Arm Lift

Introduction

Getting into shape can be difficult, especially the older you get. Your skin loses elastin, fat seems to become more and more difficult to cut, and your energy isn’t where it used to be. The primary areas of this include the stomach, the legs, and the arms. At our practice in Newport Beach, an arm lift is a popular procedure for men and women interested in reducing loose skin and stubborn fat from the upper arm area. For more information on arm lift surgery, please read the paragraphs below.

Woman in smiling -- arm lift -- Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Michael Sundine

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A plastic surgeon Orange County patients trust to provide excellent care and beautiful, natural-looking results. While beauty is more than skin deep, the decision to enhance your appearance, whether subtle or dramatic, can boost your self-confidence and positively impact every area of your life.

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What is Arm Lift?

Arm lift surgery will help you if you have droopy upper arms by eliminating fat pockets and redundant skin. Arm lift surgery, also called Brachioplasty, delivers excellent results and allows Dr. Sundine to give you the toned, beautiful upper arms you long for.

Droopy upper arms can be caused by loss of skin elasticity due to aging or weight fluctuations. Often, if you have lost a lot of weight, you will need arm lift surgery.

Arm Lift -- Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Michael Sundine

What Are The Benefits

Of Arm Lift?

Brachioplasty reduces sagging skin and tightens and smooths supportive tissue under the arm area. This improves comfort and prevents inflammation and rashes due to excess folds of skin which can sometimes lead to infection. Other benefits from an Arm Lift in Newport Beach include:

Better arm proportions
Better workout results
Changes in tone and shape
Improved contours
More clothing options (following an arm lift, you may notice that your shirt size has gone down)
Removal of excess fat and skin
Restored self-confidence
Scars are hidden (with an arm lift, the scars are hidden either in the inner arm, at the armpit, or the back of the arm)

Who is a Candidate

For Arm Lift?

Arm lift surgery is pursued by individuals who are unhappy with excess fat or droopy arm skin, including those who have skin laxity due to aging, patients who have lost massive amounts of weight, and new mothers who have lost weight after pregnancy. Arm lift surgery patients must be healthy and not severely overweight. If you are planning on losing weight in the near future or having a bariatric procedure, you are advised to postpone arm lift surgery.

Woman on rocks -- arm lift -- Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Michael Sundine

What’s The First Step?

If you are in the Orange County area and would like to find out if an Arm Lift is right for you, the first thing you will need to do is contact Michael J. Sundine, M.D. When you come in for your consultation, you will meet with Dr. Sundine and show him what your arms look like and how you would like to change them. He will examine your arms and ask you questions regarding your medical and health history. After he has the information he needs, Dr. Sundine will create a surgical plan just for you. If you agree with him, you will speak with our Patient Coordinator and schedule your surgical date.

What to Expect on the Day of Arm Lift

Arm lift surgery is performed at our fully accredited outpatient surgical center under general anesthesia. The surgery may last from one to three hours depending on how much fat and skin are being removed. Dr. Sundine begins arm lift surgery by creating incisions that extend from the underarm to just above the elbow. If you have mildly redundant skin and not much fat, you may only require small incisions in the lower part of the armpit. (This procedure is also known as minimal incision arm lift surgery.) After creating the incisions, Dr. Sundine uses liposuction to break up and remove excess fat. The excess skin is then trimmed and the rest is tightened and sutured in place.

Arm Lift

Recovery

After arm lift surgery, you will experience mild post-operative swelling and bruising, which subsides within two weeks. Any post-operative discomfort is relieved with pain medication, and bandages and sutures are removed within the first week. After this time you may return to work and your other daily routines.

Dr. Sundine will provide you with aftercare instructions. The final results are usually visible within six weeks. During recuperation, Dr. Sundine will closely monitor you.

How Much Does a Arm Lift Cost in Newport Beach?

Financing

The cost of a Newport Beach arm lift varies on a number of factors. During your consultation, Dr. Sundine will meet with you in his Orange County office to discuss his recommendations and all associated costs. There are financing options available that can make the payment process easier for our patients.

Why Choose Dr. Sundine?

With an almost 30-year surgical career, Dr. Michael J. Sundine is Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and specializes in facial plastic surgery. He is over a 12x winner of the “Physician of Excellence” award by the Orange County Medical Association as well as an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Sundine is a plastic surgeon who tailors each procedure to provide his patients because the needs of his patients are very important to Dr. Sundine and he strives to deliver results that not only look natural but will also make your quality of life better.

Schedule A Consultation

Droopy arms don’t have to be a life-long issue. By eliminating fat pockets and redundant skin, our Newport Beach arm lift can help give you the arms you’ve dreamed of. Patients seeking plastic surgery in Newport Beach often visit the practice of renowned surgeon Dr. Michael Sundine. Dr. Sundine is a gifted body contouring and breast surgeon, offering procedures such as liposuction, tummy tuck, and breast augmentation in Orange County. With more than 23 years of experience, he is also well-known for his skills as a facial plastic surgeon. If you’re interested in setting up a consultation with him to discuss arm lift surgery, please contact us today at 949-706-3100.

