The dreaded saggy upper arm is something that affects most of us at some point in our lives. The hanging, flappy skin on your upper arms is most often a natural part of aging and loss of firmness. It may also develop as a result of weight loss or weight fluctuations. There of course may be a genetic predisposition as well. Regardless of the cause, how exactly do you get rid of the dreaded “bat wings”?
The Brachioplasty Procedure
An upper arm lift – also known as brachioplasty – removes the excess hanging skin. Toned, defined arms are the result. An incision is made that extends from the underarm area to the elbow. Using the incision, Dr. Raymond Jean removes the hanging skin and then sutures the remaining skin around the arm contour. While this procedure does leave a long incision down the back of the arm, most people feel it is a worthwhile tradeoff for toned upper arms.
This surgical procedure does away with the redundant skin in a way that diet and exercise is highly unlikely to achieve. Even if you work out your arms with weight lifting regularly, your gains in muscle and tone are unlikely to have an effect on the sagging skin. That’s because the stretched skin remains unaffected by exercise. Surgical removal may be the only way to get rid of it.
What About Liposuction?
In certain cases, liposuction may be a better option for upper arms, either alone or in combination with an arm lift. The difference is that liposuction removes excess fat. It does not remove or tighten sagging, deflated skin.
If you are mostly unhappy with excess fat deposits on your upper arms, and the skin is more or less firm and has minimal sag, then liposuction alone may be adequate. Oftentimes, an upper arm lift is combined with lipo so that the skin is removed and the extra fat is reduced simultaneously.
Find Out If You’re a Candidate
If you live in the Philadelphia area or Bryn Mawr and want to find out if an upper arm lift is right for you, please call Main Line Plastic Surgery at 484-222-0010. Dr. Raymond Jean is an experienced plastic surgeon. He will help you decide if there is a good surgical solution to the hanging skin and/or excess fat on your upper arms.
