Arm Lift

If you have an excess of loose skin and fat in your upper arm area that you wish to diminish, you should consider having a Brachioplasty or what is commonly known as an arm lift.

There are three different procedures to reduce the upper arm area. The first one includes the skin removal within the arm pit. The skin measures about three to four inches long, and two inches wide. After the skin is removed, the loose skin is pulled toward the area where the skin used to be, and therefore it tightens up the extra skin.

The second procedure consists of an arm incision along the inside part of the upper arm. The incision measures the same length as the inside of upper arm, and the width will measure about the same width as the hanging skin.

The third procedure includes Liposuction with or without either procedure mentioned above. Liposuction will remove the excess fat within the arm area altogether with excess skin.

The surgery is normally done under local anesthesia and sedation. The patient may remain at the Hospital several hours, on an outpatient basis or stay over night if recommended by your doctor. This surgery can be done simultaneously with other plastic surgery procedures such as facial remodeling, breast surgery, lipectomy, etc.

BEFORE THE SURGERY EVERY PATIENT MUST:

Surgery Costa Rica will schedule an appointment with your doctor for you so that you can ask him any questions you might have about the surgery.

Have a complete medical check up, an electrocardiogram and laboratory blood and urine tests; including a complete whole blood count, partial tromboplastin time, prothrombin time, platelets, and HIV.

Take antibiotics such as Augmentin 500mg, (one capsule three times a day with each meal) Cipro or Ceclor 500mg (one capsule twice a day with a full breakfast and dinner); two days before surgery, the day of the surgery, and seven more days after the surgery.

Inform your doctor of your daily vitamin and medication intake.

Notify your doctor if you have developed a cold or the flu a week prior your surgery date.

Please avoid: aspirin, more than 500mg of Vitamin E, ginkobiloba, ginseng, or any blood thinners two weeks prior your surgery. Also avoid alcohol intake, and passive or active smoking for one month before and one month after the surgery. Remember that nicotine and alcohol delays and might even complicate your healing processes.

THE DAY OF SURGERY:

Please brush your teeth, but do not eat or drink coffee or tea.

Please do not wear make-up, remove your contact lenses or dentures before the surgery. Do not apply any moisturizer on your arm area.

Please remove your nail polish.

The evening and the morning prior your surgery, clean the operative area with soap and water.

Please do not bring any jewelry or valuables to the Hospital.

Please wear a robe, housecoat or warm up suit that buttons or zips in the front and flat shoes after the surgery. No tight-fitting clothes.

Someone must drive you home, to your Hotel, or to the Recovery Home you choose to stay at.

Postoperative instructions regarding activity, medications and office visits will be given following your surgery.

POST-SURGICAL INSTRUCTIONS:

Physical activity should be limited to movements that are comfortable. For the first two days you should not lift up or over stretch your arms.

Antibiotic Ointment or Vitamin E can be applied to the sutures daily until the stitch removal (approximately seven days). Use cotton tipped applicator to apply the ointment.

Continue the antibiotics as instructed. If you develop diarrhea, discontinue the antibiotics, and notify your doctor.

Anesthetics, sleeping tablets and pain medication tend to produce constipation. High fiber diets and stool softeners will help reduce the constipation following the surgery.

After showering, dry the incision areas very gently with a towel. Re-apply Antibiotic Ointment and a clean cotton dressing.

You might drive after pain medication is discontinued, but consult your doctor before you do.

Please take a multivitamin and an iron supplement following surgery. Be sure to discuss your dosage with your doctor before taking it, because it depends on your blood loss.

Do not exercise or do aerobics for six to eight weeks after surgery, and consult your doctor before you exercise.

AFTER THE PROCEDURE:

During the first three weeks, bruising and swelling are results for mini bleedings produced by such procedure. It is to be expected for three weeks after surgery, and it is completely normal. With time, the dark purplish color will turn into a greenish tone. Then, it will turn into a yellow tone which is the last color stage before turning into the patient's normal skin tone. After three weeks, a maximum of swelling will diminish.

On the fourth or fifth week, the zones where fat was extracted will become bulky as if ping-pong balls were inside the patient's body. They will be felt as irregular hardenings which will not be seen but felt. Massages and pressure will help areas to flatten. If the procedure is done in an area closer to the head, the faster it will heal.

Normally, after six to twelve weeks, the uncomfortable pain around the bone areas will diminish. Such pain is the result of friction with the tube used in surgery with the superficial bone layer.

After the arm contour normalizes, it will decrease in size, and the patient will notice the amount of fat extracted during surgery. If the person gains weight, the remaining fat cells will fatten. This will be noticed about four to six months after the procedure.

The effect of Liposuction will begin be seen after six weeks. 80% of the healing process takes approximately 3 to 6 months. 100% of the healing process will take about twelve to eighteen months after surgery. A burning sensation or pain can be relieved with a tight girdle and acetaminophen. It is the result of the swelling.

In most cases sensitivity appears at the end of six months. In other cases it might even take until twelve months after surgery.

Thank you!

Surgery Costa Rica
Ave. 2 between Calle 38 and 40
San Jose, Costa Rica
E-Mail: Surgery Info
You can reach our San Jose, Costa Rica office from any of the following phone numbers:
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