Do you wear shirts and dresses with sleeves in the summer because you feel self-conscious about the appearance of your upper arms? Do you believe that your arms are making you look older or heavier than you really are? If so, you may be considered a good candidate for an arm tuck at the office of Dr. Bruce Kadz in Beverly Hills, CA. This procedure can improve the appearance of your arms and help you to feel more confident in your body.
How Does an Arm Tuck Work?
An arm tuck improves the appearance of the upper arm, primarily, by removing excess skin. This is accomplished thanks to a strategically placed incision. There are three places the incision can be placed depending on your unique circumstances. The exact placement of the incision will be discussed during your initial consultation.
We can also advise you on whether you will benefit from other procedures, like liposuction, during your initial consultation. Other ways an arm lift improves the appearance of the upper arms include tightening loose skin and removing a small amount of excess fat. However, you will need upper arm liposuction if you are concerned about a large amount of fat.
What Happens During the Procedure?
The arm lift process can be broken down into a few simple steps. The first step involves preparing you for your procedure. First, we will ensure that your upper arm skin is not irritated. If it is, we will not be able to proceed with the procedure as scheduled. Assuming your skin is free from irritation and you are not ill, we will sanitize the upper arms. Then, we will use a washable marker to guide the incision placement in the next step.
The last part of the preparation process is to ensure that you remain comfortable throughout the procedure. If you only need an arm lift, you will most likely be administered a local anesthetic. If you are improving the appearance of other regions of your body, too, you will probably be given general anesthesia. We will advise you on the right type of anesthesia based on your health and goals during your initial consultation.
The Second Step
The second step of an arm lift involves making careful incisions guided by the lines we drew in the preparation step. These incisions will allow us to remove a small amount of fat between your underarm and elbow. However, you shouldn’t expect much fat loss from an arm lift; it is not a fat removal procedure.
Once we’ve removed some of your excess fat, we will remove any excess upper arm skin you may have. Once you no longer have any excess upper arm skin, the remaining skin will be tightened. If you are concerned about a large amount of upper arm fat, we can insert a cannula and suction device into the incisions made to remove the excess skin and remove a lot of upper arm fat.
The Final Step
Once your excess upper arm skin has been removed, your remaining upper arm skin has been tightened, and we have removed excess upper arm fat, your incisions will be sutured closed. Then, you will wait in your hospital gown for the effects of the anesthesia to wear off. Once you are fully awake, we will review your post-op care guidelines with you. Make sure you have a ride home; you will not be able to drive after the procedure.
What Happens During the Recovery Process?
Everyone’s post-op recovery process is unique. If you have a sedentary job, you may only need to take three to five days off from work to focus on your recovery. However, you should keep in mind that you cannot drive within 24 hours of taking certain analgesics. Therefore, you may need to work from home or have someone drive you to work if you take prescription analgesics after your surgery.
If you have a very active job, you may need to take a couple of weeks off from work to recover. Regardless of how much time you take off from work to recover, you need to keep in mind that rest is crucial to the recovery process. You should aim to sleep for nine hours consecutively every night, and you should also nap whenever you feel particularly tired. Don’t be surprised if you need to nap during the first one to three days post-op if you get general anesthesia.
What Can I Do To Speed Up My Recovery Process?
If you want your recovery process to go as quickly as possible, it’s not just important that you rest. It is also important that you eat and drink right. For the first two weeks post-op, it is crucial that you do not drink alcohol. Alcohol consumption will affect your blood pressure and lengthen your recovery time significantly. It is also important to avoid nicotine consumption during this time to keep your blood pressure normal.
In addition to not smoking and drinking alcohol, you need to make sure you’re staying hydrated. Your urine should be pale throughout the recovery process. If you notice it is dark, make a point to drink more hydrating fluids. Also, make sure you are eating plenty of protein and vitamin C. These nutrients, particularly if you are well hydrated, will be used to bolster the collagen in your skin so it can heal the incisions made during your surgery.
Am I a Good Candidate for This Procedure?
We will advise you on whether you are a good arm tuck candidate during your initial consultation once we have discussed your health thoroughly, discussed your desired outcome, and evaluated your current aesthetic. If you are relatively healthy and neither pregnant nor breastfeeding, there is a good chance you will qualify if you’re worried about the appearance of your upper arms.
Just keep in mind that this procedure may not be ideal if you plan to become pregnant. Every pregnancy is unique, but it is not uncommon for pregnant women to gain upper arm fat during their pregnancy. If you gain and subsequently lose a significant amount of weight in your upper arms, there is a chance that you will be left with excess or loose skin and need a follow-up procedure.
Am I a Good Candidate for Liposuction?
Whether you are a good liposuction candidate largely depends on how much subcutaneous fat you have in your areas of concern. While you may have visceral fat, lipo can’t do anything about it. It can only remove excess fat near the surface of the skin. Generally, there should be at least one inch of pinchable fat in an area of concern, like the upper arms, but there can’t be too much excess subcutaneous fat.
As a general rule of thumb, if you are no more than 30 pounds from your goal weight, you will probably qualify for liposuction. However, this procedure is not right for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and it may not be right for women who plan to become pregnant in the future. It may not be right for pregnant women due to the potential of significant fat gain and the need for a follow-up procedure.
Where Can Lipo Remove Fat From?
Liposuction can be used to remove excess subcutaneous fat from pretty much anywhere there is the right amount of excess fat. For instance, it can be used to remove a significant amount of fat from the upper arms. It can also be used to remove excess fat from other areas, including the chest, abdomen, thighs, buttocks, back, and neck.
How Long Will My Lipo Results Last?
Liposuction removes a large percentage of the fat cells in the treatment areas. After the procedure, the treated areas are permanently smaller because adults can’t grow new fat cells. However, you’ll need to keep your weight relatively stable after your procedure for permanent results.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today
Do you think an arm tuck would help you improve your self-confidence? Do you think exercise would be easier if you had less upper arm skin? If so, you may be considered a good candidate for an arm lift. It helps to improve the appearance of the upper arms by removing excess skin, tightening loose skin, and removing a little bit of fat. Contact us today at the office of Dr. Bruce Kadz in Beverly Hills, CA to schedule your initial consultation and learn more.
