During a Michigan summer, we spend lots of time outdoors. When we’re not out on Lake Michigan or at Sleeping Bear Dunes, we might be out walking 18 at Indian Trails or Stormy Creek, or even hiking in the U.P.
Most of these activities involve bathing suits or maybe sleeveless tops. So, when you don a swimsuit do you worry about your upper arm skin? If you gained and then lost a good deal of weight, there’s a good chance your upper arms aren’t exactly taut. If the skin was stretched enough, your upper arms can sag and the skin can wave back and forth.
That can make you long for the cover of a winter sweater when out on a boat, and that’s a shame. Fortunately, Drs. Cullen, Armstrong, and Martin can fix those loose upper arms with an arm lift.
Who should get an arm lift?
If your loose, flappy upper arms bother you, it’s probably time for an arm lift. Generally, you could have the procedure if you have loose, excess, or sagging skin on your upper arms that doesn’t respond to exercise. Or, if you’ve lost lots of weight, yet the excess skin on your upper arms didn’t go away with the weight, an arm lift can help. For some people, there is simply a genetic predisposition to have looser skin on the upper arms, and when you combine that with any weight gain, it can be tough when you lose the weight.
The procedure
The goal of an arm lift is to eliminate the excess skin and fat from the upper arms, creating a more contoured appearance. For a very minimal approach, your Elite Plastic Surgeon can place an incision in the armpit. But usually, the incision is made on either the bottom of your arm or the backside. It runs usually from the elbow to the armpit. We then remove excess fat, tighten the underlying muscles, and trim away excess skin. When the procedure is complete, you’ll go home with compression garments around your upper arms to help them adapt to their new smaller, tighter contour.
Recovery
Most arm lift patients return to work after one week, and can resume normal exercise and activity within a month. Obviously, you’ll have to keep from lifting much of anything during this time. Scars will fade over the next 18 months to where they will not be overly noticeable.
If your loose upper arm skin is making you self-conscious, it’s time to call the experienced surgeons at Elite Plastic Surgery for an arm lift. All you have to lose is those flapping upper arms. Call us at (616) 459-1907 to schedule a consultation.
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