Arm and Thigh Lifting

As a result of new advancements in anesthesia and surgical technique, I perform these procedures on an outpatient basis with safe, gentle anesthesia, much less recovery time, reduced discomfort and reduced risk. These surgeries are commonly performed in my AAAHC Certified Office Surgical facility. Patients stay at home or in a local hotel and recovery is rapid.

Weight loss or just the laxity of tissue that occurs with aging can make the upper arms and thighs floppy and unattractive. Since the excess tissue is much larger than the underlying muscle, no amount of exercise can tighten up the problem. Arm lift and thigh lift procedures are designed to remove the extra skin and fat to produce a more pleasing contour.

The best candidate for the surgery is the individual with normal weight who has excess skin and fat in the upper arms or thighs. Age, obesity and smoking habits are some of the factors the physician considers when evaluating a candidate for this procedure.

Before Surgery

Prior to the surgery, a complete medical history is taken and a careful examination performed in order to evaluate the general health of the patient. Dr. Galoob will speak with you about what can realistically be expected. Photographs are taken before and after surgery to evaluate the amount of the improvement. The type of anesthesia to be used, the procedure, and possible risks and complications are also discussed.

Preoperative instructions may include the elimination of certain prescription and herbal medications (aspirin, garlic, etc.) in order to minimize the possibility of excess bleeding. Antibiotics are given during and after surgery to prevent infection and are normally not prescribed pre-operatively. Patients are advised to refrain from smoking before surgery and in the postoperative period.

The Procedures

Arm lifting

Arm lifting is an outpatient surgery procedure in our AAAHC Certified Surgical Facility or at a local outpatient surgical facility. Patients stay for one to two days in the area in a local hotel before returning home. The procedure may also be performed concurrently with other surgeries, such as hysterectomy, hernia repair etc. Anesthesia may consist of a deep sedative with local tumescent anesthesia or a general anesthetic depending on the health and specific needs of the patient.

The most common arm lift procedure now performed by Dr. Galoob involves a combination of liposuction and excess tissue excision. New techniques make this combination safe and effective and promote rapid healing and recovery.
There are three approaches to the procedure.
· Liposuction alone can improve the excess skin and fat in the upper thigh. However, when that is not possible or not successful, a direct removal of the tissue (arm Lift) is indicated.
· Skin near the armpit can be removed, gently lifting and tightening the upper arm. This results in a scar that is hidden in the armpit area. This procedure is chosen for patients with minimal excess skin in the upper arm and can give a very satisfying improvement in arm contour.
· Removal of skin and fat in the upper arm from the shoulder to the elbow is performed with a gentle curved incision on the inner arm or on the back of the arm depending on the preference of the patient. This approach leaves a visible scar in the area that usually fades over time. Since this scar is more visible for a longer period of time, the patient should give careful consideration to clothing style and the tradeoff of a scar for improved arm contour. Dr. Galoob utilizes special scar laser treatments after the procedure to help healing and reduce scar visibility. The patient may also wear compressive dressings for several months after the procedure to improve the appearance of the scar.

Insurance Considerations

Most insurance companies do not pay for arm lifts and consider the procedure to be cosmetic.

Thigh Lifting

Thigh lifting is performed as an outpatient surgery procedure in our AAAHC Certified Surgical Facility or at a local outpatient surgical facility. Patients stay for one to two days in the area in a local hotel before returning home. The procedure may also be performed concurrently with other surgeries, such as hysterectomy, hernia repair etc. Anesthesia may consist of a deep sedative with local tumescent anesthesia or a general anesthetic depending on the health and specific needs of the patient.

Insurance considerations

Insurance companies will sometimes consider the thigh lifting procedure to be a medical condition and not cosmetic. They require medical documentation of the problems that result from the excess skin, including rashes, pain, interference with mobility and constant irritation. Most companies require copies of the documentation in your medical record that conservative treatment has failed when tried over a period of time. This information must be contained in the records from your regular physician visits over a period of time.

The procedure

In some cases, liposuction alone can improve the excess skin and fat in the upper thigh. However, when that is not possible or not successful, a direct removal of the tissue (thigh Lift) is indicated.

The most common thigh lift procedure performed by Dr. Galoob involves a combination of liposuction and excess tissue excision. New techniques make this combination safe and effective and promote rapid healing and recovery.
There are three approaches to the procedure.
· Liposuction alone can sometimes improve the excess skin and fat in the upper thigh. The skin in the upper thigh will shrink to become smooth and tight. However, when that is not possible or not successful, a direct removal of the tissue (thigh Lift) is indicated.
· Skin in the in the upper thigh is removed, gently lifting the remaining thigh skin toward the groin area. This results in a scar that is hidden in the groin area. This procedure is usually chosen for patients with only moderate excess skin in the upper thigh and can give a very satisfying improvement in contour.
· A more vigorous removal of skin and fat in the upper thigh is performed for those patients with a large amount of tissue. In this procedure, an incision is made on the inside of the thigh and leaves a scar extending down on the inside of the thigh from the groin to just above the inside of the knee. This approach leaves a visible scar in the area that usually fades over time. Since this scar is more visible for a longer period of time, the patient should give careful consideration to clothing style and the tradeoff of a scar for improved contour. Dr. Galoob utilizes special scar laser treatments after the procedure to help healing and reduce scar visibility. The patient may also wear compressive dressings for several months after the procedure to improve the appearance of the scar.

After Surgery

Patients who have these procedures as an outpatient can go home or to a hotel if from out of town. Because early ambulation and outpatient treatment is used for the majority of these procedures, pain is usually only moderate and easily controlled with oral medication.

Sutures are removed approximately one week after surgery and the patient continues to wear an elastic support garment for several weeks. During this time, patients must refrain from heavy lifting, straining or excessive activity. The physician will decide when normal activities may be resumed based upon the extent of surgery and the patient's progress. Most individuals resume normal activity within 2-4 weeks after an arm or thigh lift. Scars from the procedure remain but fade significantly in time. Troublesome scars may be improved with Pulsed Dye laser treatments or surgical revision if needed.

Thousands of Arm and thigh lift procedures are successfully performed each year. The amount of improvement is individual and depends upon the extent of surgery, the patient's skin tone, body build and healing process. Complications connected with the procedure are rare. However, there are inherent risks such as infection, bleeding and anesthetic problems connected with every surgical procedure. Possible risks and complications should be discussed thoroughly with the physician prior to surgery. Patients can minimize complications by carefully following directions given by the physician and by avoiding smoking.

If you are interested in learning more about arm and thigh lifting, contact us and we will be happy to answer your questions.