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Arm, thigh and buttock lift
Growing older, along with fluctuation in weight or even hereditary factors can cause your upper arms, thighs or buttocks to have a sagging droopy appearance and although exercise can strengthen and improve the underlying muscle tone, it will not improve the excess skin caused by loss of elasticity or often through local fatty deposits.
Our experienced surgeons at Court House Clinics therefore offer surgical procedures for the upper arms, buttocks ‘and thighs which can reduce excess skin and fat and reshape you giving you smoother skin and contours, leading to a more toned and often more proportionate appearance.
Any of these surgical procedures may also be combined with liposuction or liposculpture so as to achieve optimum results; our cosmetic surgeons will of course advise the best surgical treatment programme for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is an arm lift?
An upper arm lift, or ‘brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure that reshapes the under portion of the upper arm, from the underarm region to the elbow. The procedure is performed to:
- Reduce excess sagging skin that droops downward
- Tighten and smooth the underlying supportive tissue to help define the shape of the upper arm
- Reduce local pockets of fat in the upper arm region.
Is it right for me?
In general, candidates for an arm lift include:
- Adults with significant upper arm skin ‘wobble’ or looseness
- Adults of any age whose weight is relatively stable and who are not significantly overweight or have lost significant amounts of weight and remain with excess skin
- Healthy individuals who do not have medical conditions that can impair healing or increase risk of surgery.
For smaller cases of Arm Lift then the less invasive and lower cost of SmartLipo or Vaser® Lipo can also be considered.
What happens during the procedure? Where will the incision be?
Incision length and pattern depend on the amount and location of excess skin to be removed, as well as the opinion of the surgeon.
Incisions are generally placed on the inside of the arm or on the back of the arm, depending on the surgeon’s preference, and may extend from the underarm (axilla) to just above the elbow. If fat is to be reduced during your arm lift, it can be treated with liposuction.
How will the incisions be closed?
Your incisions will be closed with dissolvable sutures, or stitches that will be removed within 1-2 weeks following your arm lift and these can be removed painlessly in clinic.
How will I feel following surgery?
The smoother, tighter contours that result from an arm lift are apparent almost immediately following your procedure, although initial results can be obscured by swelling and bruising. Your new, shapely and toned upper arm will be dramatically improved both in appearance and feel.
What happens when I return home?
When you return home you will be advised to rest for a few days making sure you do not lift anything except for small objects. Most patients return to work after a week. You can expect pain and tenderness to last for a week and bruising and swelling to last for anything up to four weeks..
What can I expect to pay for an arm lift?
The cost is £4,000 (please note regional variations may apply).
What is a Buttock Lift?
Buttocks begin to droop and change shape as we grow older and women have always been particularly conscious about the size and shape of their bottoms!
There are several different procedures that can be used to improve the buttock shape and appearance. The buttock can be lifted, reshaped with liposuction or the size increased with an implant or fat transfer or a combination of any of the above can be used.
Your choice of treatment will depend on what shape your body is and what your specific goals may be. You need to look at the size, shape, and the skin quality of your bottom before making any decisions. It is these three factors that will determine what you decide.
A buttock lift is the most complicated procedure of those mentioned above and is generally reserved for patients who have large amounts of loose or sagging skin around the buttocks that needs to be removed in order to reshape the area.
Is it right for me?
If you have good skin quality and tone, but your buttocks are flat rather than rounded then maybe buttock implants, or fat transfer may be recommended to help give a more rounded shape to your bottom.
For patients with excess fat around the sides of the buttocks who have good skin quality and tone then liposuction may provide the best results in helping to reshape the buttocks. In cases like this then the excess fat can simply be sucked out of your rear.
What happens during the procedure? Where will the incision be?
During the traditional operation half-moon shaped segments of skin and fat from underneath the surface of the skin are removed from the buttock area. The remaining skin and tissue are lifted to achieve a tighter and smoother effect. Although the operation is often combined with liposuction, it is designed to tighten the skin and deep tissue.
