If your goal is to shape and tone your upper body, eating a balanced diet and doing targeted arm exercises like triceps dips should be part of your routine. However, many people are genetically predisposed to accumulate unwanted “bat wing” fat on their upper arms. If you’ve recently lost a significant amount of weight, you may also have loose skin in this area. Nutrition and fitness alone may not be enough to address these concerns.
Fortunately, the body contouring procedure called an arm lift offered at Zochowski Plastic Surgery in Columbus, OH, will help you achieve the toned, sculpted arms you’ve been working hard toward.
How Does Weight Change Affect the Skin?
To decide whether exercise or arm lift surgery is better for toning your arms, you must first understand how weight fluctuation affects your skin’s quality and resilience. Two structural proteins called collagen and elastin are responsible for skin health and vitality. These are abundant in younger people, providing a scaffolding that keeps skin taut and resilient.
Age and weight fluctuations can cause collagen and elastin to break down beyond repair, and your skin loses its ability to bounce back the way it did when you were younger. The result is loose flab hanging off your upper arms. Even if you diligently tone the muscles underneath, you won’t see the results of all your efforts.
What Is an Arm Lift?
Arm lift surgery, medically referred to as brachioplasty, involves making incisions along the underarms, extending toward your elbows. If you have excess fat in the area, Dr. Zochowski will carefully remove it with liposuction. Then, he will carefully trim away the loose skin, creating contoured arms.
Arm lifts generally require about two hours to complete and four weeks to fully heal.
Can Arm Exercise Reduce Flabby Arms?
While weightlifting can build muscle, it cannot reduce loose arm skin that has lost its essential support from collagen and elastin. An arm lift is the only way to remove flabby arm skin and help get your arms into the shape you want.
Schedule Your Arm Lift Consultation in Columbus, OH
When exercise isn’t enough to achieve the lean, toned arms you’ve worked hard to achieve, it might be time to consider an arm lift. During your consultation with Dr. Zochowski, he will examine your skin’s strength and structure and review your medical history to ensure you’re a good candidate for surgery.
An arm lift is one of the most highly requested procedures among people who have lost a significant amount of weight, as it is often the only way to remove excess skin. To schedule your consultation, call our office at (614) 490-7500 or complete our online contact form today.