Upper arm fat is a major cosmetic concern among women, which can be the result of excessive weight loss, natural aging or heredity. Loose or sagging skin under the arms is difficult to be corrected with diet and exercise alone. Now, a more advanced, minimally invasive arm liposuction option is available to get results similar to that of traditional surgery. And that is the BodyTite scarless arm lift procedure.
Arm lift surgery, also referred to as brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure that creates a more aesthetically-pleasing look for your arms. This traditional procedure involves surgically removing excess skin and contouring the connective tissues of the arms. Though this procedure provides effective results for flabby arms or batwings, it also comes with a highly visible scar running the inner length of the upper arm from elbow to armpit and extensive downtime.
Here are the major differences between these two procedures.
Anesthesia
As brachioplasty surgery involves the removal of moderate amounts of sensitive skin in an area of the arm and creating a long incision to extract the unwanted fat from the upper arm region, it will require general anesthesia. This anesthesia type ensures that the pain fibers are shut down during the operation. At the same time, scarless arm lift with BodyTite is performed using local anesthesia. Patients are awake during the procedure, and they typically experience mild to no discomfort.
Procedure
According to The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in traditional surgery, after administering general anesthesia, the incision will be made on the inside of the arm or on the back of the arm. The length and pattern of incision depends on the amount and location of excess skin to be removed. The underlying supportive tissue is then tightened and reshaped with internal sutures. And then the skin is smoothed over the new contour of the arm. In the final stage, the incisions will be closed with absorbable sutures or stitches that are removed within one to two weeks following the arm lift.
In the BodyTite procedure, only a single, small incision is made in the arm after local anesthesia administration through which the device’s radiofrequency probe and cannula are inserted. Radiofrequency energy flows from the internal cannula to the electrode on the skin’s surface. The heat generated around the cannula tip coagulates the blood vessels and liquefies fat tissue, which is when the arms are sculpted with more precision and accuracy. Once the fat is liquefied, the cannula extracts the fat and the skin tightens.
Skin Tightening
In surgical brachioplasty after making the incision, the plastic surgeon will tighten the underlying tissues and secure them with stitches. With its ability to safely and precisely heat the soft tissue that is being contoured, BodyTite™ on the arms also provides superior skin tightening effects. This FDA-approved device is designed to melt and remove fat and tighten the skin simultaneously.
Recovery
During the recovery stage in invasive surgery, patients will be recommended to wear a compression garment to control swelling. A temporary drainage tube may be inserted in the arm to drain any fluid or blood that builds up after surgery. With the BodyTite procedure, downtime is minimal and recovery is less strenuous than for a surgical arm lift. ArmTite takes just 30-45 minutes and patients usually return to routine activities soon after the procedure.
Plastic surgeons recommend avoiding smoking before the surgery and during the recovery stage. Smoking slows down the healing process, leading to development of permanent scarring or infections.
Advantages of ArmTite Compared to Traditional Surgery
Along with efficient body contouring and uniform treatment, BodyTite™ on the arms can provide the following advantages.
- Arm lift without scars
- Significant skin tightening
- Minimal blood loss
- Outpatient procedure
- Re-contouring effects are immediately visible
- Less pain, swelling and bruising
- Shorter downtime
- Minimal discomfort and pain
While considering BodyTite liposuction in NYC, make sure to benefit from the services provided by an experienced plastic surgeon, specialized in BodyTite procedures.