This is how the operation works
The surgery (operation) for upper arm lift is usually performed under general anesthesia. Depending on the initial condition and the extent of correction required, the duration of the operation is between approximately one to two hours. After the operation, a 1 to 3 day inpatient stay is necessary, as there is a particularly high risk of post-operative bleeding and wound infections during this time.
On the day of the upper arm lift, before the start of the operation, the areas where excess tissue and skin must be removed are marked on the skin. The patient is then given a mild sedative and about half an hour later the anaesthetic is administered. During the operation, the incision line and length depend on how much excess skin needs to be removed.
In addition, the quality (thickness and elasticity) of the skin also plays a decisive role in choosing the ideal incision. In most cases, the surgical incision is made on the inside or back of the upper arm. If the skin and subcutaneous tissue is very slack, this incision can extend from the armpit to the elbow.
During surgery, the excess skin is simply cut out. If necessary, the removal of the excess skin can be combined with liposuction. After the flap of skin is removed, the surgeon begins to tighten the remaining skin and stretch it smoothly over the upper arm.
After the actual upper arm lift, the surgical incisions must be closed again. A so-called “minimally invasive” procedure is usually used to close the skin. The attending physician uses special, self-dissolving sutures that fall out of their own accord after some time.
The removal of stitches after about 10 to 12 days is therefore not necessary after an upper arm lift. Since the skin in the area of the upper arm is very tense after the operation, the suture is additionally supported by a skin adhesive. After the upper arm lift, the surgical field must be cleaned and covered with a simple bandage.
In this way, wound infections and excessive swelling can be avoided. Like any medically necessary operation, a purely aesthetic upper arm lift also involves a number of risks. Since the surgical treatment of excess skin flaps in the area of the upper arm usually has to be performed under general anesthesia, circulatory and heart failure can occur during the operation.
In addition, breathing can be severely impaired by the influence of the anesthetics. Since the patient has to be ventilated through a tube in the trachea during the anaesthesia, injuries to the respiratory tract can occur. In addition, there is an increased risk of the development of pneumonia following such ventilation.
The specific risks for an upper arm lift correlate with the length and exact location of the surgical incisions. A long, extensive incision usually causes more problems than short incisions. Since both the skin and the structures immediately below the skin surface are cut through, damage to the smallest nerve fibers can occur.
For the patient, this means that the sensitivity of the affected upper arm is severely limited. Sensitivity losses of this kind can, however, regress within a few months.In addition, there is a risk of high blood loss before and after the upper arm lift. For this reason, patients suffering from congenital blood coagulation disorders or with a reduced number of platelets should refrain from such an operation.
In addition, inflammatory processes in the area of the surgical site and/or wound healing disorders may occur after an upper arm lift. Wound healing disorders are among the general risks that affect every operation. Normally, however, it rarely occurs in the course of an upper arm lift, but is dependent on the skills of the specialist. In order to minimize the risk of a wound healing disorder, smokers should avoid nicotine for a few weeks before the operation if possible. This is because nicotine can lead to circulatory disorders, which can impair wound healing after the operation.
