When I see patients for arm lift (also called arm contouring) procedures at my San Antonio plastic surgery practice, I focus on their expectations. During the brachioplasty consultation, I perform an examination of your arms to determine your skin quality, location of excess skin, and thickness of the skin on the upper arms. My thorough evaluation is intended to find the best procedure to trim, tighten, and shape your upper arms to give you the results you desire.
If you are interested in learning which treatment is right for you to reshape your arms, request a consultation online or call (210) 942-6672 to make an appointment at my San Antonio plastic surgery practice.
What Are My Options to Help Remove Fat and Skin from My Arms?
Liposuction & Mini Brachioplasty (Short Scar)
For patients who have excess fat on their upper arms and want to minimize the amount of scarring from surgery, liposuction may be a viable option. Liposuction can help reshape arms with extra fat and minimal excess skin. This is not an option for patients who have stretched and sagging skin, though.
Liposuction can also be combined with a short incision arm lift (mini brachioplasty) to help shape your arms and to remove some excess skin from the upper arm area. This is a benefit to patients who prefer a shorter scar and have good skin quality. If your skin has good elasticity and minimal stretching, a mini brachioplasty with liposuction may be your best option.
Traditional or Extended Brachioplasty (Arm Lift)
Extended or traditional brachioplasty procedures, on the other hand, are the procedures I recommend for patients with excess, sagging skin on their upper arms (sometimes referred to as “bat wings”).
These procedures require a longer incision on the upper arm to remove both excess fat and skin then to tighten and lift the arm to achieve the results you are seeking. Depending on the amount of excess skin and fat, I will recommend either a traditional or extended arm lift to help improve the shape of your arms.
Does an Arm Lift Leave a Scar? How Can Scarring from Arm Lift Be Minimized?
While it is impossible to avoid scarring with an arm lift, I focus on positioning the incisions so that they can be hidden on the inside or the back of the arm to help conceal the scars. The scars will be visible if you wear a sleeveless top or tank top but can easily be covered with short or long sleeves. During your arm lift surgery consultation, I will discuss the incision placement and length with you so that there are no surprises after surgery.
Scar management is important with arm lift surgery to help reduce the appearance of scarring and help you heal quickly to achieve the best possible results. I favor compression to control swelling and optimize the appearance of your scar. After surgery, I will prescribe compression garments for you to wear on the treated area to minimize swelling and help speed healing.
Does Insurance Cover Arm Lift Surgery?
Patients often ask about whether insurance will cover their arm lift. Although arm lifts are considered cosmetic procedures, the procedure may be covered by your insurance plan if it is deemed “medically necessary.” This depends on your symptoms and your individual insurance plan.
Similar to breast reduction and panniculectomy, excess skin of the upper arms can affect your ability to move freely and can cause skin irritation and infections, potentially making an arm lift a medically necessary procedure.
I am happy to discuss insurance coverage during your consultation at my office. Even if your procedure is not covered by insurance, my office provides financing options to help make your aesthetic goals a reality.
Can Arm Lift Surgery Be Combined with Other Procedures?
Patients who undergo dramatic weight loss due to lifestyle modifications or bariatric surgery often have multiple areas of excess skin which can be treated with body contouring surgery.
After all of that hard work, you want to look and feel your best, but sometimes you’re left with excess skin and pockets of unwanted fat on your arms, legs, or abdomen.
Patients interested in undergoing brachioplasty may want to combine it with another procedure, like a breast lift, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), or thigh lift to reshape their body and tighten loose skin. During your consultation, we will discuss your goals and determine the best procedure or combination of treatments to help you reach your goal.
To schedule your arm lift consultation, please contact my San Antonio plastic surgery practice at (210) 942-6672 or request a consultation online.
Leave a Reply