Upper arm lift

During an upper arm lift superfluous fat at the upper arm is removed. Inevitable scars are at inconspicuous areas at the inner side of the upper arm. An upper arm lift can be combined with a liposuction. This can additionally improve your figure.

Basic preconditions:
	You are over 18 years old, in good physical and psychological condition and have a realistic idea.
	You are not pregnant and not nursing your baby.

Preparations:
	About 4 weeks before the surgery, you should reduce smoking. Moreover alcohol should be avoided.
	On the day of the surgery you should not have your menstruation.
	About 2 weeks before the surgery you should not take anticoagulants (Aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid containing drugs).
	Not later than 3 weeks before the surgery the birth control pill must be discontinued.

Surgery preparations and examinations:
	For the surgery you need a blood count and an ECG. Your GP can provide both. Please bring the findings with you (it should not be older than two weeks).
	Before the surgery armpit hair must be shaved.

Length of the surgery:

Usually the surgery takes 2-3 hours and is conducted during a stationary stay in hospital of 2-3 days.

Course of action:

Before the surgery you will be informed during a detailed counselling talk on how the surgery is done, possible complications, risks, and alternatives. Maybe you want to write done your questions on the surgery. The surgery will be conducted under general anaesthesia. Before the anaesthesia you will be advised by an anaesthetist about the risks, complications and possible alternatives to a narcosis. The anaesthetist will be present during the surgery. A general anaesthesia means stress for the body. During narcoses risks or complications can occur, depending on previous diseases and your general state of health.

The affected areas are measured and marked on the skin before the surgery. The necessary incisions for removing superfluous skin are placed in a way that make them most inconspicuous. With upper arm lifts of a larger scale, often additional liposuctions are done. The remaining skin is then tightened by the sutures. To make sure that blood and ichor can flow off, drainages are inserted. After the surgery the affected area is bandaged with compression bandages.

Perception and possible complications:

Usually in the first few days after the surgery you feel some pain and a slight feeling of tugging pain at the sutures. This however subsides after a few days in the course of the wound healing. Pain can be alleviated by pain killers.

Like after every surgery secondary haemorrhages cannot be excluded. Therefore you should avoid taking acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) and other acetylsalicylic acid containing drugs two weeks before the surgery. Despite aseptic measures inflammations can occur. Preventively you get antibiotics.

After a surgery there can occur blood clots in the main veins (thrombosis), these can be carried further and thus block a blood vessel (embolism). As prevention it can be considered to take anticoagulant drugs (i. e. injections of heparin), however these cause an increased bleeding tendency and in very rare cases grave dysfunctions of blood coagulation.

Even when the wound healing is normal, scars can initially become red or harden. After a while they will fade, they become inconspicuous. You will be informed on further risks and possible side-effects in a comprehensive handout.

After the surgery:

Usually the drainages can be removed one to two days after the surgery. In order to support the affected area and the wound healing, you should wear the compression bandages about 6-7 weeks constantly. During this time you should avoid sports and other exhausting activities. Before you go home you will have a follow-up examination. During the first few days after the treatment the mobility of your arms will be limited. After about 2 weeks you can take up your ever-day activities again.

Usually your GP can take out the stitches after about 10-14 days. You should only apply special scar ointment or crème on the scars. You can take showers again, as soon as the wounds are completely closed. Sunbaths and sauna should be avoided for 8-12 weeks.


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