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Treatments / Armlift (arm correction)

Arm lift / arm correction

As time goes by or following a significant weight loss, the skin of the arms can lose its elasticity. This can lead to an excess of skin, often flabby, at the back of the upper arms. Sport can help to tone the upper arms but will not prevent slackness of the skin. A lift will help tighten the skin of the upper arms. If the upper arms are too big, the surgeon may proceed with some liposculpture.

What happens?

The surgeon removes the excess skin situated on the inner side of the arms. In addition, the skin is re-tightened in an aesthetic way.  If necessary, the surgeon can suck out the excess fat.

Scar

The incision is done in the least visible place, namely on the inner side of the upper arm. The stitches are made under the skin. The skin itself is then glued together.

Anaesthetic

Thanks to a refinement in operation techniques and a constant progress in the anaesthetic field these last few years, the correction of the arms is carried out under a local anaesthetic with a mild sedation. After the operation, you will feel fit and well. It is not necessary to envisage a night’s stay at the clinic.

Recovery

You are able to leave the clinic the same day as your operation. There will be no drains. This operation causes little pain. It is possible that you may feel some discomfort in the first 24 hours. You will receive classical pain killers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol.

You will be absent from work for about one week. A week after the surgery you change the bandage by your self. In the first few months, the scar will be red and hard but it will become smoother and soften in the year that follows. Your plastic surgeon will help accelerate the natural maturation process. It is advised to massage the scar in the first weeks with a greasy cream (Nivea hand cream, day cream, almond oil or scar ointment or others)

The surgeon will evaluate the results two months after the operation, based on photos taken before the surgery.

Care and safety

The plastic surgeon proceeds with these operations in conditions of optimal security, surrounded by a professional team.

Even though the arm lift is generally done under local anaesthetic, you are constantly watched over under monitoring by the anaesthetist (automatic and repetitive measures of the blood pressure, constant measuring of the oxygen saturation, electrocardiogram). One or two highly qualified nurses will equally supervise. These surroundings will guarantee that you have faultless safety.

The local anaesthetic allows not only an operation without pain but also a minimal risk of bloodloss and bruises.

If you are taking anti-coagulant drugs, please inform your plastic surgeon of this first (for ex. acetylsalicylic acid, aspirin, asaflow, cardioaspirine, dipiridamole, plavix, sintrom, marevan and others).

After the operation, you are able to contact your plastic surgeon at all times on his personal mobile number, if you have the slightest question.

Risks and eventual complications

If you are in good health, you have nothing to worry about as there is almost no risk linked to this operation.
Infections are very rare. The arm lift gives very good results. You can quickly go back to wearing short sleeved t-shirts and be proud to do so!

Related treatments

thigh lift
breast uplift
face lift
abdominal lift, tummy tuck

Contact

Surgery and consultations (after appointment)
A.Z. Jan Portaels
Gendarmeriestraat 65
B-1800 Vilvoorde
Belgium
T: +32 (0)2 257 59 74

A.Z. Lokeren
Lepelstraat 2
9160 Lokeren
Belgium
+32 (0)9 340 85 30

We consult in the UK and in Ireland
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