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Arm Lift

An arm lift, or brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure that:

• Reduces excess sagging skin which droops downward
• Tightens and smoothes the underlying supportive tissue which defines the shape of the upper arm
• Reduces localized pockets of fat in the upper arm region

Fluctuations in weight, growing older, and heredity can cause the upper arms to have a drooping, sagging appearance. This is a condition that cannot be corrected through exercise. Dr. David Janssen and Dr. William Doubek can expertly address your issues with your arms. The Wisconsin plastic surgeons are helping women and men from places such as Green Bay, Appleton, Fond du Lac, and Sheboygan perfect their personal Renaissance. Contact Fox Valley Plastic Surgery at (920) 233-1540 to request your consultation in either the Oshkosh or Appleton office. The non-refundable $100 cosmetic consultation fee can be applied towards the cost of the procedure.

Pricing

An arm lift is a cosmetic procedure, which is not paid for by insurance. In general, a brachioplasty costs $7700. The price includes the surgeon’s fee, the facility fee at the Theda Care Surgery Center, and anesthesia. The pricing is subject to change, and will change if the surgery is done at another facility, and if there are unique circumstances surrounding the surgery, etc.

The use of Strataderm® immediately after wound closure and for several weeks afterwards, is highly recommended for optimal healing. Stratamed is the first film-forming silicone gel-based wound dressing approved for the use on open wounds and compromised skin. Depending on the length of the incision, a tube of Strataderm® costs $32-$54.

Usually there are multiple procedure discounts for cosmetic procedures: 15% off the surgeon’s fee for the 2nd cosmetic procedure, and 30% off the surgeon’s fee for the 3rd procedure. The operating room fee is discounted 50% for the 2nd+ procedure, while anesthesia is based solely on time. Although there are zero interest financing options available through Care Credit and Alphaeon Credit, payment by cash gives an additional 5% discount. There may be additional discounts, which are too varied to be mentioned here.

If you would like to find out more about a brachioplasty, request your consultation online or call the office at (920) 233-1540 to schedule your appointment.  The non-refundable $100 cosmetic consultation fee can be applied towards the cost of the procedure.

Best Candidates

In general, arm lift candidates include:

• Adults with significant upper arm skin laxity
• Adults of any age whose weight is relatively stable and who are not significantly overweight
• Healthy individuals without medical conditions that impair healing or increase risk of surgery
• Non-smokers Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic expectations

Procedure

Anesthesia is administered for the patient’s comfort during arm lift surgery. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. The anesthesiologist will recommend the best option.

The incision length and pattern during arm lift surgery depend on the amount and location of excess skin to be removed, as well as the best judgment of the plastic surgeon. Incisions are generally placed on the inside of the arm or on the back of the arm, depending on the surgeon’s preference, and may extend from the underarm (axilla) to just above the elbow.

Excess fat may be directly excised or treated with liposuction. Depending on the patient’s specific condition, incisions may be more limited. The underlying supportive tissue is tightened and reshaped with internal sutures. Then the skin is smoothed over the new contour of the arm. The incisions are closed with either absorbable sutures, or stitches that will be removed within one to two weeks following the brachioplasty. The smoother, tighter contours that result from brachioplasty are apparent almost immediately following the procedure, although there will likely be swelling and bruising. To learn more about arm surgery, contact Fox Valley Plastic Surgery today at (920) 233-1540 to schedule a personal consultation. The non-refundable $100 cosmetic consultation fee can be applied towards the cost of the procedure.

Meet Our Surgeons

Dr. David Janssen and Dr. William Doubek combine experience, refined surgical techniques, and artistry to produce beautiful results for their plastic and reconstructive surgery patients.

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Preparing for Surgery

In preparing for a brachioplasty, patients may be asked to:

• Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
• Take certain medications or adjust their current medications
• Stop smoking
• Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding

Preparing for surgery with a clear, complex-carb rich beverage will keep you strong and enhance your recovery. Drinking ClearFast PreOp prior to your medical procedure is a safe way to speed up recovery time, nourish your body, and reduce post-operative nausea and vomiting. It is available at Hometown Pharmacy on N. Sawyer Street, Oshkosh at $8 a bottle. The recommended dosage is one bottle the night before your surgery once you are in the fasting window, and a second bottle two hours before surgery. Consult with your anesthetist before taking the beverage. Afternoon surgery patients are encouraged to take this beverage.

