The arms are often one of those areas of the body that are stubborn to change. No matter how many hours you spend at the gym and no matter how much you change your diet, your arms don’t seem to improve. If you have excess fat in the arms and you wish to have slimmer, toned arms, you may wish to undergo arm liposuction.
What is arm liposuction?
An arm lift aims to remove excess fat from the under the arms. Women can often have excess fat on the arms as a result of a weight gain or simply through naturally ageing. An arm lift is perfect for those who wish to obtain more contoured, slender arms, and wish to remove any excess fat.
Am I a good candidate for arm liposuction?
If you are wishing to remove excess fat from the lower areas of your arm, you will be considered a good candidate for arm liposuction.
However, if you have lots of excess skin, generally as a result of weight loss, arm liposuction may be an unsuitable procedure. Instead, you may wish to opt for an arm lift or brachioplasty, which will remove the excess skin. If you have mostly excess skin and some excess fat, you can also choose to have liposuction as part of your arm lift. You will also need to have good skin elasticity. If you do not, you may wish to have an arm lift, as arm liposuction could result in excess skin once the fat has been removed. You will need to be at least 18 years old to have an arm lift. While there is no upper age limit, you will need to be aware that younger patients may experience better results due to the better skin laxity.
It is important to note that arm liposuction is not considered an alternative to a healthy diet and exercise. While liposuction will remove fat cells from a certain area of the body, it is possible to experience weight gain in areas where liposuction has not been performed if a healthy lifestyle is not obtained after the surgery.
What does arm liposuction involve?
Arm liposuction is usually carried out under a local anaesthetic with sedation. You will be drowsy and relaxed for the procedure, and you will be unable to feel any pain or discomfort. If you do not wish to be awake for the procedure, you may wish to elect to have a general anaesthetic.
Arm liposuction will be done using tumescent liposuction. This involves injecting a diluted solution into the arms, which makes the area become swollen and firm, otherwise known as tumescent. This numbs the area and aids in performing liposuction. Unlike other methods, tumescent liposuction does not involve the use of any heat, meaning there is less damage to the internal and external areas of the body.
Small incisions are then made, generally one near the elbow and one near the armpit. The surgeon is then able to insert a cannula, which removes the excess fat from underneath the arm. Skin, blood vessels, nerves and muscles will be left untouched and undamaged.
What will the recovery period be like after arm liposuction?
Following arm liposuction, it is normal to experience some bruising, swelling and redness, particularly around the incision sites. This should fade within a few days. If need be, you may wish to take some pain medication to help alleviate any discomfort.
You will be given a compression garment which you will need to wear over your arms. This will help to speed up the recovery period by reducing swelling. It will also help to contour your arms and keep them in the best shape possible. You will have to wear the compression garment for at least two weeks.
During this two week period, you will also have to avoid any strenuous physical exercise, as well as heavy lifting, in order to avoid any complications or causing any injuries to the incision site.
You may feel the need to take a few days off work in order to fully recover from the procedure. This will vary from person to person and will depend on the type of job you have. Some people may feel they are able to return to work the following day.
Are you interested in arm liposuction in London? This is a procedure Centre for Surgery specialise in. Contact us today to find out more information or to book a consultation.
