.--Arm Lift

Dr. Capella is the Chief of the Division of Post Bariatric Surgery in the department of plastic surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center and has one of the largest experiences in plastic surgery after weight loss in the world. He has personally performed over 5000 body contouring procedures on weight loss patients. Specifically, he has performed over 500 arm lifts (250 cases). A significant part of Dr. Capella's practice is dedicated to this area of plastic surgery. Dr. Capella lectures regularly at national and international plastic surgery conferences on his techniques and has coauthored three books on plastic surgery.


Consultation  Pre-Operative Period  Day of Surgery  Recovery Period  Risks


Background On Arm Lifts
With the effects of time and frequently following weight loss, both men and women can lose skin tone. This loss of tone can be very obvious as hanging skin on the underside of the arm. The excess skin is sometimes associated with fat deposits in these areas as well. In some individuals, the underside of their arms may appear more full than they would like and this may be because of the presence of excessive fat. For individuals who have good skin tone and disproportionate amounts of fat in the arm, liposuction may provide adequate treatment. The skin in these individuals will usually retract appropriately following treatment. The arm lift procedure is performed to remove excess skin (and usually fat) to restore a more youthful appearance to the arms.


Arm Lift Consultation
During the initial evaluation, Dr. Capella will take a thorough medical history and perform a directed physical examination. In his evaluation he will assess the skin tone of the arms and the amount of localized fat present. If he feels the patient's skin tone is good and that excessive fat is contributing to the undesirable appearance of the arms, liposuction may be recommended. In the event that the skin tone is poor, removal of some skin and liposuction may be recommended. At the consultation, the arm lifting procedure will be explained to the patient and informational materials will be provided.

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Arm Lift Pre-Operative Period
Two weeks prior to your operation, you will need to discontinue medications which can lead to surgical complications. You will meet with Dr. Capella a second time during, at which time any further questions you may have will be answered. You will be asked to sign a surgical consent form for the arm lifting procedure, and another for our board certified anesthesiologist to provide anesthesia.

Photographs will be taken of your arms. Instructions will be provided regarding the date and time of your procedure. You will need to provide for an escort to drive you to and from our surgical facility on the day of the surgery, and for your first post-operative visit. You should wear loose fitting clothing that will wash easily in the event they are soiled. Do not wear jewelry, contact lenses, or bring valuables to the operating room. Remove all jewelry from pierced body parts; this can interfere with the procedure and may represent a safety threat to you because of the use of electro cautery during the procedure.

Finally, Dr. Capella will write prescriptions for preventative infection antibiotics to decrease your risk of infection and a narcotic analgesic for post-operative pain relief. You need to inform us of any history of allergic reactions to medications.

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Day of Arm Lift Surgery
On the day of the procedure, you will meet with Dr. Capella's nurse and your vital signs will be checked. The doctor will place skin markings on your arms while you are sitting up. The anesthesiologist will review your medical history. Dr. Capella performs this procedure with general anesthesia.

The lifting of both arms takes approximately two hours and usually involves liposuction. The incisions are closed with absorbable sutures. No drains are used. Dressings are placed on the incisions, after which an elastic ace wrap is applied. Patients are usually ready for discharge from the recovery area approximately 2-3 hours following the procedure, but it is necessary to have an escort drive you home. Patients cannot be discharged to the company of a minor or a taxi service. Out of town patients should stay within the local area for 7-10 days.

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Arm Lift Recovery Period
Your arms will be swollen for several weeks following the procedure. Dr. Capella will see you at the office 2-3 days following surgery to remove dressings.

The scars of the surgery often become more red two weeks after surgery and then begin to fade 2-3 months later. The scars never completely disappear and take from 12-18 months to reach their final appearance. It is imperative that you not allow sun exposure to these scars while they are still red. If sun exposure is to occur, however, a sun block with a rating of 15 or greater should be applied.

Risks Associated With Arm Lifts
As with any surgery, complications of arm lifts include infection and bleeding, although these are unusual. Other important complications include poor wound healing, resulting in conspicuous scars that may necessitate a second operation. Smokers are advised to discontinue smoking three weeks prior to surgery, as smoking increases the risks of complications and delays wound healing by altering blood circulation in the skin.

You can reduce your risks of complications by closely following our instructions before and after the surgery, especially with regard to how and when you resume physical activity.

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