- In 2000, 300 women in the US had surgery to reshape their upper arms
- Last year, 15,000 had brachioplasty or liposuction to remove bingo wings
- Celebrities’ super toned arms are thought to be fueling the trend
As summer arrives and sleeveless dresses hit the stores, many women will be looking mournfully at their less toned arms.
So it’s no surprise that plastic surgery to reshape the upper arm is growing in popularity.
The latest statistics published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) show that arm lifts in women have increased more than 4,000 percent in the past decade.
Michelle Obama’s toned arms are believed to be inspiring people to undergo arm lift procedures
The report says the trend is fueled, in part, by sleeveless fashions and more focus on celebrities with strong arms.
In 2000, more than 300 women had arm lift procedures in America. Last year, more than 15,000 did.
HOW DOES A BLITZ BINGO BRACIPLASTY FLY?
Brachioplasty is a procedure to remove excess skin and fatty tissue from the upper arm.
It is usually performed under general anesthesia and involves an incision from the elbow to the armpit.
This allows excess tissue to be removed which means the arm circumference is reduced.
The procedure leaves a thin scar along the inner arm.
Complications include persistent swelling of the arm, infection, bruising and bleeding.
There may also be nerve damage that causes numbness in the arm.
An upper arm lift may involve liposuction or a surgical procedure known as brachioplasty, in which loose skin is removed from the back of the arms.
“Women are paying more attention to their hands in general and are becoming more aware of treatment options for this area,” said ASPS President Gregory Evans.
“For some women, the arms have always been a problem area and, along with proper diet and exercise, liposuction can help improve them.
‘Others may opt for a brachioplasty when there is enough loose skin with minimal elasticity.’
Doctors say there is no reason behind the increase, although celebrities from the White House to the red carpet may be influential.
A recent poll conducted on behalf of ASPS found that women pay more attention to the arms of female celebrities.
Actresses Jennifer Aniston (left) and Jessica Biel (right) have some of the most loved hands
According to the poll, women admire first lady Michelle Obama’s hug the most, closely followed by Jennifer Aniston.
Actresses Jessica Biel and Demi Moore and daytime TV host Kelly Ripa have also been recognized for their toned arms.
“I think we’re always influenced by the people we see consistently, whether it’s on the big screen or on television,” said ASPS Public Education Committee Chair David Reath.
“We see them and think, ‘yeah, I’d like to look like that.’
That’s what happened to 24-year-old Natalie Robinson of Knoxville, who says she was inspired by the first lady’s hands.
“I looked at Michelle Obama and said, ‘Oh my God, I want her hands.’ When I started losing weight and started getting toned, I had her image in my head.’
That was three years ago. Today, Mrs Robinson has lost more than 12 stone and continues an amazing transformation through diet and exercise.
Actress Demi Moore (left) and talk show host Kelly Ripa (right) were also named as people with enviable hands
But despite losing so much weight, Ms Robinson says she still wasn’t completely happy.
“I had a lot of excess skin around my arms,” she said. “Every time I looked in the mirror it reminded me of a heavier person and I just couldn’t get rid of it.”
As a result, Ms. Robinson contacted Dr. Reath, who performed a brachioplasty.
“Natalie had the perfect arms for this procedure,” Dr. Rith said, “but it’s not for everyone.”
THE GROWING POPULARITY OF HAND EQUIPMENT SURGERY
In 2012, 15,457 people in the US raised their hands. This was an increase of 3 percent since 2011 and 4,473 percent since 2000.
Of these patients, 15,136 were women.
Surgery is more popular in patients over 40 years of age.
The majority, 43 percent, of patients were between 40 and 54 years of age, 33 percent were over 55 years of age.
The average cost of the operation was £2,500.
Brachioplasty requires an incision from the elbow to the armpit, generally at the back of the arm, leaving a visible and permanent scar.
For Ms Robinson, the scar was much easier to treat than excess skin, but Dr Reath cautions patients to carefully consider the pros and cons before having an upper arm lift, particularly a brachioplasty.
“It’s an exchange. We get rid of the skin, but we leave a scar,” he said. “So as long as there is enough improvement in the shape of the arm to justify the scar, then it’s a great procedure.”
Dr. Reath stresses the importance of proper diet and exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle for all of his patients, but says some women just can’t achieve the look they want on their own.
Many people who just want to tighten and tone their upper arms, but don’t have a lot of excess skin, choose liposuction instead of brachioplasty.
“We are genetically programmed to have different fat deposits in different areas and for some women the arms can be a problem area,” Dr Reath said. “Arms are a very noticeable area and if excess fat and skin is a problem, they tend to look more out of proportion than the rest of the body.”
That was certainly true of Mrs. Robinson, but not anymore.
She says she never expected the surgery to make her hands perfect, just more normal.
“Good proportions were what I was going for and I’m very happy. It was worth the investment,” he said. “I would do it again.”
