Halloween may be right around the corner, but it is doubtful the upcoming holiday will make you any more enamored of the “bat wings” that have appeared on the underside of your upper arms. This skin sagging, which can be a bane for some types of clothing, is usually caused by age, gravity or massive weight loss. The good news is you don’t have to spend this Halloween hiding your bat wings under a costume, thanks to a surgical procedure designed to remove hanging skin and create a sleeker, more sculpted contour to the upper arm.

Introducing the Arm Lift

At Aesthetic Arts Institute of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Kaweski offers a procedure known as brachioplasty or an arm lift to correct the bat wing appearance. This surgical treatment removes excess skin and tissue from the underside of the upper arm to create a smoother, more youthful look. If you have not been able to get rid of upper arm sagging with diet and exercise, plastic surgery may be the right solution for you.

Dr. Kaweski performs arm lifts at her La Mesa surgery center as an outpatient procedure. In most cases, patients will only need local anesthesia for the surgery, which reduces risk and recovery time. Dr. Kaweski uses a long incision that stretches from the armpit to the elbow to remove excess skin and tissue and create a firmer, leaner look to the upper arm. Although this does leave visible scarring after the procedure, it is typically on the underside of the arm where it is not likely to be as noticeable.

New Arms, New Confidence!

Once your arm lift is completed, you will be able to see the positive results of your procedure. These results will continue to improve as the arm heals and post-operative bruising and swelling subside. Your leaner upper arms are likely to give you more confidence in wearing certain types of clothing or participating in some activities without feeling self-conscious about upper arms that make you look older than you feel.

The other big advantage to an arm lift is that it offers long-lasting results. Some patients may find that over an extended period of time, age and gravity will again take their toll on this area. However, the results are not usually as dramatic as the original sagging and touch-up procedures may be available to maintain your results even longer.

With the weather cooling down and arms getting hidden under long sleeves, now might be the right time to consider an arm lift. By the time warm weather rolls around again, you will be ready to flaunt those new, improved and fully healed upper arms in your favorite short-sleeved fashions.

To learn more about this procedure, contact Aesthetic Arts Institute of Plastic Surgery at (619) 464-9876.