There are plenty of reasons why you may want to improve the shape and tone of your body. Whether you’ve recently lost a lot of weight and you have sagging skin, you’ve reached an age where your skin’s elasticity is not working as hard as it used to, or maybe genetically you have stubborn areas that you’ve always wanted to change. Now that the holidays are upon us, the idea of family photos is even a greater draw to get some long-contemplated body contouring done.
If you are curious about arm or thigh lifts, or full body lifts, here are some things to understand about each of these procedures before you make your first appointment.
ARM LIFTS
Who is a candidate for brachioplasty?
Arm lifts, or brachioplasty, is a procedure that removes unwanted fat and excess skin that hangs from the underarms. While typically requested by aging women, men also seek this procedure for its age-defying results. It’s also very common in patients who have recently lost a lot of weight in a shorter period of time and is performed as part of a larger bariatric surgery (gastric bypass and other weight-loss surgeries).
What happens during an arm lift?
During this procedure, excess skin is cut from the rest of the arm via an incision under the arm. Depending on how much needs to be removed, the incision can reach from the elbow to the armpit. There will be a scar after healing from this procedure, but great care is taken to hide it under the arm.
What is the recovery time?
While you’ll see immediate results, swelling can take a couple of weeks to subside. You’ll be able to get back to work within a week.
THIGH LIFT
Who is a candidate for a thigh lift?
If you’ve tirelessly exercised and dieted and you can’t tone your thighs, a thigh lift (thighplasty) might be a direction to take. This procedure, often done in tandem with liposuction to remove excess fat, reshapes the thighs and reduces excess skin.
What happens during a thighplasty?
During a thigh lift, an incision is made on the inner thigh but can be adjusted based on how much or how little it will be seen. The size of the incision, as with the arm lift, varies depending on how much skin will be removed.
What is the recovery time?
Depending on how much skin is removed, smaller lifts can cause discomfort while larger ones may require a hospital stay. Compression garments will reduce swelling while pain and anti-inflammatory medications will help with any pain. During recovery, you can start with some light activity in about two weeks, while more physical activity is acceptable after a month or so. It’s important to listen to your body while healing.
BODY LIFT
Who is a candidate for a body lift?
A body lift (belt lipectomy, torsoplasty, and panniculectomy) is performed to remove excess, inelastic skin, as well as tighten and tone the back, abdominal area, buttocks, thighs, and hips. Patients seek these after having their last child—it’s best to wait until you’re done—after extreme weight loss, or due to genetics. As such, it’s often combined with other body contouring procedures including arm and breast lifts as well as liposuction.
What happens during a body lift?
During a body lift, muscles are tightened, fat is removed, and the navel is then moved to the correct new location. This can greatly improve the appearance of irregular or dimpled skin. Because body lifts are not only for fat removal, they can be paired with liposuction as well.
What is the recovery time?
While you should wait for about a month before returning to normal activities, movement while healing is encouraged. You’ll notice results immediately, and as swelling decreases, these results get even better with time.
While we are all home taking time and taking stock, now is the perfect time to make an appointment and start your body contouring journey. To learn more about what contouring procedures would be best for you, schedule an appointment with The Derm Group by calling 973.571.2121.