Arm lifting

Arm lifting is a cosmetic surgery aiming at lifting the skin of the inner arm by taking away the excess of skin. Arm lifting responds to patients having an excess of skin in the area of the inner arms due to skin aging, important weight loss (obesity, pregnancy...) or an unsatisfactory retraction of the skin after an arm liposuction. Usually, the skin excess is taken away through a longitudinal and a transversal incision for a result as effective as possible. When the skin excess is minor, the arm lifting can be done through a small incision in the armpit, but such cases are rare. A liposuction or lipoaspiration is often associated to the procedure in order to reduce fat infiltration. The reshaping of the arm is more effective, the nerves and the lymphatic vessels are preserved and the aesthetic quality of the final result is enhanced.
The operation usually lasts between 1h30 and 2 hours. The arm lifting is generally done under general anaesthesia.

Arm lifting: classical scar along the inner arm.

Arm lifting: transversal scar when the skin excess is minor.

Before the procedure

A meticulous clinical examination will determine the more appropriate type of surgical procedure you need (choice of incision, associated lipoaspiration indicated or not). At the time of the first consultation, precise information on the different surgical steps, on the follow-up and the expected results will be given to you with Doctor Santini, plastic surgeon in Paris. Specially, where the scar will be placed will be well explained. A usual preoperative check-up is made following your surgeon’s recommendations. An anaesthesiologist will see you in consultation at the latest 48 hours before the operation. No aspirin-based medication should be taken during the 10 days preceding the operation. According to the type of anaesthesia chosen, you may be asked not eat or drink or smoke for 6 hours before surgery. Coverage by health insurance and mutual insurance is possible only in case of reconstructive surgery after weight loss related to morbid obesity: follow-up of bariatric surgery. A prior consent procedure is necessary. Otherwise, arm lifting is a cosmetic surgery which is not paid for by health insurance or mutual insurance.

The procedure

Every plastic surgeon has his or her personal technical habits which he or she adapts to every new case, in order to obtain the best possible results. Different techniques have been described. The fat infiltrated is removed by lipoaspiration or liposuction.

The skin excess is removed, leaving a scar which location and length depend on the skin laxity and the procedure chosen. The skin incision can be vertical, longitudinal, along the arm inner side or horizontal, following a armpit fold. The two types of incisions can be combined.

The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia and lasts between 1h30 and 2 hours.

After the procedure

A drainage system (rubber blade or suction drains) is usually placed to reduce the risks for bruises. It must be kept one or two days. The bandage is removed the day after the operation. It is replaced by the pressure garment, which you bought before the surgery and which you need to wear day and night during 4 to 6 weeks after the operation. Hospitalization lasts 24 hours. You can have a shower the day after the operation. During the first weeks or the first months following the operation, ecchymosis (bruises) and oedema (swelling) can appear. Their appearance varies and they often are asymmetrical. They will be visible during 15 to 21 days. Reduction or disappearance of inner arm sensitivity. Pains can appear but are well balanced by the usual pain-killers.

You will need to stop working during 7 to 10 days. A sport activity can be done again within 2 months after surgery.

The final result will be appreciated 6 months after surgery. The scars will take their final appearance 12 months after the operation. Several follow-up consultations are realised: 1 month 1/2, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after surgery.