There’s Batman and then there’s batwings. The first is a cool comic book character, the other, is a not-so-cool problem that several men and women have under their arms. Batwings, a term used to describe excess skin and fat that hangs low under the arms, can be caused by aging, weight loss and genetics. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Brian Peterson has treated patients at his Kelowna clinic with brachioplasty, a solution for flabby arms. There is a misconception among people that building larger triceps will remedy the loose skin; however, unless they train like Arnold Schwarzenegger, muscle building is not going to cut it.
Aging, gravity and fluctuations in weight all take a heavy toll on skin underneath the arms. Skin over time loses its elasticity, and especially in cases where people loose or gain weight, skin is stretched and retracted to its limits, resulting in batwings. Excess skin and fat that hangs underneath the arms can have a negative effect on a person’s self-image, leaving them insecure and self-conscious about the appearance of their arms. Flabby arms can discourage people from wearing specific types of clothing, like sleeveless shirts and tank tops. In many cases, people restrict social activities because they aren’t happy with the way their exposed arm would look, for example, on the beach.
The cosmetic procedure for restoring smooth and toned arms is clinically known as brachioplasty (arm lift surgery) and is performed on both men and women. The procedure aims at fixing the sagging skin under the arms by removing the excess skin and then reshaping it, to achieve a toned and proportionate look. Brachioplasty is often combined with liposuction, which removes the excess fat deposits in the arms. The incisions made by Dr. Peterson varies from patient to patient; however, generally they are made at the inside of the arm with a range from the armpit (axilla) to the elbow. The surgery does require general anaesthesia and is performed on a day-care basis. In post-surgery care, patients will wear a compression bandage to minimize and stabilize any swelling. During consultations, Dr. Peterson will show prospective patients how to change and clean dressings at the incision site.
The results from brachioplasty will have patients running to cut the sleeves off their shirts so they can finally show off their arms. The smoother skin and greater contour does nothing but good for a person’s body image, allowing them to not only buy desired clothing, but to also have greater self-confidence, which has immeasurable positive effects.
If you’re not happy with excess skin that’s causing batwings on your arms, contact Dr. Brian Peterson in Kelowna today at (250) 868-9099.
