Arm Lift Surgery: The Basics

Arm lift surgery, or brachioplasty, is a body contouring procedure that removes excess skin from the upper arms. Some patients might seek this procedure after drastic weight loss that has left the skin loose and sagging; others might pursue it due to loss of elasticity of the skin or unsightly fat deposits developed in the natural course of aging. Regardless of your reasons, brachioplasty is an excellent means of  reshaping the upper arm.

Arm lifts are performed under general anesthesia. Your plastic surgeon will make an incision along the back of your arm, between your armpit and elbow, and remove the unwanted skin. The length of the incision made depends on the amount of skin you want removed (and where that skin is located). If there is a low enough amount of fat and loose skin present, there is a chance that you might be eligible for minimal-incision brachioplasty—a technique that will allow your surgeon to leave you with a much smaller, more easily hidden scar—but in most cases, a longer incision is necessary.

The scars from your arm lift will never disappear completely, but they will fade over time—and even with the swelling that you’ll experience during the initial part of your recovery, your arms will be recognizably slimmer and sleeker almost immediately following your surgery.

Keep in mind that brachioplasty is not a weight loss surgery, it’s a contouring procedure. If you’re trying to lose weight, you may need to wait until you’ve reached your goal weight before you can undergo an arm lift. While the results are considered long lasting, but that doesn’t mean that your arms will forever stay exactly the same as they are in the months following your surgery—weight gain and age may change them over time. As long as you take care of your body, however, they should stay looking great for years to come!

Give us a call if you’re interested in learning more about arm lifts.