Interested in an Arm Lift? Two Chicago Plastic Surgeons Reveal All About the Procedure

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - Jun 25, 2014) - Arm lift surgery, medically referred to as brachioplasty, is a cosmetic procedure intended to shape and contour the arms by removing excess skin and fat for a more shapely, toned look. At The Aesthetic Institute of Chicago, plastic surgeons Lorri Cobbins, MD and Brian Braithwaite, MD typically perform arm lift surgery for patients who have a noticeable amount of sagging skin attributed to significant weight loss and/or the natural effects of aging. Frequently, they say, this accumulation of excess skin and fat on the arms is resistant to even the most nutritional diets and stringent exercise routines, often necessitating the need for surgery.

According to Am I a Candidate for Arm Lift Surgery? -- a recent blog post on the Chicago plastic surgeons' website -- good candidates for brachioplasty should meet the following criteria prior to surgery:

• Patients should be at or near their ideal weight.
• Patients should be exercising on a routine basis.
• Patients should be eating a healthy diet.
• Patients should be in good overall health.

At The Aesthetic Institute of Chicago, arm lift surgery is generally performed by making an incision that extends from the armpit region down to the elbow. The incision is concealed along the inside of the arm in an effort to hide potential scarring when the patient's arms are by their sides. Following the incision, skin is then tightened and any excess is removed. Additionally, liposuction is often performed in conjunction to remove fat and further improve results of the procedure.

As noted in Recovery from Arm Lift Surgery -- another recent blog entry on Drs. Cobbins and Braithwaite's website -- "For the first day or two after surgery there will generally be some discomfort in the treatment area, but this can often be diminished with pain medication, and we have found that most of our patients are back to work within two to three days." Additionally, the post states that patients will need to wear a compression garment in the weeks following surgery to limit swelling and fluid accumulation in the treatment area.

In the end, the blog entry advises patients to "continue to watch their diet, maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly" in order to help ensure they maintain optimal results from their arm lift surgery well into the future.

About Lorri Cobbins, MD

Dr. Cobbins earned her medical degree and graduated with a Distinction in Research from Saint Louis University. She later went on to complete a five-year residency in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery as well as formal training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Louisville Medical Center. Dr. Cobbins is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and she is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

About Brian Braithwaite, MD

Dr. Braithwaite graduated from the University of Chicago and earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago. He later completed his plastic surgery training at the University of Louisville. He is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and he is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Cobbins and Dr. Braithwaite are both available for interview upon request.

For more information, visit aestheticinstitutechicago.com and facebook.com/drbraithwaite.

To view the original source of this press release, click here: http://www.aestheticinstitutechicago.com/news-room/interested-in-an-arm-lift-two-chicago-plastic-surgeons-reveal-all-about-the-procedure/.