Get Rid of Flabby Arms With an Arm Lift in Lubbock

Americans seem to be increasingly interested in looking younger and more beautiful all the time. Popular diets, fitness trends, and plastic surgery play a huge role in what we see on social media as well as everyday lifestyles. In Lubbock, you can also see a growing emphasis on losing weight and being healthy. This has led to a greater number of patients seeking an arm lift in Lubbock. 

The extreme at the other end of the spectrum is the growing rate of obesity in America. When weight gain gets out of control and is beyond the aid of diet and exercise, some people turn to more drastic measures for help. When weight has been high and is then quickly lost, the body ends up with stretched out loose skin. But weight loss isn’t the only culprit behind saggy skin. Excess skin can become loose as a result of age or heredity. An arm lift in Lubbock—or brachioplasty—can have a dramatic effect on the right patient to tone and reshape the upper arms. 

Why Consider an Arm Lift in Lubbock

An arm lift is an effective plastic surgery procedure for many types of patients. It enhances contour and gets rid of excess skin to give the arms a younger, more toned appearance. According to the most recent statistics published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the number of patients having brachioplasty has risen over 5,000 percent since 2000. So, what is it that makes the procedure so increasingly popular? 

Enhances drastic weight loss

When you finally reach your weight loss goal, the last thing you want to see is saggy skin where the fat used to be. Whether you have bariatric surgery or lost weight the old fashioned way, stretched skin is a common problem. Some patients feel discouraged or even doubt whether the weight loss even improved their appearance at all. An arm lift will eliminate the problematic skin to give patients the complete look they desire. Drastic weight loss is something to celebrate, and an arm lift in Lubbock offers a way to tie up the loose ends so you can truly enjoy your makeover.

Improves Proportioning

As they age, many women start to store fat in different areas of their bodies. The upper arms can sometimes look much larger than the forearms when excess fat builds up. With an arm lift, your plastic surgeon can remove the excess skin and fat to slim down the upper arm. The procedure gives patients improved proportioning in the arms, makes clothing appear more flattering, and creates a balanced look for the entire body. 

Reveals Workout Results

It is hard to feel motivated to do arm strength exercises when your muscles are hidden under excess fat and skin. With the extra bulk out of the way, your arm workouts will look and feel much more productive. Additionally, lifting weights and doing exercises like pushups will be easier without the extra padding around the upper arms. An arm lift helps to sculpt the arms and also makes workout results more visible. 

Boosts Confidence

Women who deal with large or saggy upper arms often feel insecure about their appearance. Even waving “hello” or clapping their hands can trigger feelings of self-consciousness. Instead of avoiding friendly waves or hiding their arms in loose blouses, brachioplasty patients can enjoy using their arms freely without worrying about flab showing. The results of an arm lift in Lubbock can spark a boost of confidence that radiates into almost every area of a patient’s life. When you feel good about your appearance, it allows you to let go of insecurities and focus on the things you really care about.

Are You a Good Candidate?

Do you avoid wearing arm revealing clothing because you don’t like the way your upper arms look? Do you refuse to wave your arms because you’re self-conscious of the skin that hangs down? If the answer is yes, brachioplasty could be of great benefit to you. If you meet the criteria below, you may be a good candidate for the procedure. 

• You have excess arm skin due to significant weight loss or aging
• You do not smoke or are willing to commit to a nicotine-free lifestyle before and after surgery
• You are committed to a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and a well-balanced diet
• Your general health is good, and you have no medical conditions that would increase risks
• Your weight is relatively stable and in a healthy range

Brachioplasty does leave a scar running down the underside of the arm, which will be visible when the arms are lifted or exposed. A good candidate for the procedure will have a significant amount of extra skin hanging down. Your surgeon will be able to tell you if your arms would benefit from an arm lift in Lubbock. It is important to remember that any plastic surgery is not a substitute for a healthy diet or routine exercise. Instead it provides a supplement to achieve your desired body shape when you already maintain a healthy lifestyle.

What Happens During Surgery?

On the day of your surgery, you will be administered general anesthesia to keep you comfortable. Your surgeon will remove excess fat and skin from the underside of your arms through an incision that runs between the elbow and the underarm. The length of the resulting scar will depend on how much skin and fat had to be removed. 

Often the process of tightening the arm skin is paired with liposuction to remove fat deposits in the same area. Consult with your doctor to decide if adding liposuction to your arm lift will help you achieve your desired results. There are no drains for brachioplasty patients and the sutures are absorbable. To learn more about what to expect from an arm lift in Lubbock, watch the video below:

The Results

For the best possible results, you will want the best plastic surgeon. Lubbock patients should seek for a doctor who is highly skilled, board-certified, and has plenty of experience. After an arm lift, your arms will look smoother and more toned. The results will be evident immediately following your procedure, but may take 6-8 weeks to be completely visible. Some patients express concern about the extent of scarring from an arm lift. The placement of the incision, the skill of your doctor, and the neatness of the closure will all have an effect on the appearance of scarring. The changes in your arms may seem subtle on their own, but your body will look more youthful and slender overall after your brachioplasty procedure.

