When it comes to refining your arms, one question stands out: should you choose an arm lift or arm liposuction?
At Avana Plastic Surgery, we can help you with this or any other concern so that you always make an informed decision that allows you to achieve the results you desire and brings you closer to the ideal of beauty you seek. We will take into account the characteristics of your skin, your medical history, body mass index, and cosmetic expectations.
Factors That Affect the Shape and Tone of the Arms
Both low elasticity and the unwanted accumulation of fat in the upper arms are the result of several factors, some of which are entirely beyond your control. Here we refer, for example, to the natural passage of time, because with age, the body slows down its collagen and elastin production, causing the skin to sag, lose firmness, and become more sensible.
Other elements that may influence this appearance you want to change, include:
- Drastic weight fluctuations
- Loss of muscle tone
- Lack of physical exercise
- Hormonal changes
- Genetics and body predisposition
Having harmonious, thin arms has always been fashionable, especially if you live in or visit a city like Miami, with its everlasting warm weather. Fortunately, you have options within reach: while liposuction focuses on fat, lifting aims to tighten loose skin. It's a matter of informing yourself and choosing what's best for you.
Arm Liposuction: Precision to Redefine Contours
Let's take it step by step because right now, you're probably wondering what exactly an arm lipo is, what benefits it offers, and how it could be the solution you're looking for. This surgical procedure is designed to eliminate those localized fat deposits that refuse to disappear despite your long workout sessions at the gym and healthy eating habits.
More than reducing volume, the goal is to sculpt your arm's contour and create a more proportional, defined, and stylized shape. To aspirate the fatty tissue in a controlled manner, tiny incisions are made, and a very fine cannula is inserted, allowing the surgeon to work with millimetric precision, especially in the triceps area.
Some of the results you can achieve with this treatment include:
- Natural outcomes
- Better definition and harmony
- Minimal scarring
- Fast and manageable recovery
If you have persistent and localized fat, maintain a stable weight, have good skin elasticity, and do not present a severe excess of sagging skin, you may be an ideal candidate for this cosmetic procedure. The outcomes will appear after just a few weeks and will fully consolidate over the following months.
What Makes the Arm Lift Different?
For its part, arm lift surgery or brachioplasty focuses on removing the excess skin that may remain after significant weight loss, pregnancy, bariatric surgery, or simply the passage of time. This solution is perfect if physical exercise and diet no longer help you accomplish your goals.
With an approximate duration of one to two hours, depending on the degree of sagging, the lift is adapted to the patient's skin type, body structure, and purposes. At Avana, we pay close attention to the personalization of the treatment precisely to achieve the best possible outcome, both visually and emotionally.
There are three ways to perform this procedure. First, there’s the standard brachioplasty, where the incision usually extends from the armpits to the inner arms to remove the excess fat and skin. The extended lift, on the other hand, is ideal for patients whose excess skin goes all the way to the thoracic area, parallel to the breasts. At Avana Plastic Surgery, you can also opt for a mini-brachioplasty if, despite the fat and excess skin, you still have good elasticity.
Compare to Understand: Lift or Liposuction?
When we take a moment to think about the differences between these two procedures, we can summarize it simply: liposuction removes excess fat while lifting gets rid of sagging skin. But what other distinct elements should you consider to make a more informed decision?
A very important factor involves the marks left by these surgeries. In the case of the arm lift, the incision is wider and may, in some cases, extend from the armpits to the elbow. In contrast, the cuts in lipo are minimal, leaving almost imperceptible scars. The duration of the results is another essential topic, as both treatments can produce long-lasting effects if you maintain a healthy lifestyle after surgery. In the case of brachioplasty, the benefits tend to be more stable since once the excess skin is removed, it does not return.
These differences are in no way meant to suggest a competition between aesthetic procedures—it’s even possible to combine one with the other. Combination surgeries are increasingly recommended, as they allow you to achieve more balanced results with a single operation. For example, you can undergo lipo to remove fat and follow it with a lift to tighten the remaining skin.
Recovery and Results: What You Should Know
In both cases, it is normal to experience pain, discomfort, tightness, sensitivity, swelling, and bruising in the treated area. To speed up healing, your medical team will likely recommend the use of compression garments. These sleeves help reduce swelling, improve skin retraction, provide support when moving your arms, and contribute to the final contour’s design.
With lipo, most people resume light activities after three to five days, and within one to two weeks, they can return to their regular routines, including office work or social commitments. The lift, meanwhile, requires a bit more time. Complete healing takes up to four weeks, although some patients return to their daily lives after the first 14 days, still avoiding strenuous efforts or weight training.
Your Transformation Starts with a Personalized Consultation at Avana Plastic Surgery
No one can help you make the right decision better than one of the talented cosmetic surgeons at Avana Plastic Surgery. That's why we place so much value on that first evaluation consultation—because during it, in addition to addressing your questions and concerns, your doctor will review even the smallest detail of your medical history, physical characteristics, and, of course, your cosmetic expectations to design a personalized plan tailored to your needs.
Don’t miss the opportunity—contact us today to schedule that appointment, and remember, it’s completely free of charge.
