Brachioplasty: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Brachioplasty, also known as Arm lift, is a surgical cosmetic procedure to remove loose flabby skin folds from your upper arms. People who have lost weight are usually the ones to face this problem. As your skin loses its flexibility following years of obesity, the loose fat or sagging skin hangs from the upper arms once you have lost weight. Other factors leading to such condition may include genetics, ageing or chronic tanning. Brachioplasty or an arm-lift surgery helps reduce the surplus sagging skin which droops downward, smoothens and tightens the concealed supportive tissue which defines the shape of your upper arm, and reduces localized fat pockets in the upper arms.

Brachioplasty is conducted under general anesthesia and takes about two hours to perform. Before the surgery takes place, it is advisable that the patient adopts a few precautionary measures that will ensure an effective and a safe surgery. For instance, if you quit smoking 1-2 months before the surgery, it can help reduce the risk of complications to a great extent. Your doctor will evaluate your current health condition and medical history several weeks prior to the surgery. The preoperative evaluation involves- lab work, an X-ray of your chest, an electrocardiogram, a prescription for preoperative medication, adjustment of the dose of your current supplements and medications. This is how the treatment is done- First, the doctor will make an incision in your armpit so that the incision scar can easily be hidden. If excess fat or more sagging skin be removed from the lower arm, your doctor will make a more extensive cut running along the inside of your arm, from wrist to the armpit. Next, the doctor will peel off excess skin and fat deposits. A traditional surgical technique or a liposuction is commonly used for the procedure. After the excess fat tissue is removed, the remaining healthy tissue will be shaped, and the cut will be closed with sutures.

If you observe sagging skin or loose flabs of fat hanging from the arms, you can consult a surgeon or doctor for a brachioplasty treatment. People who have recently lost weight following years of obesity, or have been observing wrinkles and signs of ageing, are eligible for the treatment.

There are no restrictions for undergoing the treatment. However, if you are not willing to go for a cosmetic surgery, then do not go for the treatment.

There are quite a few side effects of an Arm lift surgery such as infection allergy resulting from anesthesia, scarring, significant bleeding, swelling of hands, seromas, hematoma, and permanent loss of sensation.

After the treatment you will need to follow these guidelines- avoid lifting heavy weight for at least a week immediately after the surgery, wear compression garments to allow proper circulation of blood, follow the medications prescribed by your doctor to avoid the probable side effects.

It will take 1-2 weeks to recover after an Arm lift surgery. After the recovery period, you may go back to your daily activities. However, the one major consideration for brachioplasty is the immense scarring which is more or less hard to conceal.

In India the cost of Brachioplasty treatment varies roughly between Rs.1,00,000 to Rs.3,50,000.

The treatment results are permanent. Brachioplasty removes excess fat between your elbow and underarms, reshapes and tones your arms to give it a proportionate appearance.

An alternative of brachioplasty can be a massage therapy. The procedure reduces excessive skin tissue and fat by heating up the skin, dislodging unwanted tissues of fat cells and stimulating blood circulation. You may also try a few weight lifting exercises that will help you lose the extra fat and tighten your skin.