Brachioplasty (or Arm Lifts) on the Rise

Brachioplasty—also known as the arm lift—may not generally get a lot of attention in the media, but women are definitely taking notice: according to new statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), brachioplasty procedures have increased by 4,378 percent in the past ten years. Arm lift surgery is a body contouring procedure that removes excess skin from the upper arms—it's a surgical way to reshape and redefine the area between the elbow and the armpit.

Most patients who seek out brachioplasty do so because they have developed excess skin and fat deposits on their upper arms as they’ve aged, or because of massive weight loss that has left their arm skin stretched and sagging. These are issues, of course, that have existed for centuries. So why did only around three hundred women get an arm lift in 2000, while more than fifteen thousand did last year?

According to the ASPS, it may be because a number of women celebrities seem to be focusing more on their arms than they used to. (A recent poll conducted on the plastic surgery organization’s behalf found that women admire many prominent females’ arms, including Michelle Obama, Jennifer Aniston, and Jessica Biel.)

Whether or not this new trend is inspired by our first lady’s toned triceps is up for debate—but brachioplasty is, inarguably, on the rise. If you have sagging skin on your upper arms that you’re ready to get rid of, or if you’re interested in learning more about what’s involved in an arm lift, give us a call here at the San Francisco Plastic Surgery & Laser Center and schedule a free consultation today!