Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Articles

Many would probably say that their hands betray their age. They typically receive as much exposure to the sun as our faces, but we devote a lot less self-care to the them. (Anti-aging creams and skin-care serums aren’t cheap, after all.)

But I’d venture to say that even more of us are self-conscious about the varying degrees of excess fat and loose skin that began to appear on the underside of our upper arms sometime during our forties and only seems to have worsened since, no matter how much we tighten the screws on our diets and exercise routines.

Unfortunately, we’re waging a losing battle. As we age, the production of collagen and elastin, two proteins that help our skin stay plump, firm, and smooth, slows down, which results in areas of lax, aging skin. We usually notice it first on our faces and necks, but it can occur anywhere on the body. Similarly, our metabolism also slows with age, making it harder to shed pockets of unwanted fat.

That said, with the right tools, there are ways to regain the upper hand over Mother Nature—and shave years off your appearance in the process. One of the most effective among them is a procedure called a brachioplasty, more commonly known as an arm lift. Usually performed as an outpatient surgery, an arm lift permanently recontours the upper arm, tightening loose skin that stems from aging or a significant weight-loss.

The surgery is often combined with liposuction to remove excess fat and give arms a more toned look. The reason why liposuction alone isn’t enough to remedy so-called “bat wings” is because it doesn’t address sagging skin. To achieve a successful result with just liposuction, you need skin that’s essentially going to shrink-wrap itself once the fat’s removed. In order to do that, the skin needs to be thick, young, and have minimal sun damage and stretch marks. Which, of course, is asking a lot.

If you can check all those boxes, a less invasive procedure, like CoolSculpting, may be a better fit for you.

There are also a number of minimally-invasive treatments that address loose, sagging skin, such as radiofrequency tightening, but they generally don’t yield the dramatic results that surgical procedures, like an arm lift, do. And that’s because the surgical procedures remove some skin in order to recontour the area.

I’ll discuss what exactly happens during an arm lift, as well as what the recovery’s like, in my next post. In the meantime, as you continue to read up on arm lifts, look for board-certified plastic surgeons who offer both surgical and non-surgical solutions. Universal as “bat wings” may be, you deserve to have a treatment plan tailored to your particular needs and goals.

You’re feeling pretty sure that a tummy tuck’s a good fit for you after reading my last post. (A little uncertainty’s natural. That’ll work itself out during the consultation, as you get to know your plastic surgeon.) Let’s unpack, then, what exactly the procedure entails, how you should expect to feel afterward, and what you’ll ultimately look like.

What happens during the procedure

Generally, the procedure’s performed under general anesthesia, though it also depends on the complexity of the surgery. If you’re uncomfortable with the idea of being asleep, discuss your options with your surgeon beforehand. Either way, it’s considered an outpatient procedure, which means that you’ll go home after a few hours of monitoring following the surgery.

During the procedure, your surgeon will make a horizontal incision just within or above your pubic area. If you have loose skin above your belly button, a second incision may be made around it. They’ll then separate the skin and underlying tissue from the muscles up to your rib cage and repair your abdominal muscles.

The skin and tissue above your abdominal muscles are then pulled down, the excess is trimmed, and the remaining skin is sutured together at the site of the initial incision. (It’ll be easily concealed.) A new opening is created for the belly button, which is then anchored to your abdominal wall. And any excess fat around the new opening is removed, creating the “innie” look.

Most surgeons use dissolvable sutures, which won’t need to be removed. It’s also likely that your surgeon will place surgical drains (clear plastic tubes) to keep fluid from building up in and around the incision as it heals. A drainless tummy tuck is another option. It refers to a suturing method that restricts fluid accumulation. Ask your surgeon about it during your consultation.

How you’ll feel afterward

You may already have encountered some descriptions of the recovery from a tummy tuck elsewhere online. Everyone experiences pain and heals a little bit differently, so it’s important not to assume that one person’s experience will necessarily match your own. Plus, internet rabbit holes rarely offer any reassurance. That said, a tummy tuck is a significant surgery. You should plan to dedicate around four to six weeks to your recovery, and that includes a couple of weeks of initial bed rest.

You’re not going to be able to stand up straight for about a week, and you shouldn’t force it. Many women who’ve had a C-section have equated it to the same sensation. It’s important to enter into a tummy tuck with the mindset that this is you beginning a new chapter. The first few days after your surgery are going to be uncomfortable, but there’s so much of your story still to be written after that.

Setting your expectations

You’re going to notice a dramatic change in the shape of your body right after the surgery, even though the true extent will be obscured by some swelling. Let that be the motivation that carries you through the coming weeks.

As the swelling starts to subside and you begin to feel more comfortable moving around, you’ll get a truer sense of the outcome. Your final results should come into focus within a few months, when the surgery and recovery will be distant memories.

Even more, as long as you maintain a healthy lifestyle, you can expect the results of your tummy tuck to last well into the foreseeable future.