What is Mini Arm Lift Surgery?

The causes of arm sagging problems are very diverse. As a structural, genetic problem, it can occur in adolescence or it can be a part of the aging process. Regardless of the reason, lubrication in the arm, increase in diameter or laxity are seen in the form of sagging.

Generally, while the tension of the arm skin is good at young ages, the skin also loosens and sags in later ages. Also, after losing excessive weight, only isolated skin sagging is seen without fat problem, and its surgical treatment is different; In these cases, mini arm lift surgery is not performed.

Mini-arm lift surgery is usually indicated for people with a problem of lubrication in the arm region, if this lubrication is accompanied by mild to moderate skin laxity.

Why does the arm sag?

Depending on the aging process, the effect of gravity, loss of skin elasticity and reduction of subcutaneous fat tissue, and rapid weight gain and loss occur in the skin, especially on the back and inner face of the upper arm, towards the elbow.

What’s Mini Arm Lift Surgery?

Mini Arm lift surgery is an operation that is generally applied to patients who lose weight rapidly after sleeve gastrectomy surgery and who have a bat-wing-like appearance in their arms after aging and loosening of skin elasticity. Many people who complain about this situation try to hide their arms by wearing long-sleeved clothes.Mini arm lift surgery is usually combined with liposuction or laser-vaser assisted liposuction technique. After liposuction or laser or ultrasound energy is applied to the arm, the remaining skin laxity on the arm is corrected with mini arm lift surgery.

In the mini arm lift technique, the slack in the arm skin is removed in the transverse plane, so the scar remains hidden under the armpit. The scar, which may be red due to some shrinkage or closure of the area at first, becomes invisible over time. Therefore, mini arm lift surgery is easily preferred and tolerated by patients.

For these reasons, mini arm lift surgery is usually combined with liposuction of the arm.

There are also extended stretching operations of the arm, not mini stretching, in which the advanced slackness of the arm is corrected in the vertical plane, sometimes incisions extending to the forearm may be required. These extended arm lift surgeries are usually indicated after excessive weight loss or in cases of advanced deformity.

Who is this for?

· Individuals who have lost excessive amounts of weight, including bariatric surgery patients.

· Older men and women with aging skin and loss of elasticity.

· Patients with loose arm skin that does not improve with diet and exercise efforts.

How is it performed?

All operations are performed from the armpit area, also known as “Invisible Arm Lift”. First, the arm is thinned by liposuction, and then the excess skin is pulled towards the armpit.

The incision is then closed in the armpit area. The scar remains completely under the armpit.

Recovery After Mini Arm Lift Surgery

After mini arm lift surgery, your wounds are covered with dressing and you are discharged with a tight bandage with your arm wrapped in order to prevent edema development.

It is not recommended to raise your arms above your shoulders for at least 10 to 14 days. “Reaching higher puts a lot of pressure on the underarm area and can cause damage to the stitches.”

As your arms heal, drains are placed under the incision to prevent fluid from accumulating and are removed at discharge. Since self-dissolving stitches are used, your stitches will disappear within 4 weeks.

Bandages wrapped around your arms should be worn for 24 to 48 hours after surgery.Corsets are generally recommended to be worn for three days.

It’s generally recomended showering after 48 hours. Usually, it is difficult to wash the hair during the shower, so you need someone to help you wash your hair or you can go to the hairdresser.

Most patients can return to daily activities, usually within a few days, and non-strenuous activity within a week to ten days.

Potential Risks and Side Effects

Mini Arm lift surgery is considered a safe procedure. Common risks include swelling, bruising, bleeding, infection, wound dehiscence, delayed wound healing, and fluid accumulation at the wound site.

As with most surgeries, there is the possibility of anesthesia complications, extreme pain, and temporary or permanent numbness at the incision site. However, it should be noted that these risks are very low.