Not being able to fit into tight blouses or shirts, wear tank tops, bathing suits or other sleeveless tops and dresses are common complaints. A brachioplasty or "arm lift" is a surgical procedure by which excess skin and fat from the upper arms are removed. Occasionally, when there is excess fat only with good skin elasticity, liposuction alone may be sufficient. An arm lift or brachioplasty procedure is indicated more often. In this procedure, excess skin and fat are removed and the arms are contoured by excision and liposuction.

Arm Lift Surgery with Dr. Cigdem Unal in Istanbul

Dr Unal will discuss your desires and expectations for your arm lift procedure during your initial consultation. She will conduct an examination of the excess skin and soft tissue, and discuss of your weight loss and health history. Dr Unal will go over the arm lift procedure, or any other combination of procedures, that suit you best. When the excess is mild, or close to the arm pit area only, a limited incision arm lift (short scar brachioplasty) may be considered.
When the excess skin and fat are moderate or severe, and involve not just the area close to the arm pit, but the distal arm to the elbow, a more classical arm lift or brachioplasty, may be recommended. An individual who has lost considerable weight will often have areas other than the arms that concern them, such as the abdominal area, flanks, back, breasts, thighs, and face & neck. Dr. Unal will recommend the best combination of procedures to you.

Ideal Arm Lift Candidate

• Loose, excess skin and localized fat of arms after massive weight loss
• Has reached the weight loss goal and is in the “plateau” phase, or has lost a considerable amount and is in the “plateau” phase

Arm Lift Advantages

• Directly removes excess skin and fat of arms
• Firms and tightens arms, and defines arms with liposuction

Arm Lift Surgery (Techniques):

• Limited Incision Arm Lift (Short Scar Arm Lift)
• Classical Arm Lift
• Axillary "T" Arm Lift
• Axillary "Z" Arm Lift
• Upper Body Lift

In patients with limited excess skin, the arm lift or brachioplasty procedure is performed with incisions limited to the axilla, or armpit (limited incision arm lift for mild excess only). An incision that progresses to the mid-portion of the arm (limited incision arm lift for moderate excess), or an incision that progresses from the armpit to the elbow (a classical arm lift, for moderate to severe excess) is performed when there is moderate or large amount of skin is present. Excess fat is removed by liposuction, followed by excess skin trimming and reshaping.

The arm lift incision will either terminate as a "T" within the armpit, or progress through the armpit with a small "Z" (known as a Z-plasty) depending upon the orientation of the excess in the armpit or axillary area as well as the excess on the sides of the chest and back. Dr. Unal will recommend the technique that will leave the minimum scar. The arm lift procedure may be carried as far as is necessary onto the side of the chest wall when the excess continues to the lateral side of the breasts and chest. The incision line placement for an arm lift or brachioplasty is chosen as the least conspicuous spot on the arm, most often at the lowest border of the arm so that it is not visible in the front or back view. The arm lift procedure in Istanbul is performed in accredited hospitals. The arm lift or brachioplasty takes between three and four hours.

Recovery after Arm Lift

Following your arm lift procedure, you will go home the next day with a friend or family member.
Dr. Unal suggests taking ten to fourteen days for recovery. In limited incision arm lift procedures, it is indeed possible to return to work as early as seven to ten days after your arm lift (provided there is no strenuous activity or heavy lifting involved). Small drain tubes are placed during your arm lift, and most often these will be removed between the second and fifth day. With few exceptions, all sutures are dissolvable, and no suture removal in necessary. Light aerobic activity may be resumed as early as seven to ten days following arm lift, and more strenuous activity is begun at three weeks.
Very light biceps and triceps toning exercises with light hand weights are encouraged at three weeks, and arm exercises are increased at four to six weeks. The final shape and feel is reached approximately three months after arm lift. Your relationship with Dr. Unal does not end after thigh lift surgery; she will see you often through the first weeks and months following your thigh lift, and will advise you on all matters in your recovery including exercise, activity, and diet.