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How Do You Maintain Sculpted Arms After an Arm Lift?

“Bingo wings” and “bat wings” are two of the common nicknames for a flabby upper arm. When fat accumulates on the upper arms and aging, weight fluctuations, or other stressors lead to stretched-out skin, the combination can give the upper arms a sagging appearance. Even though exercise can help to restore a tighter appearance for your arms, workouts alone can’t get rid of excess, baggy skin. If you feel self-conscious about the appearance of your arms and are always hiding them under long-sleeved shirts, cosmetic treatments can help you to finally tone up this problem area. So, what is the best procedure for flabby arms? Our St. Louis-based team at West County Plastic Surgeons of Washington University recommends an arm lift (brachioplasty) for patients who want to correct the sagging skin.

An arm lift involves reshaping the areas between the armpits and the elbows by removing the extra skin and fat. This gives the arms a more toned, balanced appearance that many patients are seeking. 

One thing that patients should remember is that while the results are lasting, the outcome from an arm lift will not be permanent—especially if you were to gain or lose a significant amount of weight in the future. The surgery does not prevent the skin on the arms from sagging due to subsequent weight fluctuations, sun damage, and normal aging. In other words, if you drastically change your lifestyle or don’t take care of yourself, the results could negatively affect the appearance of your arms.

To get the best results from an arm lift, patients should follow aftercare instructions as closely as possible. Get as much rest as you can, follow guidelines on looking after the wound, avoid intense exercise and heavy lifting until fully healed and cleared to get back to these activities, and wear a compression garment if your surgeon instructs you to. Avoid excessive force or abrasion on the incisions.

If a lot of this seems like common sense, that’s because it is. Of course, the West County Plastic Surgeons of Washington University team is always available to answer questions as well—about arm lift surgery or any other plastic surgery procedures available. Call us at (314) 996-8800 or fill out a contact form to request a consultation if you want to discuss your goals with us.