Minimizing the Appearance of Scars

It is important to realize that, just like with any plastic surgery, an arm lift leaves a scar. For most brachioplasty patients, the benefits of the procedure far outweigh any concerns about scarring. First of all, scars are much easier to conceal than overly large, saggy upper arms. Secondly, plastic surgery scars fade with time and proper care. The length of the surgical incision varies depending on how much skin your plastic surgeon removes. For patients with greater amounts of excess skin, the incision will need to be longer. However, if you are a good candidate, a scar should not deter you from having an arm lift in Lubbock. Your plastic surgeon can evaluate your arms to determine whether the procedure will help you reach your cosmetic goals. Consider the following ways to minimize the appearance of scars:

• Follow all post-operative instructions: Choosing a highly-skilled and experienced plastic surgeon benefits you the most if you follow all of their instructions. For example, if your doctor’s orders include a ban on showering for a few days, then it’s in your best interest to follow those directions. Strictly adhering to their advice will help you avoid infection and other complications. And, it will give your incisions the best chance to heal properly so you end up with minimal scarring. 
• Stay out of the sun: It can be tempting to show off your new arms in a tank top and spend some time in the sun after brachioplasty. But, it is more important than ever to keep your arms (or at least the incision sites) out of the sun as your body recovers. UV rays are very damaging to newly formed skin and scar tissue. As nice as that sunshine feels, it can cause arm lift scars to appear darker than the rest of your skin. If you must be outside, wear sunscreen or cover your scars with medical tape to protect them from the sun.
• Learn about scar healing products: There are many products on the market that claim to help promote scar healing. Creams, lotions, gels, and other treatments can minimize the appearance of plastic surgery scars in some cases. Drugstores also sell silicone sheeting strips as an alternative method for scar healing. Your doctor can recommend certain options if you are interested in trying products to help minimize your scars after your arm lift in Lubbock.

Scarring is an unavoidable part of plastic surgery. The question you have to ask yourself is, would you rather live with a thin scar or sagging upper arms? A well-qualified plastic surgeon will keep your incisions as short as possible and make sure they are in the least conspicuous place. This way, scars are only visible when the arms are raised. For most patients, the boost in confidence, enhanced appearance, and improved body proportions more than make up for the scarring that comes with an arm lift in Lubbock.       

Recovering From an Arm Lift in Lubbock

Arm lifts typically take less time in the operating room than more extensive surgeries like breast augmentation. The procedure takes about one hour on an outpatient basis. Patients usually have compression bandages on for about two weeks to help minimize swelling. Some discomfort, swelling, and bruising are common during the early stages of recovery. Your doctor will prescribe pain medication to keep you comfortable. Most people can expect to resume regular activities in about five to seven days. However, you should not participate in any strenuous activity or heavy lifting until your incision site is completely healed. 

Brachioplasty FAQs

Learning everything you can about your plastic surgery procedure is key to getting the most out of your experience. Well-informed patients enjoy feeling more calm and confident about their surgery because they know what to expect at every stage. To help jumpstart your research, here are some answers to questions that are commonly asked about brachioplasty:

• Is an arm lift painful? During the procedure itself, patients do not feel any pain at all because of the effects of anesthesia. Some mild pain and discomfort is not uncommon during the first few days of recovery, but they can be managed easily with prescribed pain killers.
• Will liposuction alone work for my arms? Liposuction gets rid of stubborn fat, but it does not eliminate the excess skin that hangs from the upper arms. The two procedures work well together to sculpt the arms and reduce their size. In fact, a study published in Plastic Reconstructive Surgery revealed significantly enhanced cosmetic results and an improvement in the quality of life for brachioplasty patients who also had underarm liposuction. 
• How much skin is removed? The amount of skin excised depends on how much excess skin the patient has. If your plastic surgeon removes too much, it can cause the skin to be overly tight and can even separate the incision.  
• Can brachioplasty be combined with other procedures? For most patients, an arm lift works well when done in conjunction with other plastic surgery procedures. If your arms sag due to age or weight loss, it is likely there are other areas of your body that may also have lost their youthfulness.  

Discover Greater Confidence

If age or weight loss has not been kind to your arms, you don’t have to live in long sleeves forever. When considering an arm lift in Lubbock, be sure to do your research so you can find the best plastic surgeon. Lubbock is home to Dr. Jane Rowley, a board-certified plastic surgeon who carefully listens to the concerns and expectations of her patients. At Rowley Plastic Surgery, our goal is to educate and work with each patient so they can have the best results possible. Call our office to schedule a no-obligation consultation and discuss your options in discovering greater confidence in your physical appearance.