To whom is upper arm tightening suitable for?

Pregnancy, significant weight fluctuations, long-term obesity, or aging are typical situations that cause the skin on the upper arms to stretch and sag. This results in so-called bat wings, or sagging upper arms. If sagging upper arms are a concern, they can be corrected surgically.

How do you tighten the upper arms?

Slightly sagging upper arms can be treated with ultrasound therapy or liposuction. However, this is usually not enough, as the skin is stretched and inelastic, and the excess loose fat continues to stretch it. 

Excess skin and subcutaneous fat can be removed by performing an incision on the inner surface of the upper arm. In most cases, a combination of liposuction and skin removal is used to achieve the best possible result. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia, and you can go home on the evening of the surgery. 

During the procedure, fat is first suctioned away from the sagging area as thoroughly as possible. After this, the skin surface is peeled away, usually over an area 10–15 centimeters wide and covering the entire length of the upper arm. The superficial peeling technique is very safe, and serious complications are extremely rare. The peeled area is closed with dissolvable stitches and taped. The skin peeling technique does not damage the nerves, blood vessels, or lymphatic system under the skin. 

After surgery, a support sleeve is worn for 2–4 weeks. Swelling and bruising usually disappear within 2–3 weeks. You can return to normal life immediately, but heavy exercise should be avoided for about a month. The need for sick leave is determined by the physical demands of your job.

The biggest problem after surgery is a long vertical scar on the inner side of the upper arm, which fades over time but does not disappear completely. Scar healing takes time, and delayed healing is possible.

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