Flabby Arms? What To Do!
Many people are unhappy with their bodies in one way or another. However, it is surprisingly common how often both men and women report that they are unhappy with their upper arms. Even when a person is not overweight, the skin on the upper arm is prone to sagging with age and when exercise is not part of a daily routine. Many other factors such as rapid weight gain or weight loss, stress, pregnancy and genetics can all affect how your upper arms look over time. Of course, your skin loses elasticity naturally with age, but there are options to make your arms look their best even when diet and exercise aren't enough to meet your personal goals. Some of the most popular options to repair loose arm skin are known as brachioplasty and liposuction. Even when brachioplasty and liposuction are your option of choice, you should first attempt diet and exercise to obtain the best results possible after surgery.
Diet and Exercise
The first step to battling flabby arms is to switch to a healthy diet and get regular exercise. Flabby arms are typically caused by excessive fat deposits in the arm which makes the arm heavier and prone to sagging. Adopting a healthy balanced diet will help reduce weight gain and the growth of fat deposits. Minimising foods that are high in sugar and saturated fats is best for controlling weight gain. To burn away excess fat that is already present, add regular cardiovascular exercise to your routine. Anything from brisk walking to more intense exercises like spinning or Zumba are great ways to get your heart rate up and burn away those extra pounds! For improved tone of the skin on your arms, focus on weight training exercises that target your triceps and upper back. Strengthening these areas will help to give a more attractive shape to the upper arm and muscle growth can tighten the skin. Toning exercises with low weights and a high number of repetitions are best for this purpose. What if diet and exercise are not enough? What if you are already healthy and toned, but the loose skin is still there? Brachioplasty or liposuction are your next options.
Liposuction
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes excess fat deposits from the body. This can be applied in several places at the same time, including the upper arm. This is recommended for patients who have already tried diet and exercise and who have fat deposits that aren't responding to their efforts. In this surgery, small 3-4mm incisions are made. After numbing the area, a hollow tube called a cannula is inserted into the incisions to loosen excess fat. The loosened fat is then removed by applying suction. Recovery time will vary depending on how much fat was removed and how long the procedure takes. While your arms may look better immediately following the surgery, there will be swelling and bruising afterwards, masking the final appearance of your arms. It can take 6 to 12 months for the swelling to go away completely and to see the true final results. Having firm skin with high elasticity is ideal and will give the best liposuction results. If removing fat is not enough, brachioplasty can help.
Brachioplasty
Brachioplasty is a surgical procedure also known as an arm lift. This procedure removes excess skin from the upper arms. There are three types of brachioplasty depending on how much loose skin is present. As mentioned earlier, brachioplasty can be combined with liposuction when excess fat also needs to be removed. There is the limited technique, the traditional technique, and the extended technique. The first option has the smallest incisions and is best for treatment near the armpit area. The traditional technique treats the entire upper arm. Skin is removed from the underside of the arm up to the armpit. The scar runs up the underside of the arm in a straight line from the elbow up to the armpit. Lastly, the extended technique removes excess skin from the upper arm along with the side of the chest, and under the breast if needed. You can expect to go home shortly after the surgery, but you will experience some discomfort from swelling and bruising for the first 3-4 weeks after surgery. While the surgery will show immediate results like the liposuction procedure, it can take 6-12 months for the swelling to be completely gone to see the final results.
Dealing with flabby arms is never easy, but with the right plan, anyone can take care of it. As always, when considering a new diet, an intense exercise regimen, or plastic surgery, it is recommended that you speak with your surgeon to find out what is best for you and your lifestyle. Finally, keep reasonable expectations for the results of any option you take. Remember that diet and exercise take time and it is best to be as healthy as possible before any kind of surgery. Make your appointment today to find out the best option for you!
