Brachioplasty, commonly referred to as an arm lift, has dramatically increased in popularity in the past few years. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), arm lifts are one of the fastest growing plastic surgery procedures in the country.
A steep rise in bariatric surgeries is one reason arm lifts have become more popular; these procedures often cause tremendous weight loss but typically leave large amounts of excess skin. Another reason for the increase in arm lifts may be due to pop culture. Many of today’s celebrities are famous for their toned physiques, particularly their upper arms.
Recent advancements in technology, such as improved liposuction, arm lift techniques and new sutures, allow arm lift patients to see even better results than have been obtained previously. Patients now see an immediate, improved contour with less downtime and reduced scarring.
“For patients that have fatty deposits in the upper arm, we’re using improved liposuction techniques by combining smaller cannulas, sometimes assisted with lasers and ultrasound. Another important technological improvement is barbed sutures. These sutures allow better wound closure, improving the healing process, and reduce scarring,” said Dr. Paul M. Parker
In performing arm lifts at the Parker Center for Plastic Surgery, Dr. Parker will use either liposuction alone or in combination with surgical removal of the excess skin on the upper arms. The extent of the procedure and scars will depend on a patient’s skin tone or laxity and the amount of fat and excess skin present.
In those patients whose primary problem is excess arm fat, but they have good skin tone, liposuction with a small, inconspicuous incision near the armpit and another near the elbow is all that is required. In patients with excess fat and moderate skin tone, the same liposuction procedure can be performed in addition to modest skin removal through an incision placed high in the armpit; we call this a “modified brachioplasty”. In patients who have poor skin tone or a lot of excess skin, more aggressive skin removal will be necessary. In these patients, a significant amount of skin can be removed through an incision placed on the inside of the upper arm to minimize its visibility; we call this a “traditional brachioplasty”. Scarring from this procedure is much less noticeable than previously due to improved sutures and techniques.
Dr. Parker has over 20 years’ experience and is a board certified plastic surgeon. Arm lifts at the Parker Center are performed in our onsite fully certified, state of the art ambulatory surgical facility as an outpatient. Patients are made comfortable by one of Dr. Parker’s board certified anesthesiologists with intravenous sedation or general anesthesia. These procedures range in time from one hour for liposuction to approximately two and one half hours for a traditional brachioplasty. Prospective patients may view before and after photos on our website, parkercenter.net. Call (201) 967-1212 today for more information or to arrange a consultation.
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