Arm Lift Techniques and Post-Surgical Scars
For patients who have loose, excess skin that hangs conspicuously whenever they lift their arms, plastic surgery offers a potentially ideal solution in the form of arm lift surgery. Although arm lift is one of the older procedures in the history of plastic surgery, it is only in recent years that it has increased dramatically in popularity, due in part to improvements in arm lift techniques. One of the downsides of arm lift surgery was the long, visible scar that it left, one which extended from the elbow to the armpit. Instead of revealing loose, hanging skin when they lifted their arms, patients revealed obvious scars.
Thanks to modern techniques, Dr. Gregory T. Mesna is able to perform arm lift surgery while minimizing the appearance of scars and producing aesthetically pleasing, natural-looking results. This is not to say that patients can avoid scarring altogether; however, the difference between the scarring patients can expect from arm lift surgery in 2016 and arm lift surgery 20 years ago is profound. Dr. Mesna discusses the various available arm lift techniques and the scars they will leave during consultations at his Minneapolis, MN so that patients will know exactly what they can expect before they commit to surgery.
Are you a good candidate for arm lift surgery? To find out, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Mesna today.
The Short-scar Arm Lift
Many patients find that the majority of their excess skin is located in the top part of their upper arm. In such cases, it is often possible to achieve excellent results through a short-scar arm lift. The short-scar arm lift involves making a discreet, crescent shaped incision in the armpit, through which excess tissues are removed. Excess skin is then excised, and the remaining skin is pulled taut and the incision is sutured closed. The resulting scar is concealed in the armpit and can only be seen when the patient fully lifts his or her arms and is wearing clothing that reveals the armpit.
The Standard Arm Lift
Incision techniques have evolved over the past decade or so. We now understand much more about surgical scarring and how to minimize it, how to promote the best possible healing, and how and where to place incisions in order to create the least conspicuous scars. For example, it is now understood that the backside of the arm has more resilient skin than the underside of the arm, and that scars tend to heal better and be less visible there. Likewise, curved and z-shaped incision patterns can be strategically employed to minimize the appearance of scarring while still producing outstanding standard arm lift results. Patients tend to be far more involved in their own recovery than they used to be, which also helps to promote proper healing.
Learn More about Arm Lift Techniques and Post-Surgical Scars
If you would like to learn more about arm lift techniques and post-surgical scars, please contact Dr. Gregory T. Mesna at Mesna Plastic Surgery today.
