Arm Lift Chicago, IL

Once you have been discharged from your arm lift surgery in Chicago and are recovering at home, you can expect some pain. The level of pain stemming from your brachioplasty in Chicago can be light to moderate, but it is tolerable and well-controlled with the proper use of the pain medications and anti-inflammatories prescribed by your doctor. You may also experience intermittent shooting pain following your procedure. This type of pain is normal and is due to the healing of the sensory nerves and tissue at the site. This pain and associated discomfort can also be controlled with medication. If your surgeon placed a temporary drain, then there may be some added discomfort. After a week of recovering from your brachioplasty in Chicago, the amount of pain should be considerably less, to the point that there is no need to take any prescribed pain medication. You may, however, want to continue taking over-the-counter pain medicine to help with ongoing tenderness. Bruising and swelling will still be present, though decreasing. While mobility will improve, you may still feel tenderness when moving your arms.

The arm lift process is structured but not overwhelming. It begins with your consultation, followed by a pre-operative visit if needed to finalize details and ensure you are fully prepared for surgery.

After the procedure, you’ll return for a series of follow-up appointments so Dr. Casas can monitor your healing, assess your results, and provide guidance as you recover. These visits are an important part of achieving the best possible outcome, as they allow for adjustments and reassurance throughout the healing process.

The exact number of appointments may vary depending on your individual recovery, but most patients find the timeline to be very manageable.

The results of this body contouring surgery will be visible. Unfortunately, incisions for “standard” arm lifts are extensive and cannot be concealed when wearing short-sleeve or sleeveless clothes. The pros and cons of scarring will be discussed. If excess skin and fat in the upper arm prevent a patient from wearing “normal” clothing, the benefits of this procedure may outweigh the extensive scarring that can result. An in-depth consultation will help you better understand whether an “arm lift” will meet your expectations.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage, administered by massage, is used after each procedure to reduce swelling. The number of sessions is individualized. It is important that patients follow a healthy lifestyle leading up to and after procedures, including not smoking, a healthy diet, and taking daily vitamins.

Yes, an arm lift is frequently combined with other body-contouring procedures, particularly for patients who have undergone significant weight loss or are seeking more comprehensive results. Common combinations include liposuction of adjacent areas, breast procedures, or even facial surgeries like a facelift.

Combining procedures can be advantageous, as it allows multiple concerns to be addressed in a single surgical session with one recovery period. This approach can also create a more balanced overall result, especially when multiple areas of the body are affected by skin laxity.

As with any surgical procedure, an arm lift carries potential risks that should be carefully considered. These may include infection, bleeding, delayed wound healing, fluid accumulation, or changes in skin sensation. Scarring is also an important factor, as arm lift incisions are typically longer and may be visible when wearing sleeveless clothing.

Patients are thoroughly educated on how to care for their incisions, manage swelling, and support healing. By following these guidelines closely, most patients experience a smooth recovery and achieve results that are both aesthetically pleasing and long-lasting.

It is important to understand that your health insurance provider will consider the arm lift (brachioplasty) an elective cosmetic procedure, so it will not be covered. Since the average arm lift procedure is not covered by insurance, you will need to budget to ensure you have the necessary funds to cover your brachioplasty.

Scarring following a brachioplasty will vary depending on the extent of the surgery and the amount of loose skin. When traditional arm lift surgery in Chicago is performed, there will be some scarring due to the incision. If liposuction is combined with your brachioplasty, the scarring will be very minimal. While your brachioplasty surgeon will use the latest surgical techniques to minimize scarring, the scar itself may be hard to hide on this body part, aside from keeping your arms covered. Typically, the scarring of brachioplasty will run along the underside of the upper arm from the top of the elbow to the lower armpit. When the incision is closed with sutures or staples, the body begins its natural healing process, producing a scar as it forms collagen. However, unlike tissue collagen, which appears woven, collagen following an incision will run in straight lines, resulting in a scar in a haphazard pattern. Your scar may appear raised, thin, shiny, thick, or flat, or the area may even appear as a bumpy keloid. By keeping creams and lotions applied, you will aid the repair process and strengthen the collagen fibers to keep the scarring as minimal as possible.

As an upper arm lift procedure, brachioplasty can target fatty areas in the upper underarm. It is designed to remove excess fat and the sagging, loose skin. On average, a brachioplasty in Chicago can remove close to 2 pounds of fat from the upper arms. However, this does not mean it is ideal for weight loss. Instead, the brachioplasty is designed to correct the arm’s flabby skin. Although fat is removed during brachioplasty, this cosmetic surgery will not improve your overall health. For this reason, brachioplasty is not an alternative to exercising or dieting. However, when sagging skin appears, it can cause you to become self-conscious or even depressed. As a result, the removal of excess fat and skin can help improve mental health and self-image, especially after unrelated weight loss has taken place.