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Arm Liposuction
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| �Arm liposuction surgery procedures and information
offered by plastic surgeons in your area. Read about the differences
between lipoplasty and liposculpture compared to liposuction.
View before and after patient photos, articles and find a
plastic surgeon in your area. |
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 This
procedure may be done in conjunction with breast
implants. Implants may also help lift the breast by increasing
the volume of the contents of the breast.
For more detailed information about how this procedure may help you, we recommend that you consult a dermatologist who has completed a residency program that includes instruction in this procedure.
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What are the most common benefits of this surgery?
What will happen at the initial consultation?
How is this procedure performed?
How long does the surgery take?
Where will the procedure be performed?
How much pain is there?
What can I expect after surgery?
What is the recovery period like?
What is the long-term outcome like for most people?
Other information
Risks and Limitations
Costs
Questions to ask your doctor
Be sure to
How do I finance this procedure?
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| What are the
most common benefits of this surgery? |
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- A more youthful appearance and thinner contour
to the arms.
- Reduction of flabbiness, extra skin and fat, especially
in the upper inner arms.
- Improved appearance in related folds of skin and
fat on the upper chest near the armpit, which are
particularly apparent when the arms are down at
the sides.
- Long-lasting results.
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| What will happen
at the initial consultation? |
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During the initial consultation, you and
your surgeon will discuss the changes you want to make
in your appearance. He/she will explain the different
options available to you, the procedure itself, and
its risks and limitations. He/she will also explain
the kind of anesthesia required, surgical facility,
and costs.
Your physician will begin with a complete medical history.
He/she may also give you specific instructions preparing
for surgery, including guidelines for eating and drinking,
smoking, and taking or avoiding vitamins, supplements
and medications. Routine laboratory tests may be required
before surgery.
Note: An arm lift procedure does not affect muscle tone.
Talk to your doctor about how to tone and firm the muscle
beneath the skin both before and after your procedure.
Take this time to ask all the questions you have about
the surgery. Ask for, and follow up on, patient references.
Learning everything you can about your options, risks
and benefits is the key to making an informed decision.
See Questions to ask your doctor
below. |
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| How is this procedure
performed? |
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Your doctor may offer you the choice between
using a local or general anesthetic; however, most patients
are most comfortable with a general anesthetic for this
procedure.
The doctor begins by marking the area of excess skin,
with the patient either standing or sitting. The anesthesia
is administered. Incisions are made on the inner and
under surface of the arm, most often in a zigzagged
line. The pattern of skin removal usually follows an
elliptical or triangular shape. Often some fat is suctioned
at the same time. The surgical opening may run from
the armpit to as low as the elbow.
While the excess skin and fat is removed, the remaining
skin is stretched and sutured into place. Occasionally
a drain is used to lead excess fluids from the site
of incision, allowing the skin better to adhere to the
tissue beneath. The incisions are then bandaged. |
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| How long does
the surgery take? |
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An arm lift usually takes about two hours.
After a monitored time in the recovery room, patients
can usually go home the same day. |
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| Where will the
procedure be performed? |
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The procedure most often takes place in
a surgical suite. |
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| How much pain
is there? |
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You may experience moderate pain after
this procedure. Pain medication, prescribed by your
physician, can help make you comfortable. After a few
days acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen may be all that
you require. But avoid aspirin; it can increase the
risk of bleeding and bruising. |
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| What can I expect
after surgery? |
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After the procedure you will feel groggy.
Your arm will be placed in a special compression garment
to help the newly-sculpted skin adhere to the tissue
underneath. You will probably have several layers of
stitches on the upper arm, possibly with a drain inserted
to help the skin to adhere to the underlying tissue.
Some of the stitches will be absorbable, and some may
have to be removed by your during a follow-up visit.
After a brief stay in the recovery room, you will be
allowed to go home. |
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| What is the recovery
period like? |
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For the first week following surgery,
you will have to avoid strenuous activity, including
bending and lifting. You will be able to shower on the
third day after surgery. The swelling is mild to moderate,
and peaks at two to three days. Any stitches that are
not absorbed will be removed after about a week. Some
grogginess may persist for 5-7 days.