Arm Lift Aftercare Instructions

- After surgery, it is important for you to have someone available to stay with you for the first 24-48 hours, as you will be weak and drowsy. You may require help the first few times you get out of bed. It is important to get out of bed early and often after your surgery (with assistance) to prevent postoperative problems. This activity will greatly reduce the risk of blood clots in your leg veins. Please take deep breaths frequently to keep your lungs clear (15-20 per hour). Keep your head elevated about 30 degrees (two pillows) with the knees slightly flexed.
- It is important to walk and only lift your arms less than 90 degrees at the shoulder for the first 10-14 days to minimize tension on the suture line. Sleep with your arms on 2-3 pillows to minimize swelling. This will improve the quality of your scar.
- A light diet is best after surgery. Begin by taking liquids slowly and progress to soups or Jell-O. You may start a regular diet the next day.
- Please take the pain medication only if you have pain. Take it with crackers, Jell-O, etc. You should need it the first 2-3 days after surgery as prescribed. Take the antibiotics as directed until they are completed. It is very important you take antibiotics to prevent infection.
- DO NOT SMOKE. This is very important. Smoking causes vasoconstriction and impedes healing.
- For the first 72 hours keep your arm movements to a minimum. Your arms should not be used to support your body or lift anything heavy. Do not push with your arms to lift yourself in bed. Keep your arms as close to your body as possible.
- Frequently small drains are used to draw off any accumulating fluid after surgery. The bulb should be collapsed at all times. The fluid will need to be removed from the bulb every 3 hours. Please keep a record of what time and how much fluid is emptied from the bulb. Bring this record with you to the office appointment. Usually drains are removed 24 hours after surgery. The drains will not be removed if you have drained more than 30 ccs within a 24-hour period.
- Please wear your arm compression binder continuously for 14 days. You may take it off to shower on postoperative day 3. You will have Steri-strips in place. You may shower with these in place. Pat them gently with a towel to dry them and then replace the arm compression binder.
- Do not drive for 7-10 days.
- Do not submerge yourself in a bath, swimming pool, whirlpool, or ocean for 2 weeks.
- You are recommended to use silicone gel sheeting on the incisions beginning two weeks after surgery.
- Begin massage of the incision scars two weeks after the surgery. They can be massaged with vitamin E, aloe vera, or moisturizing cream. You may also purchase a cream to help minimize scarring, please ask our nurse if you are interested.
- You may resume sexual activity in 4 weeks. (Raising your blood pressure for the first 10 days following surgery may cause bleeding)
- Do not take ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, or aspirin-containing products for 3 weeks after surgery.
- Do not lift anything heavier than 10 lbs. for 3 weeks. It is good to walk for 15-20 minutes, 2-3 times per day. Do not run, lift weights, play tennis, or golf for 6 weeks. (Keep your heart rate under 100 for 3 weeks)
  What to expect after surgery
- Moderate swelling of your arms is to be expected. You may find that your clothes may not fit as easily as before. Be patient. The swelling will gradually subside and you will be back to normal in 3 to 6 months.
- Because of the removal of tissue from your arms, there is a certain amount of tightness that is to be expected. This will slowly relax within 6 months.
- Infrequently, after surgery, you may have fluid in the arms after the drains are removed. If this happens, please contact our office, as Dr. Sundine will want to see you to remove the fluid.
- Call our office if you have any questions, if any problems should arise, or if you have been having any signs or symptoms of infection (redness, fever, drainage).

Real Patients

Real Reviews

What I really like about Dr. Sundine is his vast experience and training. I also like the fact he did not try to sell me other procedures. He is also very down to earth and easy to talk to. I am very satisfied with the results and I highly recommend him.

After much research and multiple visits to other surgeons, I knew right away that Dr. Sundine was the perfect choice for me. I felt completely confident in his ability from the first visit to the last. I have been singing his praises to all of my friends and will recommend him to anyone searching for a plastic surgeon. Thanks, Dr. Sundine

Dr. Sundine is an excellent plastic surgeon! I have been using his services for almost 5 years. If you want to look years younger and fully refreshed I highly recommend that you use his services. Patients walk out looking naturally gorgeous, not overdone like some of the women in Orange County!

Dr. Sundine is the best plastic surgeon. Dr. Sundine’s excellent skills and knowledge has made my surgery turn out so well. But more importantly, it made me feel better about myself. Again, thank you Dr. Sundine for all you have done for me. You are the best surgeon!

I gave Dr. Sundine the highest possible review in each category because he truly deserved the highest reviews on every level. I am a very well recognized lawyer on the West Coast. My firm has spent millions of dollars on television advertising in which I appear. I could not afford to have a bad facelift or even for people to notice I had a facelift at all. I interviewed many physicians including some of the “celebrity” physicians. Ultimately, I chose Dr. Sundine.

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