According to an announcement by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), liposuction recently overtook breast augmentation as the most performed aesthetic surgery in the world. Accordingly, liposuction has established itself as a treatment that designs the body rather than simply a procedure for a slim figure, and procedures that can create synergy with it are also increasing.
An arm lift is an option that can be chosen to improve upper arm skin that has stretched due to reduced skin elasticity from aging, fat accumulated excessively over a long period, or rapid weight loss. However, even when skin elasticity is good, performing an excessive amount of liposuction can itself cause upper arm sagging. In such cases it is difficult to obtain a satisfying contour with liposuction alone, so the contour can be improved through an arm lift that excises the stretched skin.
An arm lift is generally performed on the inner arm from the armpit to the elbow, excising the sagging skin and gathering and suturing the remaining skin.
Since it is a surgery that incises the skin, concerns about scars are unavoidable. By dividing the approach into stages according to the degree of sagging and the body type and incising only the areas that are truly necessary, the burden of side effects such as scarring and necrosis can be reduced and quick recovery encouraged. If the degree of sagging is not severe, a stage 1 mini lift with only a small incision on the inner armpit can also improve the contour.
To achieve the optimal effect while keeping the incision range minimal, it is important to design the surgical line taking the patient's body type into account so that the scar is not visible from various angles. Technique is also needed to pull the skin appropriately through accurate dissection and to suture, without tension, only the tissue that must bear the load. Otherwise, pulling all the tissue excessively tight risks the sutured site opening up due to the skin tension pulling outward, or skin necrosis from reduced blood circulation.
Because this demands a high level of concentration and skill, it is important to consult in advance with medical staff who have thorough knowledge of the human body and abundant clinical experience.
Dr. Jaeho Cho, Chief Director of TheLINE Plastic Surgery, explained, "Many people are unfamiliar with body lift surgery, and even those who are interested often hesitate because they assume the scar will be large," adding, "But in reality, most patients say that compared with the improvement in sagging they feel from an arm lift, the scar is something they can accept, and because the scar is located on the inner arm, it is not easily visible from the front." He went on to advise, "If you are still concerned about scarring, stem cell scar treatment can be combined. Since the treatment effect of stem cells can vary greatly depending on the collection method and the culturing and storage process, you should choose a clinic with abundant treatment experience and the relevant facilities."
Written by : Dr. Jaeho Cho, TheLINE Plastic Surgery Source : Hemophilia Life (http://www.hemophilia.co.kr)
