BODY SCULPTING

BRACHIOPLASTY (ARM LIFT)

Houston Plastic Surgery Texas

Brachioplasty (Arm Lift) in Houston, TX

Brachioplasty
Houston, TX

Many men and women suffer from sagging skin and excess fat in the upper arms as a result of weight loss. This can make it harder to wear sleeveless tops and other figure revealing styles. Arm lift surgery – also referred to as Brachioplasty, is a cosmetic procedure that aims to contour your upper arms so that you can rediscover your sense of self-confidence. Plastic surgeons work to reduce bulky, hanging tissue to reveal a youthful and attractive upper arms appearance.

Houston, TX plastic surgeon Dr. Christopher Balinger offers Brachioplasty procedures to patients in Houston, Conroe, and surrounding Texas communities. The surgeon understands that your best self is connected to your self-confidence. Working with a team of experienced clinicians, Dr. Chris goes out of his way to make sure that each patient is comfortable, safe, and happy with their procedure outcome. He uses state of the art equipment and advanced surgical methods to achieve the best result while minimizing the risk of side effects such as scarring.

Who is a Candidate for Arm Lift?

Arm lift surgery improves the appearance of the upper arms by getting rid of excess skin, fat, and tissue. You may be an ideal candidate for this procedure if:

You are in good physical and emotional health
You have significant upper arms skin laxity
You have arms sagging due to weight loss or muscle loss
You are close to your ideal weight goal and are not overweight
You desire younger, firmer, and more attractive looking arms
You wish to get rid of ‘wings’ from under your arm and armpit areas
You have a positive outlook and realistic expectations about the outcome of this procedure

When you visit Dr. Balinger for your first arm lift Brachioplasty consultation in Houston Texas, the surgeon will listen to you and examine your arms before letting you know whether this surgical procedure is for you. An arm lift is a highly individualized procedure. For this reason, Dr. Christopher recommends that you have this treatment out of your own choice, not because someone else wants you to.

Reasons to have an arm lift

Many men and women who undergo an arm lift surgery experience the following distinct benefits:

Better shaped arms

Exercise and diet often don’t work to give you the lovely arms that you desire. Even if you lose weight, there is likely to be sagging skin that takes away from your positive improvements. One of the top benefits of an arm lift is that it results in well-shaped and toned arms.

Improved contour and proportion

Brachioplasty plastic surgery usually restores skin elasticity that has been lost due to aging or weight loss. This leads to improved contours and better proportions with the rest of your body.

Restored sense of coincidence

Men and women who have excess upper arm skin often feel self-conscious and may suffer from low self-esteem while in social situations. Arm lift surgery is a great procedure choice to address the underlying problem so that you get a rejuvenated sense of self-confidence.

More clothing options

People who have flabby arms often have limited clothing choices due to the unattractive appearance of their arms. They may be able to wear some items of clothing such as sleeveless tops or certain types of dresses. Arm lift surgery addresses these concerns so you can wear whatever you like and still look great.

One bonus advantage of an arm lift is that the resulting scar is hidden in the armpit, where it is not visible.

Your Initial Arm Lift Consultation

During your first Houston arm lift surgery consultation, Dr. Balinger will ask questions and review your medical history to learn more about your health. The surgeon will also examine your arms and skin laxity before moving forward to the next step. This initial consultation – which is offered free of charge at Balinger’s office – is an opportunity to learn more about what this treatment entails, and what you can expect from the procedure.

Types of Arm Lift

Plastic surgeons have a number of techniques that they can use to deliver the toned upper arm appearance that you are looking for.

Traditional arm lift – this is the typical arm lift surgery that is performed by most plastic surgeons. Your doctor will work to get rid of large amounts of skin and fat tissue from the underside of your upper arms. This type of arm lift is usually recommended for patients who have significant amounts of upper arms sagging and need a thorough procedure.
Extended arm lift – this is a more comprehensive type of arm lift that is designed to alleviate aesthetic concerns on the arms and the entire side of the body. The surgeon will work to get rid of excess skin and fat in order to ensure a proportionate appearance in the upper arms and surrounding areas.
Hidden arm lift – this is also referred to as a limited incision Brachioplasty. It is a type of arm lift where the surgical incision is placed in the crease of the underarm. This allows

Liposuction – this is a procedure that removes excess fat from the upper arms in order to achieve a well-contoured appearance. The surgeon will create tiny incisions in marked areas and then use a special device known as a cannula to get rid of excess fat. This technique is usually recommended for patients who have moderate amounts of excess fat, little to no excess skin, and good skin elasticity.
CoolSculpting – this is a non-surgical procedure that can be used when a modest amount of fat needs to be removed from the upper arms. This technique employs a fat freezing method that removes stubborn fat cells in order to eliminate them. Keep in mind that while CoolSculpting can reduce the amount of excess fat in your upper arms, it does not address loose, hanging skin.

Dr. Christopher Balinger is uniquely positioned to recommend the best arm lift procedure method for you. The surgeon will be happy to discuss the pros and cons of each approach during your consultation visit at his Houston plastic surgery office.

Prepare for Your Brachioplasty

Once Dr. Balinger creates a customized treatment plan for you, the surgeon will let you know how to prepare for the surgery. You will be asked to stop taking some medication and herbal supplements that can increase your risk of bleeding. Smoking is also forbidden in the weeks before the surgery because it can increase the risk of complications and impair healing. The surgeon will let you know what to do on the night before the surgery, and what supplies you need to have in place for a smooth recovery.

