Interestingly enough, as summer approaches some fashion magazines are including in their articles that arms have become the new cleavage. What they mean by that is that a woman’s arms are now viewed as sexy and appealing. Many celebrities have been recognized for their “great arms”. These include celebrities like Michelle Obama and Madonna. Sleeveless fashions have indeed become the choice regardless of the season. So, what is a woman to do if she has the dreaded “batwings”. This is the term given for excess skin that hangs from the underside of the arm when the arm is lifted. In some cases this is due to the aging of the skin. In other situations the patient could have had weight fluctuation that stretched the skin on the arms and then caused sagging. Patients, who consult with Dr. Seify because of a complaint of loose skin on the arms, are likely to be given the recommendation of brachioplasty. Brachioplasty removes the excess skin from the underside of the arm. An incision is made in the armpit that runs either to the middle of the bicep on the underside of the arm or to the elbow. The shorter incision is acceptable for a patient who has minimal loose skin provided most of the excess skin is in the upper portion of the arm. The longer incision is for patients with more loose and lax skin. While a shorter scar may seem attractive to the patient, it is important patients realize that if a shorter scar is used on a patient who has excessive loose and lax skin in the arm area there is likely to be an unacceptable puckering of the skin following surgery. Patient should never compromise the long-term results of surgery in order to avoid a scar. All scars heal over time and in most cases become less noticeable over time. Brachioplasty patients will have a scar however the scar is well hidden on the underside of the arm. Most go on to wear sleeveless dresses and shirts and find the scar to be well worth the trade-off. Patients who are dissatisfied with the thickness on their arms may be candidates for liposuction of the arms. Dr. Seify cautions patients that this is a tricky procedure. As an experienced ASPS board-certified he has performed many arm liposuction procedures. The talent and skill of the surgeon is important with arm liposuction because it is possible to take too much fat and the surgeon must be conscious of the appearance of the arms and the muscles that exist and help to aesthetically shape the arms. Patients who are considering arm contouring procedures are encouraged to contact Dr. Seify and schedule a consultation.
Tag Archives: brachioplasty
There is a new buzz that has been created due to increased attention paid to the beauty of women’s arms. Toned and fit arms are perceived by most to be youthful and healthy. Some attribute the increase buzz about beautiful arms to Michelle Obama’s toned arms and frequent choice of sleeveless dresses and blouses. Of course, where there is interest in beauty there will always be plastic surgery options. An increase in patients considering brachioplasty or arm lifts has been reported by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Arm Lifts
To the media, tying the increase in brachioplasty procedures to celebrities with toned and fit arms seems like a logical choice. The reality is the procedure is an invasive one that is typically chosen by patients who have lost a significant amount of weight and therefore have a significant amount of loose and lax skin on the underside of the arm. Dr. Seify explains to patients that brachioplasty should only be performed by experienced plastic surgeons who understand the risk and complications versus the expected benefit for each patient. Although new techniques allow for a shorter incision and thus a shorter scar it is important for patients to understand that the removal excess skin with brachioplasty will require the trade-off of a scar. Dr. Seify explains that the scar is well hidden on the underside of the arm and the majority of patients heal incredibly well so that the scar is barely visible after six months to a year. Initially following the surgery there may be puckering of the skin along the incision which will typically loosen up as the skin relaxes. It is imperative that patients understand their specific situation and what the expectations are for their long-term results. Patients who have loose and lax skin as a result of aging and poor laxity in the skin may not be ideal candidates for the brachioplasty procedure. Also, patients who scar poorly may also be a poor choice for the brachioplasty procedure. While the overwhelming numbers of patients are extremely satisfied with their plastic surgery procedure, it is critical for patients to understand that limiting the plastic surgery procedure to patients who are ideal candidates is the best way to ensure that patients will be satisfied with their results. Brachioplasty patients are typically able to return to a desk type job in 5 to 7 days after surgery. Patients who are considering brachioplasty are encouraged to contact Dr. Seify and schedule a consultation.
Obesity remains one of the main topics of discussion across the United States. Many Southern California residents are under the impression that this is not an issue for people within our region. However, a quick look around at marketing for weight loss procedures like the lap band, and large programs for surgical weight loss proved that there are plenty of people within Southern California specifically Orange County battling obesity. According to recent online article obese cancer patients are likely to have worse outcomes than their leaner counterparts. Previous research has clearly established a link between obesity and cancer risk and shown that obesity is associated with a poorer prognosis, according to Mikhail Kolonin, an associate professor at the Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Cancer progression was studied specifically in specific research that was published in the Journal of Cancer Research. The researchers hypothesized that fat tissue which is called white adipose tissue (this is the fat tissue that becomes larger in patients who are obese) is directly associated with cancer. The first results confirmed their theory. In laboratory mice the tumors appeared to grow much faster. The research team found that cancer triggered andipose stromal cells to infiltrate the bloodstream. Once they were able to get to the tumors, some continue to develop in the fat cells; however, others were absorbed into the blood vessels and then provided oxygen and the necessary nutrients to tumors which boosted the cancer’s growth. It is significant to note that these cells are present within tumors and that they are functional and have an effect on the growth of tumors. Finding a way to block the cells may provide another avenue for cancer treatment. Dr. Seify consults with patients who have been successful in losing weight and are also at a stable weight. These patients often tell Dr. Seify that they do not expect the amount of loose and lax skin that was present following their weight loss. Most patients are concerned with loose skin from weight loss in the abdomen, arms, and thighs. For most patients the only way to reduce the amount of skin and create a more beautiful and toned appearance is plastic surgery. Most patients have abdominoplasty to remove the loose skin from the abdomen, brachioplasty to remove the loose skin from the underside of the upper arms, and thighplasty or thigh lift to remove the loose and lax skin on the thighs. For most patients it a be necessary to stage (perform at different times )the procedures for the best results and most comfortable patient experience. Patients were considering body contouring procedures are encouraged to contact Dr. Seify and schedule a consultation.