What is Arm Lipo?
Arm lipo is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure designed to recontour and shape the arms for a more sculpted and toned look. It achieves this by removing excess fat cells that make your upper arms look bigger than you would like. Although minimally invasive, arm lipo packs quite a punch and can offer you significant and long-lasting results.
Why Consider Arm Lipo?
Sometimes patients seek arm lipo out of a desire to make their upper body appear more proportionate. Excess fat in the arms can unnecessarily bulk them up and make you look a little top-heavy. Arm lipo also removes stubborn upper arm fat that refuses to go away with diet and exercise. Working your arms at the gym will build muscle, but it may not eliminate the fat the way you were hoping. Arm lipo solves this problem.
Benefits of Arm Lipo
Arm lipo offers many benefits worth considering. These benefits are numerous and include:
- Slimmer, more contoured upper arms
- Improved confidence in sleeveless clothing
- Minimally invasive procedure with very little downtime
- Permanent fat removal with proper weight maintenance
- A safe and effective way to achieve results exercise alone may not deliver
How Arm Lipo Works
When considering any surgery, including arm lipo, it’s good to understand the procedure and how it works. This helps to ensure that you’re choosing the right surgery for your needs and helps to clarify what the operation can and can’t do for you. A good understanding of what to expect also helps to calm the jitters and anxiety that most people (understandably) feel when considering a surgical procedure.
Procedure Overview
During an arm lipo, your plastic surgeon uses a tube called a cannula to remove unwanted fat cells. Like a sculptor chiseling away at a piece of marble, your surgeon will remove your fat cells in a way that gives your arms a pleasing shape, carefully taking away just the right amount of fat to achieve the desired effect. Some patients wish to be put under general anesthesia for arm lipo while others choose awake lipo. Awake lipo utilizes local anesthetic and sedation to keep you comfortable during surgery.
Duration of the Procedure
Procedure times can vary from one patient to the next depending on how much fat is removed and how complex the surgery. Typically, arm lipo takes about one to two hours to complete. Of course, if you combine your arm lipo with other procedures, your surgery will take longer.
Incision Placement
Plastic surgeons understand that patients worry about scars after surgery. Fortunately, good plastic surgeons are experts at minimizing and hiding scars. When performing arm lipo, surgeons make their incisions in discreet locations, like near the armpit or crease of the elbow. This placement helps to hide the scars and make them almost invisible.
Why Choose Mia Aesthetics for Arm Lipo?
At Mia Aesthetics, we make sure our surgeons always have the latest technology and equipment to help them as they help you. We use advanced techniques like tumescent liposuction, which plumps your fat cells with an anesthetic fluid to increase your comfort and make the cells easier to remove. Our doctors also utilize power-assisted liposuction (PAL), which uses a vibrating cannula to help break up fat cells for easier removal.
While our surgical equipment is great, the plastic surgeons we hire to use it are second to none. Experienced and qualified, you can count on our doctors to deliver excellent surgical results while putting your health and safety first.
Who is a Good Candidate for Arm Lipo?
Arm lipo can do some great things for your upper arms, but it’s not a panacea. It won’t solve every arm problem, and it may not be the right surgery for you. Some people are better candidates for this procedure than others, and our surgeons and surgical consultants are here to help you decide whether you’re a good candidate.
Ideal Candidates
Arm lipo will work best for you if you meet the following criteria:
- Have excess fat on the upper arms that isn’t responding to exercise
- You don’t smoke
- Have good skin elasticity
- Lack any medical issues that could interfere with the healing process
When Arm Lipo May Not Be Ideal
Unfortunately, not everyone is a good candidate. Arm lipo may not be for you if you have:
- Significant skin laxity and hanging skin (you may need an arm lift)
- Unrealistic expectations of what surgery will do for you
- Health conditions that could interfere with your healing process
Arm Lipo Recovery and What to Expect After Surgery
Most patients find arm lipo a very easy surgery to recover from. Thanks to its minimally invasive nature, the procedure causes only very mild discomfort and doesn’t require a lot of downtime.
Immediate Post-Surgery Phase
Immediately after your surgery, you may notice some swelling and bruising in your arms. They may also feel a bit tight for a day or two. All of these side effects are normal and will resolve on their own. You can, however, apply ice packs to reduce swelling if desired. You will need to wear a compression garment under your clothes to reduce swelling and help your arms settle into their new shape.
Recovery Timeline
Most patients resume light activities two to three days after surgery and are back to their normal daily activities in a week or two. Full recovery, including the resolution of all swelling and bruising, takes about four to six weeks. You’ll start to feel like yourself again in a few days, however, so don’t let that intimidate you.
Aftercare Instructions
Aftercare instructions for an arm lipo procedure are quite easy. You will need to keep your incisions clean and dry and wear your compression garment as directed by your surgeon. You’ll also have to avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activities for the first few weeks. A simple rule of thumb is that if you feel a pulling sensation near your incision, don’t do it.