal's advice.
You can start exercising after 4 to 6 weeks of surgery and as Dr Amit Agarwal suggests depending on your healing process.
This procedure can be performed under local anaesthesia also. During the procedure you will not feel any pain but there may be some pain and swelling during the recovery process which will be taken care of with analgesics.
Quitting smoking is a perfect solution even without surgery as it involves many health risks, but it's totally up to your wish that you want to quit or not. But you should surely stop smoking at least 2 weeks before the surgery.
Brachioplasty Images
Indivisual results may vary from person to person.
These pictures are shown for the purpose of education only.
Shaping dreams through
Know your surgeon better
Best plastic surgeon, Dr. Amit Agarwal is an American Board Certified, extensively trained, and best Plastic & Aesthetic surgeon in Lucknow. He is the Chief Plastic Surgeon heading the Department of Plastic, Microvascular, and Craniofacial surgery at Vivekananda Polyclinic and Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, U.P, India. He maintains a busy practice at Avadh and Nishat Hospital and his own center - Kayakriti Plastic Surgery & Dental Center. He was formerly a Consultant in the Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns at the prestigious SGPGI, Lucknow.
MS, DNB (General Surgery) MCh, DNB (Plastic Surgery),
MNAMS, FACS, FICS, FRCS (Edinburgh, UK)
His Credentials
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We believe your experience with us should be comfortable and hassle-free to make it one of your best lifetime experiences for yours. We, here at the clinic, take full precautions to maintain your privacy in any manner. We also provide a staff who will receive you from the gate and take you to the chamber directly if you demand.
Trust
Our Surgeon is highly qualified and internationally certified with a team of skilled staff to perform any surgical or non-surgical treatment on your body.
Safety
When you plan to undergo any surgery you should always keep in mind that it's your body and it's a surgery. We, here always keep your safety a priority and will never recommend you to undergo any such procedure which is not safe for you. We also provide you with a detailed description of the complications which may occur after the surgery during the consultation as it's a surgical procedure so there may be some complications depending on the way your body reacts.
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Frequently Asked Questions
If you have flat or small breast and you want to improve your breast and hip contour ratio then you are a good candidate for it. The answer will be best provided after the first consultation with Dr Amit Agarwal.
Acute pain will be there for almost a week which gradually reduces and there will be soreness and swelling which may take up to 3 weeks to subside.
You can join your work and daily routines after a week of the procedure and can start exercising after 3 weeks of it.
Yes, you have to wear it round the clock unless we suggest you to remove it.
This surgery does not affect the ducts or the areas of the breast involved in milk production. Thus, it does not affect the breast feeding.
This surgery does not affect the ducts or the areas of the breast involved in milk production. Thus, it does not affect the breast feeding.
Kayakriti Plastic Surgery & Dental Center
D-43, Near Punjab National Bank, Rajajipuram, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh - 226017, India
Phone No. +919695940009, +919695940006
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