Hands up for a confidence-boosting arm lift!

Written in association with: Mr Fateh Ahmad
Published:
Edited by: Sophie Kennedy

Sagging or drooping skin on the upper arm that develops as we age can affect confidence and impact self-esteem. In this informative article, renowned plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon Mr Fateh Ahmad shed light on brachioplasty, the arm lifting procedure that can restore shape and tone to the upper arms and boost confidence.

 

 

What is an arm lift?

 

An arm lift, also known as a brachioplasty, is a procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the area between the armpit and the elbow. As we age, the skin on our upper arms can become slack and sagging can occur. Although exercise and training can help to improve the tone of the upper arm muscles, the skin’s loss of elasticity can mean the area still appears to droop. If this affects your self-esteem, an arm lift can help to boost your confidence.

 

 

How is an arm lift carried out?

 

After taking a detailed medical history, the specialist can determine if you are a suitable candidate for a brachioplasty. Should this be the case, the arm will be examined to determine how much excess skin and fat will be removed and what results can be achieved.

 

The procedure takes between two and three hours in total. During the surgery, which is performed under general anaesthesia, excess fat and skin is removed from the upper arm. Following this, the remaining skin is put back into place to cover the newly defined contours of the arm. In some cases, liposuction is also performed to improve the appearance of the arm’s shape. Patients usually spend a night in hospital following an arm lift and can go home the following day to continue their recovery.

 

 

Is an arm lift painful?

 

The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia and patients usually experience a little discomfort following surgery. Going forward into recovery, most patients only require regular pain killers.

 

 

What is the recovery period like after an arm lift?

 

Following the procedure, patients often have some swelling and bruising which is more pronounced if liposuction was also performed. This is completely normal and will settle over the following weeks. It may take up to six months for the final results of the procedure to be visible. It is important to remember that any changes to your weight going forward can affect the results of surgery.

 

Most people take several weeks off work to recover from the procedure and patients should avoid any strenuous activity, exercise at the gym or swimming for around six weeks. Following an arm lift, you should also avoid lifting your arms above shoulder level wherever possible for around four weeks.

 

Following surgery, it’s also important to eat a balanced and nutritious diet as this helps wounds to heal and ensures your bowel movements are comfortable. Although you should not engage in any vigorous exercise for several weeks, it is important to mobilise the body with very light exercise to minimise the chance of developing complications such as a chest infection or blood clot.

 

 

 

 

If you are interested in discussing your suitability for a brachioplasty procedure and wish to book a consultation with Mr Ahmad, you can do so by visiting his Top Doctors profile.

By Mr Fateh Ahmad
Plastic surgery

Mr Fateh Ahmad is a renowned plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon based in Essex and London. He specialises in facial cosmetic surgery including facelifts, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, browlift, prominent ear correction, chin reshaping and injectables such as anti-wrinkle and fillers; body contouring including tummy tuck and liposuction; all forms of cosmetic breast surgery such as breast augmentation, breast reduction and breast lift; skin cancer treatments, mole removal; and head and neck reconstructive procedures. He currently holds a substantive position as Consultant Plastic Surgeon at the world-renowned St Andrew’s Centre for Plastic Surgery and Burns in Chelmsford, Essex.

Mr Ahmad graduated from Imperial College School of Medicine in London and has completed extensive plastic and cosmetic surgery training in cities across the world including London, Liverpool, Birmingham, Adelaide and New York. In addition, Mr Ahmad has also acquired both national and international fellowships at centres of excellence in craniofacial surgery, microvascular reconstruction and cosmetic surgery.

Following his Doctorate in Medicine, for which he was awarded a Hunterian Professorship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, Mr Ahmad has, and still is, making a vast contribution to the world of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery; publishing several book chapters, various peer-reviewed publications and giving well over 100 national and international presentations. Mr Ahmad believes strongly in continuous training and education. He is also a council member of the Royal Society of Medicine and widely respected among the academic and medical community.

Mr Ahmad tailors his advice, treatments and procedures around all his patients, ensuring patient care and safety are his top priorities. His background in managing complex and high-risk cases presents him with a unique insight and experience in maintaining patient safety and providing world-class treatment and cosmetic procedures to help restore people's self-esteem and achieve their aesthetic desires.

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