Brachioplasty (Arm Lift) Experience

Brachioplasty (Arm Lift) Initial Consultation:

You will meet with San Diego Plastic Surgeon Dr. Tom Pousti for a private consultation to discuss your goals. Dr. Pousti will discuss options, risks, benefits and possible complications of different surgical procedures with you. Questions regarding optimal timing of surgery and typical post-operative care issues will be addressed.

Examination:

Dr. Pousti will examine you and advise you accordingly. He will let you know if you are a good candidate for surgery and if he can achieve your goals. Questions such as placement and incisions, expected scarring, and your specific concerns will be addressed.

Tailoring the Surgery to Meet Your Goals:

Dr. Pousti will review several albums of pre and post operative patient’s pictures with you. He wants to have a full understanding of your desired result and pictures aid in this communication. He encourages you to bring in pictures from magazines or off the internet to assist in this communication. He is interested in what you like as well as what you don’t like. This enables Dr. Pousti to have a clear three dimensional understanding of your goals. During this process he creates a “portfolio” of your pictures that he takes into the operating room on the day of your surgery.

Brachioplasty (Arm Lift) Pre-Operative Appointment:

During the pre-operative appointment medical history of the patient is reviewed, consent forms are signed, and prescriptions for post-op medications are given. Post-op instructions are discussed and “Before” pictures are taken. Dr. Pousti discusses the size and placement of incisions ensuring the patient of the best results possible.

This is a 33 year old patient from San Diego who was interested in an arm lift, after a 40lb. weight loss. After consulting with San Diego Plastic Surgeon Dr. Tom Pousti on her surgical options, she was excited and ready to start this process.

Markings:

Before each surgery, Dr. Pousti takes time to perform “markings” which prepares the patient and Dr. Pousti for the upcoming surgery. Dr. Pousti understands that every patient is unique with different body types and structure. Measurements are always carefully made to achieve the desired goal of the individual patient. Markings are then reinforced prior to surgery.

Brachioplasty (arm lift) markings.

Day of Surgery:

Once you arrive at the Surgical Center, you will be brought into a private room, where you will be prepared for surgery. This is where you will change, the nurse will come in start your IVand go over the procedure and answer any last inute questions you might have. Dr. Pousti will also come in, to make his final markings and talk with you. The Anesthesiologist that Dr. Pousti works with will also come in prior to surgery to meet you and explain to you that she will be monitoring you and to answer any last minute questions you may have about anesthesia.

In the Operating Room:

By the day of the surgery, Dr. Pousti hopes that you will feel comfortable knowing that he has a good understanding of your goals. Some anxiety as well as excitement is to be expected.

Dr. Pousti performs the surgery in a fully licensed surgicenter with a compliment of caring nurses and board certified anesthesiologists. Dr. Pousti is with with you, holding your hand as you go to sleep.

Dr. Pousti uses every technique available to avoid complications such as infection, bleeding, scarring and loss of sensation. You will receive medications (antibiotics and anti-nausea) intravenously during the operation.

Dr. Pousti is reinforcing his markings, using them as guidelines

The incision is made, exposing the excess fat and skin. This is then removed from the upper arm area in order to create a firmer more youthful looking arm contour.

The incision is then closed and ready to start its healing process, already a more contoured shape.

During your entire procedure, the licensed and board certified Anesthesiologist is administering medicine and monitoring you very closely.

Recovery:

Directly following your procedure, you will be wheeled into a recovery room where trained and skilled nurses are very attentive to you, making sure you are comfortable as you slowly awaken. It is very important to Dr. Pousti that you are taken care of and are as comfortable as possible. To ensure this, Dr. Pousti has made sure that the nurses there are ‘first class’ and exceptional at what they do.

Three Days Post-Operative:

The patient is doing very well, her incisions are healing nicely, she will keep her steri-strips for now, promoting the healing of her incisions.

Two Weeks Post-Operative:

The patient is doing very well, her steri-strips were removed today, and her incision’s are healing nicely. She loves her results and was glad she made the decision to work with Dr. Pousti.