Arm lifts in London, Bordeaux and Royan

Arm lifts, also known as a brachioplasty, is a corrective or cosmetic surgical procedure that treats the sagging skin of the inner arm. This excess skin is often caused by a bariatric surgery or sudden weight loss.

This is a procedure that tightens the skin to fix imperfections. Doctor Lemierre has been practicing for over ten years in Bordeaux and Royan and is specialised in silhouette surgeries. An arm lift will remove the excess skin in the area and is always combined with liposuction, which will remove excess fat from the arm.

Thanks to this procedure, not only will the treatment zone look more harmonious, but your silhouette as a whole will look better proportioned. Arm lifts tighten your skin. The goal is give your arm back its contour and to harmonise your silhouette.

Afterwards, your arm will look thinner, slimmer, more firm, smoother, and you will be less insecure and able to choose any clothes, underwear, bathing suits, etc. that you want.

Why choose to have an arm lift? What are the advantages and the inconveniences? What does a typical session look like?

In the following sections, you will find the answers to these questions. For more details and for a personalised treatment plan do not hesitate to contact Doctor Lemierre.

Summary:

• Why choose to have an arm lift?
• What are the advantages and possible inconveniences/risks?
• What does a typical session look like?
• An immediate and natural result
• What are the post-procedure results?

Why choose to have an arm lift?

By choosing to have an arm lift, you are choosing to take matters into your own hands to feel better physically, aesthetically, and mentally.

Certain people feel uncomfortable daily; they have insecurities about which clothes to wear, difficulties moving their arms, which happens when there is excess fat and skin. Psychologically, this may make it difficult for you to accept your body, when you see saggy, wrinkly arms… The causes are numerous: bariatric surgery, sudden weight loss, pregnancy, diets, or aging.

More and more people are choosing to have arm lifts to have a beautiful, slim, better-proportioned silhouette. The results are natural and long lasting.

To obtain these results and correct the imperfections, Doctor Lemierre will be with you every step of the way; before, during, and after the operation.

With care and precision, he will evaluate your needs, your wants, and your desires to determine the best course of action for you.

There are two steps during an arm lift:

• Liposuction: to suck out the clumps of excess fat, Doctor Lemierre will perform liposuction or lipoaspiration during the operation
• The surgical removal of excess skin: during this step, Doctor Lemierre will remove the excess skin in the arm that makes the arm look wrinkly

For an arm lift, the incisions will go from the elbow to the armpit. The scar will be placed on the inside of the arm so that it will not be visible and will coincide with the natural creases created when your arm moves. The exact position of the scar will determine on where the excess skin is located. Each patient will have slightly different scars.

For more information, do not hesitate to contact Doctor Guillaume Lemierre.

What are the advantages and possible inconveniences/risks?

The advantages

• A fast and efficient procedure
• Only 24 hours hospitalisation
• Immediate and natural results
• Positive physical, aesthetic, and mental effects
• Relatively painless procedure
• Relatively painless post-operation process

The possible inconveniences and risks:

• Swelling and bruises
• A haematoma can appear
• Slow scarring process
• Infection
• Necrosis
• Phlebitis

These complications are rare.

Attention, it is important to tell the doctor if you are a smoker, as you will have to stop smoking one month before and after the procedure. Tobacco increases the risk of complications associated with general anaesthesia. It can also slow down the healing process.

It is highly recommended that you do not take any medicine containing aspirin 10 to 15 days before the operation.

What does a typical session look like?

An arm lift is done under general anaesthesia; therefore you will have to consult an anaesthesiologist before the operation.

The operation lasts between 1 and 2 hours and is followed by one night of hospitalisation.

It is important that you wear compression armbands.

Doctor Lemierre will begin the procedure with liposuction to remove excess skin and tighten the skin.

The day after the operation, you will have to change the bandaging.

An immediate and natural result

After an arm lift, the results are immediate. However, you will have to wait 4 to 6 weeks for the results to stabilise, and 6 months to fully appreciate the final results.

You will look thinner and slimmer. You will also be able to dress however you want. No more bulges of fat or sagging skin.

You will have a more functional, less handicapped, and more aesthetically pleasing arm.

Recent technological innovations over the past years have revolutionised arm lifts to give you more and more natural results.

To get the most natural result, you can combine an arm lift with liposuction, a breast lift, or an abdominoplasty.

What are the post-procedure results?

Thanks to new innovations in the field, the post-operation period is less painful and shorter.

However, you will still have to put your activities on hold for a little bit.

When you have a cosmetic surgery, it is recommended that you take some time off work. If it is a corrective surgery and your social security or insurance can cover some of the costs, your doctor will provide you with a prescription for a medical leave.

Under certain conditions, you can ask your social security to cover some of the costs, however this is not always the case. In general, the costs will be your responsibility.

Just like with every other surgical procedure, swelling and bruising can appear. They will disappear in the ten days following the operation.

Doctor Lemierre will prescribe follow-up consultation sessions regularly in the weeks and months following the operation.

It is mandatory to wear compression clothes, like an armband, night and day for a month after the operation.

As of 4 weeks after the procedure, you will be able to resume physical activities and you can resume professional activities 2 to 4 weeks after the procedure, depending on your profession.

It is highly recommended that you avoid sun and UV exposure for 6 months after the operation.

Taking care of your scars

For 15 days after the procedure, your scars will not look too bad. It is after this period that your scars will become redder, thicker, and harder. Do not worry, this is a good sign! This ‘inflammatory’ period can last up to 9 months.

To optimise the scarring process and make them nearly invisible, you will have to massage your scars. As of 15 days post-op, you will very delicately apply a scarring cream that the doctor has prescribed for one month. The first massages may be a bit painful, but do not be alarmed. Over time, it will become less and less painful thanks to the reoccurring massages. You should massage the scars one or two times a day for about ten minutes. Many studies show that these massages lessen the effects of the scarring to give you a better aesthetic and cosmetic result post-operation.

Doctor Lemierre is available to provide you with any additional information. Do not hesitate to make an appointment to meet him in any of his clinics in Bordeaux or Royan to ask him any questions you may have.