While each person?s recovery is unique, the recovery
period after an arm lift generally lasts one to two
weeks. You'll probably be able to return to work in
a week, and resume exercise within two weeks. Strenuous
workouts and contact sports can be engaged in after
about four weeks. |
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| What is the long-term
outcome like for most people? |
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- Improved balance and proportion in the contour
of the arm.
- Greater confidence and comfort in clothing.
- A natural and presentable appearance in the first
week that gradually improves further over the next
three to six months.
Please note that the natural aging process will eventually
affect the whole body, including the area treated in
this procedure. Still, the contouring effects of arm
lifts wear are typically long-lasting, and most people
are very pleased with their results. |
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| Other information |
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An arm lift is usually not suitable for
patients who have had a mastectomy. The drainage of
fluid (lymph) from the arm may already be damaged, and
further surgery can lead to persistent swelling. Patients
who have repeated infections in the armpit, or suffer
from excess sweat formation (axillary hidradenitis),
may also not be good candidates for this surgery. For
some people, liposuction may be a better way to reduce
the thickness of the whole arm. |
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| Risks and Limitations |
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The most common risks associated with
this type of surgery include, but are not limited to,
a reaction to the anesthesia used, excessive bleeding,
infection, visible scarring, possible asymmetry or irregularities,
and possible changes in nerve sensation. Your surgeon
should discuss other possible risks with you, such as
pulmonary embolism due to the freeing of fat or blood
clots into the bloodstream (rare). |
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| Costs |
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According to the American Society of Plastic
Surgeons (ASPS) the average fee charged by the surgeon
nationally in 1998 for an upper arm lift was $2,820.
Ask your surgeon about costs. Most surgeons offer convenient
payments plans for this procedure.
Use our payment
calculator to see what your monthly payments might
be if you financed this procedure.
Apply
now |
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| Questions to
ask your doctor |
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- Are the desired results I described realistic?
- Where is the surgery performed? How long will
the procedure take?
- How much will the contour of my arms improve?
- Is it realistic to expect firm arms in my particular
case? Is there anything I can do to improve my probable
outcome?
- Would another procedure, such as liposuction,
work better for me?
- Are there other procedures that I should consider
to enhance the effects of this particular procedure?
- What kind of anesthesia is used?
- What is your experience in performing this procedure?
(How long has he/she performed this procedure, and
how many has he/she performed in the past year?)
- What percentages of patients have had significant
complications? (The physician should disclose this
information to you.)
- Will you repeat or correct the procedure if it
does not meet agreed-upon goals? And if the procedure
must be repeated / corrected, will I be charged
again? (The physician should provide you with his/her
policy on this issue.)
- May I see ?before and after? photos of recent
patients?
- May I have the names and contact information for
several recent arm lift (brachioplasty) patients?
(Follow up and get firsthand information on the
procedure and surgeon.)
- Could I observe the exact procedure I am considering
before I decide to have the surgery? (Either on
videotape or in person)
- What should I expect post-operatively in terms
of soreness, what to watch for, medication, bathing/showering/swimming,
and level of activity?
- Who will be assisting during the surgery? What
are their qualifications? (Does the plastic surgeon
perform the entire surgery?)
- Have you ever had your malpractice insurance coverage
denied, revoked, or suspended?
- Do you offer patient
financing?
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| Be sure to |
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- Tell your doctor about any allergies you have
(to foods, drugs, environmental elements).
- Tell your doctor about all medications, herbal
supplements or natural supplements you are taking
(both prescription and non-prescription), including
such natural remedies as Echinacea and St. John?s
Wort.
- Be sure to tell your doctor if you smoke. Smoking
can lead to complications and poor healing.
- Carefully follow any instructions your surgeon
gives you regarding eating and drinking.
- Avoid aspirin and aspirin-containing medicines
for two weeks prior to surgery.
- Arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery
and help you for a few days afterward, if needed.
The information on this web site is intended only
as an introduction to this procedure and should not
be used to determine whether you will have the procedure
performed nor as a guarantee of the result. The best
method of determining your options is to consult qualified
surgeons who are able to answer specific questions related
to your situation. |
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| How do I finance
this procedure? |
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Did you know that 29% of all Americans
have considered having an elective procedure? Of those,
60% would schedule a procedure immediately if financing
was available. With iEnhance's patient
financing options, money no longer has to be the
barrier between you and your new image. By filling out
our on-line
application you can qualify for a loan in as little
as 30 seconds. |
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