The nature of this operation means long cuts are made in your skin and these will obviously leave long scars. The length of the scar will depend on how much excess skin you have. Typically, the scar will be all across the upper buttock; it might also go round the sides and possibly onto the front. Underwear and swimwear will usually hide the scar.
If you only have a small area of excess skin, especially in the lower buttock area, then surgeons can perform a limited cutting of the skin, and the scars are then left in the buttock crease. In this operation, the surgeon is not really lifting the buttock, but giving a small area a gentle tightening.
How will the incision be closed?
Your incisions will be closed with dissolvable sutures, or stitches that will be removed within 1-2 weeks following your arm lift and these can be removed painlessly in clinic.
How will I feel?
After a buttock lift, dressings will be applied, and a temporary tube may be put in to drain excess fluid from the area of surgery. Firm elastic bandages are then applied to support the area. Depending on the extent of the procedure, you may be able to go home after a few hours or you might have to stay in hospital for 1 or 2 days.
What happens when I return home?
When you return home you will be advised to rest for up to a week taking care when sitting. Most patients return to work after a week. You can expect pain and tenderness to last for several weeks and bruising and swelling to last for anything up to four weeks.
Buttock lift recovery generally takes one to two weeks. You can usually return to work in a couple of weeks, and resume exercise or contact sports in approximately four to six weeks.
What can I expect to pay for a buttock lift?
The cost is £7,000 (please note regional variations may apply).
What is a Thigh Lift?
A thigh lift reshapes the thighs by reducing excess skin, and in some cases fat, resulting in smoother skin and better-proportioned contours of the thighs and lower body.
Is it right for me?
If fitness and weight loss efforts have not achieved your goals for a body that is firmer or more youthful looking or more proportionate to your overall body image, then a surgical thigh lift may be right for you.
This surgery reshapes the thighs by reducing excess skin, and in some cases fat, resulting in smoother skin and better-proportioned contours of the thighs and lower body.
What happens during the procedure? Where will the incision be?
Incision patterns can vary based on the area or areas to be treated, the degree of correction and the patient and surgeon preference.
One common technique used for a thigh lift places the incisions in the groin, extending downward wrapping around the back of the thigh. The underlying tissue will then be reshaped and tightened, and skin will be reduced and re-draped resulting in more proportionate and smoother body contours.
You may qualify for a minimal incision medial thigh lift which involves an incision only in the groin area. Your surgeon will determine what is most appropriate.
How will the incision be closed?
Deep support sutures within underlying tissues help to form the newly shaped contours. Sutures close the skin incisions.
How will I feel following surgery?
The smoother tighter contouring that result from a thigh lift is apparent almost immediately, although initially will be obscured by swelling and bruising. One or more small, thin tubes may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain excess fluid or blood that may collect.
What happens when I return home?
You may be required to wear a compression garment for several weeks following your procedure to minimise swelling and support the tissues and new contours as they heal.
What results can I expect following this procedure?
Following a thigh lift, skin quality is dramatically improved both in appearance and feel. However, it may take several months for the final results to fully develop. Some visible scars will remain, but the overall results are long lasting, provided that you maintain a stable weight and general fitness. As your body ages, it is natural to lose some firmness. However, most of your initial improvement should be relatively permanent.
What can I expect to pay?
£4,000 for an arm lift, £5,200 for thigh lift and £7,000 for a buttock lift (regional variations apply). Please note: a non-surgical treatment and product package is included in the cost of surgery to assist with healing and ensure optimum results.
The Operations:
General Anaesthetic is usually administered for your comfort during the operation. Alternatively intravenous sedation and local anaesthetic can be used. Your surgeon will recommend the best choice for you.
General Risks:
Any elected surgical procedure carries certain risks which will be fully explained to you by the surgeon and these can include: scarring, bleeding (hematoma), infection, healing problems, changes in sensation, uneven contouring or skin rippling, swelling and bruising, risks of anaesthesia, accumulation of fluids, DVT, arm asymmetry and allergies which may arise in surgery and the possibility of revisional surgery but this will all be thoroughly explained.
