Having toned, sleek triceps and biceps is something that everyone yearns for. But natural fluctuations in weight, age, or even your genetics can cause your upper arms to be a bit more saggy than you’d hope. And if traditional diet and exercise just isn’t shedding the fat, you still have options to make your body look its best.
Liposuction is a common body contouring technique that works to remove excess fat from areas of the body in order to give you a more contoured appearance. If you have some extra fat deposits on your upper arms that are making you feel self-conscious, then arm liposuction might be the perfect thing for you.
What is Liposuction?
If you’ve ever watched a reality television show or read a gossip magazine, you’re probably familiar with the liposuction procedure. That’s because the hottest celebrities and models use liposuction as a way to reduce stubborn deposits of fat.
Liposuction uses a suction technique to remove fat from specific areas of the body. In addition to the upper arms, you can use the liposuction technique in other areas such as:
Also, liposuction is sometimes done in conjunction with another procedure called fat grafting. During fat grafting, the removed fat is processed and cleaned by a machine before being injected into a different area of the body. For example, liposuction may be used to remove fat from the abdomen for injection into the buttocks.
The Arm Liposuction Procedure
Liposuction of the arms is a fairly quick, minimally invasive, and long-lasting procedure. If you’re thinking about getting it done but you’re still a bit nervous, here is how the surgery works from start to finish.
Before
Before you can get any plastic surgery procedure, you will need to go to a consultation with your plastic surgeon. This is to ensure that you’re a good candidate for the procedure. They’ll ask you some questions, so it’s good to know things like your goals for getting plastic surgery, your medical history and previous surgeries, medication allergies, and current medications that you might be taking.
After that, your doctor may take some photographs of your arm for their reference. However, these are also great so you can see the satisfying before and after photos when the procedure is finished!
This is also the time to ask your plastic surgeon any and all questions that you have. The goal of a consultation is to make you less anxious and more excited about getting your procedure done. It’s normal to feel scared, but your plastic surgeon will help you through your feelings.
During
On the day of your arm liposuction, the surgeon may mark your arms with a marker for them to use as a guide for making incisions.
Then, you will be given some form of anesthetic for your comfort. For arm liposuctions, you may not need more than just local anesthesia. But you and your doctor can decide if something like IV sedation or general anesthesia is a better course.
Liposuction is done through small, inconspicuous incisions in your upper arm. Then, a small tube called a cannula is inserted, which helps break up and loosen the fat underneath your skin. The loosened fat is then withdrawn with a syringe or vacuum.
It’s a much less involved process than many people think, and scarring is usually minimal.
After
You may notice some bruising, swelling, or discomfort immediately after the surgery takes place. This is entirely normal. It’s likely that a compression wrap will be placed on your arm to allow it to adjust to your new body contour.
Furthermore, it’s possible that temporary drains will be placed under the incisions to allow excess fluid or blood to drain. The doctor will probably be able to remove these in just about a day or two. You probably won’t be able to get back to intense exercise using your arms for at least four to six weeks.
The best results of your arm liposuction will become apparent when the fluid retention and swelling subsides.
Benefits of Arm Liposuction
One of the best things about getting arm liposuction is the increased self-confidence and self-image that comes along with it. Being able to feel fully satisfied and comfortable in your own skin is something that liposuction can help you achieve.
On top of that, arm liposuction may make it more comfortable for you to wear certain types of clothing, such as tight workout attire. Less sagging and fat in the arms can decrease chafing and swaying during intense physical activity.
Safety and Risks
While the benefits outweigh the risks, it is still important to know the possible complications of an arm liposuction. One of the most important risks to understand is that your arms may not look exactly how you want them.
Your plastic surgeon is trained and experienced, there are many factors that can influence the end results. It may require subsequent procedures to get your arms looking exactly how you wish.
Additionally, anesthesia related complications are possible, as well as infection or irregular contours at the site of incision. Be sure to speak with your plastic surgeon about all potential risks before going through with the procedure.
Am I a Good Candidate for Arm Liposuction?
After hearing about how simple and effective arm liposuction can be, it’s hard not to want to get it done right away!
Good candidates for an arm liposuction procedure are generally people who:
Have positive and realistic goals for the outcome of their procedure.
Are within 30% of their ideal weight.
Have firm, elastic skin.
Don’t smoke.
Do not have life-threatening medical conditions.
If you meet some of these criteria, we’d love to see you at PH-1’s sunny Miami office! Fill out our inquiry form here and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
How to Maximize Your Arm Liposuction
While the results of your liposuction procedure will be long lasting, things like fluctuations in weight, age, and natural occurrences can affect the way your arms look or feel. However, there are some things you can do to maximize the results of your surgery.
For one, it’s important to stay active and eat healthy. Plastic surgery is a combination of body contouring with healthy living, and the best way to keep your arms looking how you hope is to tone and strengthen them through physical activity.
Focus your exercises on the triceps, biceps, and shoulders. Push ups, bicep curls, tricep extensions, or shoulder presses are easy workouts that don’t require more than a pair of dumbbells.
Additionally, depending on the amount of fat being removed from your upper arms, you may need to get a body lift procedure. This is because your skin may not be able to “snap” back into place after losing such large amounts of fat at one time.
An arm lift procedure involves removing excess skin and reshaping the contour of your arm. Many people decide to get an arm lift in conjunction with the arm liposuction surgery to enhance their physical appearance.
In Conclusion
Liposuction is a common plastic surgery procedure that can help reduce or eliminate excess fat, and it can be done on your upper arms to slim your arm’s contour and make for a more muscular, lean appearance.
The procedure itself involves small, inconspicuous incisions that allow enough from a tool to break up and remove fat. The end result, once swelling subsides, is a more toned muscle profile around your biceps and triceps. A subsequent skin lift procedure may be necessary to remove any excess skin.
Arm liposuction can enhance your confidence and boost your self-image. And you can maximize your procedure by continuing to lead an active lifestyle with proper diet and nutrition.
If you’re uncomfortable with the look of your arms and are hoping for a positive change, PH-1 Miami would love to add you to our list of clients! In addition to surgical procedures like liposuction, we offer non-surgical skin tightening treatments like Botox or Thermi that you may be able to use as an alternative.
If you’re ready to turn your body into your best body, click here to contact us!
Sources:
Body Liposuction Cosmetic Procedure | Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Fat grafting history and applications | American Society of Plastic Surgeons