Smokers are always at high risk for health troubles, but particularly so during and after surgery. Smokers face longer healing times, blood clots, wounds that break open, and greater risk of infection. For these reasons, FVPS requires that smoking cease one month before and one month after for breast reconstruction surgeries, which are adversely effected by the decrease in blood flow caused by nicotine. Read our comprehensive explanation of how smoking impacts healing.

FVPS will notify patients if they are affected by this policy. At the pre-operative appointment which normally occurs two days before surgery, patients must take a cotinine test, which detects the presence of nicotine. Test results are immediately available with this quick blood test. If the test is positive, then surgery will be cancelled and the patient will be charged a cancellation fee in accordance with our Financial Policy, which is included in patient paperwork. Smokers, who cannot quit smoking, should not schedule a surgery.

Recovery

After surgery, patients may feel sleepy for the next 24 hours due to the medication that was administered during the operation. It is important that patients not drive, operate machinery, or use power tools in this same time span. Also patients should not drink any alcoholic beverages, make any important decisions, or smoke after surgery. As with any surgery, patients should be with a responsible adult for 24 hours following surgery. Walking around the house is recommended to help prevent blood clots. Expect to be in some discomfort, so take the prescriptive medicine before the pain increases.

Take care to not subject the surgical incisions to excessive force, swelling, abrasion, or motion during the time of healing. There will be dressings and elastic wrap on the arms. Keep the dressings in place until seen by the doctor. If there is slippage or saturation of the dressing, the office can do a dressing change. Keep the hands elevated above the heart, and the arms straight at the elbows for the first 2 days to help prevent swelling. Keep the dressings clean and dry. At the follow up visit 5 days after surgery, the doctor will remove the elastic wrap and replace it with a compression garment. Showering is allowed after the first follow up visit. Leave the adhesive strips in place until they loosen at the ends, which usually occurs at about two weeks.

The ability to return to work at a desk job depends on a patient’s individual healing ability, pain tolerance and motivation.  Arm lift patients typically take off 5-7 days before returning to a desk job.  Returning to work any earlier is not recommended because of the effects of the narcotics.  Lifting is absolutely forbidden for the first 7-10 days, so an early return to work is not suggested for patients with active jobs. Most of the swelling in the incisional area usually resolves after 3 weeks. Initially the wounds may appear unattractive. The wrinkling of the incision line generally smooths within 6 weeks. It can take up to a year for the color of the scars to fade. The results of arm lift surgery will be long lasting, provided that the patient maintains a stable weight and general fitness. As the body ages, it is natural to lose some firmness, but most of the improvement should be relatively permanent. Following the physician’s instructions is essential to the success of the surgery.

Potential Risks

Patients will be told of the risks of the surgery, and will sign consent forms to ensure that they fully understand the procedure. Brachioplasty risks include:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Poor wound healing
• Unsightly scarring
• Fluid accumulation (seroma)
• Damage to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels and muscles
• Fatty tissue under the skin might die (fat necrosis)
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
• Pain, which may persist
• Sutures may not absorb, but spontaneously surface through the skin, causing irritation, drainage and redness
• Possible need for a revision

Discuss your arm lift options with the experienced surgeons of Fox Valley Plastic Surgery. Contact Fox Valley Plastic Surgery today at (920) 233-1540 to request a consultation.

Consultation

During a brachioplasty consultation, patients should be prepared to discuss:

• Their surgical goals
• Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments
• Current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drug use
• Previous surgeries

The plastic surgeon will also:

• Evaluate the patient’s general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
• Take photographs
• Discuss the patient’s options
• Discuss likely outcomes of arm lift surgery and any risks or potential complications

Explore whether or not a brachioplasty procedure is right for you by calling (920) 233-1540. Our board certified Wisconsin plastic surgeons are helping women from all over the upper Midwest to perfect their personal Renaissance. Request your consultation today.