Your Surgical Experience

Arm lift surgery is an outpatient procedure that is performed at Dr. Balinger’s in-office operating room or an accredited surgical facility. This surgery is usually performed in three steps.

Administer Anesthesia

The surgeon’s anesthesiologist will administer either general anesthesia or intravenous sedation in order to ensure your comfort and safety throughout the treatment. Feel free to discuss the choice of anesthesia with the surgeon during one of your pre-op consultation visits.

Create Incision

The surgeon will create an incision under the armpit extending down to the elbow. Dr. Balinger takes extra care to minimize the size and nature of the incision. Once this is done, excess skin will be removed to achieve the desired upper arm contour.

Close Incision

After all the desired contouring has been completed, the surgeon will close the incision using tapes, sutures, clips, or adhesives. The treatment area will then be bandaged to protect it.

The duration of surgery can range from 1- 3 hours depending on the extensiveness of the procedure. Immediately after the surgery, you will be placed in an observation room where Dr. Balinger’s team monitors your vitals before you are allowed to go home for recovery.

Recovery after your Arm Lift Surgery

Following your Brachioplasty plastic surgery, you will need to set time aside for recovery. Any surgery is traumatic in nature and your body needs to ease down and heal. The duration of recovery varies from one person to the other based on the extensiveness of the treatment, and the patient’s unique healing ability. Dr. Balinger will ask that you move around as soon as you are able to in order to promote proper blood flow. Many patients experience bruising, swelling, and pain in the first week. You will be given pain medication to help alleviate discomfort, as well as antibiotics to prevent infections. You can expect to resume normal activities after about 2 weeks. However, heavy lifting and strenuous exercise are prohibited until you get the green light from the surgeon. Make sure to follow the surgeon’s post-op instructions in order to ensure a speedy recovery. Dr. Balinger’s office is available to answer your questions or and provide the support you need throughout the recovery duration.

Plan your Procedure in Houston Texas

Brachioplasty plastic surgery prices in Houston can vary dramatically based on the extensiveness of the procedure. Most of Dr. Balinger’s arm lift patients can however expect to pay between $4,750 and $8,500 for this treatment. Health insurers typically do not cover the cost of arm lift Brachioplasty surgery because it is considered to be an elective cosmetic procedure. During your consultation visit with Dr. Balinger, the surgeon will provide a cost estimate based on a personalized treatment plan developed for you. The surgeon offers financing options for his patients in Houston, Conroe, and surrounding TX areas.

Meet the Surgeon

Christopher Balinger, MD, brings keen professionalism to the operating table. With each patient, the surgeon creates a highly customized plan to achieve the desired procedure outcome while working to eliminate or minimize the risk of scarring and other side effects. Dr. Balinger is uniquely skilled to perform arm lift procedures and a host of other cosmetic surgeries. He works with a team of highly qualified support staff who are committed to the safety and well being of their patients. If you are looking for the best plastic surgeon in Houston for arm lift, get in touch with Dr. Balinger’s office today.

Average Cost

$4,750 – $8,500

Procedure Time

1 – 3 Hours

Recovery Time

2 Weeks

Insurance

Not Covered

Are your upper arms looking flabby despite your dedicated efforts to lose weight and tone up the muscles? An arm lift may be an option to rejuvenate your arms. Dr. Balinger offers brachioplasty for men and women in Houston, Conroe and surrounding areas of Texas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a brachioplasty?

Brachioplasty is a plastic surgery for the upper arms that eliminates extra fat and skin. Aging, weight changes and pregnancy may cause excess fat to build up in the upper arms, and this extra volume can stretch the skin beyond the point of elasticity. The result is upper arm sagging. If you want to know if an arm lift is right for you, stand in front of a mirror and hold your arms straight out to the side from your shoulder. If you notice sagging or drooping in the area from your armpit to the elbow, you may be a good candidate for brachioplasty.

How much does brachioplasty cost?

The average cost of an arm lift is $4,750 to $8,500. Dr. Balinger describes what can be achieved with an arm lift. If you choose to have the procedure, we will discuss the cost of your brachioplasty after the consultation. We offer free initial consultations at our offices in Houston and Conroe, as well as financing options for our patients.

What are the benefits of a brachioplasty?

An arm lift rejuvenates your upper arms to reveal muscle contour and give the area a more toned appearance. The primary reason that men and women choose to have brachioplasty is to eliminate the “bat wings” that wiggle when they use their arms.

How is an arm lift performed?

The incision for an arm lift starts in your armpit area and extends to the elbow. After making the incision, Dr. Balinger removes any excess fat from the upper arm area. He may use liposuction. He then pulls the skin taut over the arms and closes the incision.

What is recovery like after a brachioplasty?

Recovery from and arm lift can take several weeks, and the first five to seven days is when you will need the most help at home. Expect to have swelling, tenderness, tingling, short-term numbness, and bruising. You will not be able to use your arms, so plan to have a friend or family member stay with you. You will also need to avoid any strenuous activities and lifting with your arms until Dr. Balinger determines that the incision has started to heal properly.

How long will arm lift results last?

The results of brachioplasty may last for several years if you eat right, manage your weight, and exercise. The aging process and weight changes, including pregnancy, may cause sagging skin and fat buildup in the upper arms.

Dr. Christopher Balinger offers brachioplasty for men and women in Houston, Conroe, and the nearby communities in Texas. Contact us today to schedule a free arm lift consultation at our office in Houston or our office in Conroe.

Brachioplasty
Houston, TX

Who is a Candidate for Arm Lift?