With age our upper arms lose their youthful contours and firmness, but that doesn’t mean an end to singlets and short sleeves. Fortunately, there are both surgical and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures to combat the dreaded ‘batwings’ and tighten the upper arms.
Understanding the ageing process . . .
Our collagen production begins to decline by approximately 1% each year from our mid-20s onwards. With less collagen and elastin proteins, our body contours begin to lose shape and form, and the reduction of the supportive structures in our upper arms leads to a buildup of excess fat, and loose, hanging skin.
Restoring toned, slim upper arms can be achieved with different procedures, such as an upper arm lift – or brachioplasty, liposuction – or liposuction and Renuvion (a radio frequency RF and plasma technology.) Determining which surgical or minimally invasive procedure is right for you, begins with a consultation with a qualified cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon. They’ll assess individual factors, including your age, lifestyle, genetics, skin elasticity and fatty tissue, and address scar placement and contouring capabilities.
So, what are some of the key cosmetic procedures thatrestore and enhance the upper arms?
Brachioplasty . . .
Brachioplasty, or an upper arm lift, is a surgical procedure that is best suited to those experiencing significant upper arm laxity. Individuals who undergo this procedure will be a stable weight – and won’t be significantly overweight, won’t have significant medical conditions and lead a healthy lifestyle. During surgery, plastic surgeons make an incision at the back of the arm or inside of the arm. They then excise any fat via liposuction and reposition the underlying tissues to tighten and contour, the remaining skin is then smoothed over the new contours.
Post-surgery, bruising, swelling and some discomfort for the first three-to-four weeks is common. Recovery involves daily wear of compression garments, especially in the first month, and avoidance of any strenuous exercise and activities so healing isn’t compromised.
Scheduling brachioplasty surgery within the autumn or winter months affords controlled temperatures which aid post-op swelling. The cooler months also gift the ideal time to cover up!
Renuvion and liposuction . . .
Liposuction effectively targets pockets of stubborn fat body-wide; however, it doesn’t always address sagging skin. Renuvion, a unique heating and cooling technology that delivers dual radio frequency and helium plasma, compliments liposuction in the upper arm area by tightening and shrinking the skin tissues from within. This dual surgical procedure is especially suited to those who have minimal loose skin (are just starting to notice it), and who are wanting to enhance liposuction with minimal incisions.
During the procedure, surgeons make small, strategic incisions under the skin and remove the excess fat, they then place the Renuvion wand in through those incisions to deliver the energy-based treatment. The treatment goes to work contracting the skin tissues from within to tighten the lax skin. You’ll notice an immediate difference, with results continuing to unfold across a few months up to a year – sometimes beyond.
Whatever your arm goals for this year and beyond, reach out to a trusted team of cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery experts to discuss your options.
