What to Wear After Arm Lift Surgery
Posted December 29, 2015 in Arm Lift Surgery
Significant weight loss and aging often lead to sagging, excess upper arm skin. This loose skin may make it difficult to choose clothing to wear. Many will wear longer sleeves to hide their sagging upper arm skin, but options are limited regarding season, weather, and style. Arm lift surgery removes excess skin from the upper arms to improve their contour and eliminate this complication. Here is what you can wear after arm lift surgery.
The Recovery Period: Immediately After Surgery
Immediately after surgery, you will have wound dressings and compression garments to wear to protect the incisions and minimize swelling. Patients should avoid raising their arms above their head for several days so as not to put strain on the incisions or overwork the tissues. During this time, patients should wear soft, loose clothing such as tank tops and loose shirts that open in the front. This will make it easier to dress and undress and will prevent clothing from snagging or rubbing against the incisions. Any tightness and swelling will typically subside after one to two weeks, at which point it may be appropriate to wear more form-fitting clothing.
The Interim: Minimizing Scar Formation
After the swelling subsides, the focus shifts toward minimizing scarring. The incisions from arm lift surgery usually run along the inner side of the arm from the armpit down to the elbow. With your arms down at your side, these scars are inconspicuous, but they become visible with your arms raised. While the scars will fade over time, patients can take advantage of the resources available for minimizing scar formation. For example, you can wear silicone patches or sheets underneath snug sleeves to help minimize scarring. An excellent option to improve the quality of your scars is embrace® Active Scar Defense. This is a silicone gel sheet that is applied under tension to pull the skin toward the scar, drawing the incision together. Wearing embrace® Active Scar Defense is highly effective in helping the scar remain thinner and flatter. Dr. Taleisnik and his office staff can help with the application of embrace® Active Scar Defense to minimize scarring after arm lift surgery.
The Final Results: Embracing Your Body
Once your incisions have fully healed and your scars have begun to fade, it is time to embrace your body. By this point, you will likely feel comfortable and confident enough to wear sleeves of any length, including short sleeves, long sleeves, sleeveless clothing, and swimsuits. Despite the scars, patients are usually very pleased with the results of this procedure, as their nicely shaped arms can look attractive in clothing of all different styles and sleeve lengths. Arm lift surgery allows you to enjoy a more attractive arm tone and contour after significant weight loss or aging.
If you are interested in arm lift surgery, schedule your consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Andrés Taleisnik. Please call (714) 538-8549 or fill out our online contact form for more information.