Arm & Thigh lift

Arm lift also known as brachioplasty is a cosmetic procedure that removes excessive fat and skin over the underarm and elbow. It helps in toning your arms and provides an appealing contour to them. Advancing age, weight fluctuations and genetic factors result in sagging and drooping of the upper arms that can hamper your appearance.

Exercise can only strengthen the underlying muscles of the upper arm; it does not improve the skin laxity or manage the fat deposits underlying weakened tissues. However, arm lift can successfully deal with all these problems. Moreover, the results of arm lift surgery are long-lasting.

Procedure

The common steps involved in arm lift procedure are as follows:

• The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia.
• An incision is made over the skin; the length and pattern of which depends upon the location and amount of excess skin to be removed as well as the judgment of the plastic surgeon.
• In general, incisions are placed on the inner side of the arm or on the back of the arm and may extend from the underarm (axilla) to the elbow.
• During the procedure, the excess fat is removed through liposuction.
• Internal sutures help in forming new contours by tightening the underlying supportive tissues. A small, thin tube is placed under the skin for the drainage of excessive blood or accumulated fluid.
• Finally the incisions are closed either by sutures, skin adhesives or tapes.

Post-operative care

The basic post-operative instructions after arm lift surgery include:

• Keep the incision dry and clean.
• Regular dressing of the incisions will help in healing.
• Regular intake of the prescribed medications should be followed.
• Avoid heavy activities, for a specified period during recovery, as recommended by your surgeon.
• Avoid excessive force, or motion during the healing of the surgical incisions.

Risks and complications

The possible risks and complications associated specifically with arm lift surgery include scarring, asymmetry in the shape of arms, changes in skin sensation and problem with stitches.

Thigh Lift

A thigh lift is a cosmetic surgery performed to tighten sagging thigh muscles and remove excess skin from the thighs to restore a more youthful and pleasing body contour. Thigh lift is particularly beneficial for individuals with large amounts of loose hanging skin on the thighs. This usually occurs due to lack of skin elasticity related to aging or a major weight loss.

During a thigh lift, small amounts of fat may be removed along with the excess skin, but it is not meant to remove significant fat deposits. A combination of liposuction and thigh lift techniques may be recommended in cases where there are small local fat deposits with poor skin elasticity. Moreover, thigh lift surgery is often performed in combination with other body lifting procedures such as breast lift, arm lift, tummy tuck or body lift to enhance the overall results.

Ideal candidate

A good candidate for thigh lift should have good general health, stable weight at or near ideal weight and have a realistic expectation of their results. Moreover, one should also be a non-smoker. If you smoke and are considering a thigh lift, you need to quit smoking well in advance of surgery to ensure adequate healing with minimal complications.

Procedure

The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia or a combination of local anaesthesia and intravenous sedation. Depending on the amount and location of excess skin to be removed, incisions may vary in location, length and pattern.

• In inner thigh lift procedure, the incision is made in the groin area which may sometimes extend into the buttocks crease.
• In an outer thigh lift, the incision extends around the front and side of the hip or outer thigh. This is an uncommon procedure.
• For a circumferential thigh lift, both incisions of an inner and outer thigh lift may be used. However, in case of a large amount of loose skin extending to the knee area, a vertical incision is made along the inner thigh extending from the groin to the knee.

The excess skin is removed and then the remaining skin is pulled to its new position. Finally, the incisions are closed with sutures. A compression garment should be worn for the first few weeks to help keep the swelling under control. Sometimes, small tubes may be temporarily placed under the skin to help drain any excess blood or fluid from the surgical area. The whole procedure may take up to three hours. Some amount of bruising, swelling, and numbness after surgery is normal and will disappear in a few weeks or months. The final result may not be fully recognised until a year after surgery. The scars will fade gradually over a period of time.

Risks and complications

Although a thigh lift is considered safe, there are certain risks and complications associated with any type of surgical procedure. Some of these include infection, bleeding, fluid build-up and wound healing problems.