What Is an Arm Lift?
An arm lift is a body contouring procedure that removes redundant upper arm skin and tightens the remaining soft-tissue envelope to create a smoother contour from the underarm to the elbow. Liposuction may be added when excess fat contributes to fullness, but liposuction alone does not reliably tighten substantially loose skin.
What Can an Arm Lift Improve?
Arm lift surgery firms the upper arms by addressing the following concerns:
- Loose, hanging skin
- Excess skin after major weight loss
- Upper arm contour changes related to aging or reduced skin elasticity
- Localized fatty fullness, when combined with liposuction
- Differences in upper arm shape or contour that can be reasonably improved surgically
Brachioplasty does not strengthen the arm muscles and cannot stop future aging or weight-related changes. The main tradeoff is a permanent scar in exchange for the removal of loose skin and improved contour.
Who Is a Good Candidate for an Arm Lift?
Brachioplasty may be appropriate for adults who:
- Have persistent upper arm skin laxity despite a stable, healthy weight
- Have undergone major weight loss or are near a stable, maintainable weight
- Are in good overall health and can safely undergo surgery and anesthesia
- Do not use nicotine or are willing to stop before and after surgery
- Understand the location and permanence of the arm lift scars
- Have realistic expectations about contour, symmetry, and scar maturation
Your consultation includes an assessment of skin quality, fat distribution, prior scars, and the degree of laxity near the armpit and chest wall.
Our Arm Lift Surgeons
At UVA Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, our highly regarded surgeons offer expertise and personalized care for a rewarding patient experience.
How Is Brachioplasty Performed?
Arm lift surgery is generally performed under general anesthesia. Standard arm lift incisions extend from the armpit toward the elbow along the inner or posterior upper arm. The exact position and length depend on the amount and distribution of loose skin. Patients with loose skin that extends from the upper arm onto the side of the chest may need an extended brachioplasty that involves longer incisions. After making the incisions, the surgeon removes excess skin and reshapes the underlying soft tissue, then closes the incisions in layers. Liposuction may be performed during the same operation to reduce selected areas of fatty fullness and improve contour transitions. Drains may be used in some patients depending on the surgical plan.
Can Brachioplasty Be Combined With Other Procedures?
Patients who have experienced significant weight loss often have contour concerns in more than one area. Depending on overall health, procedure length, and recovery needs, brachioplasty may be combined with or staged around:
- Breast lift
- Breast reduction
- Tummy tuck
- Lower body lift
- Back or bra-line lift
- Thigh lift
- Liposuction
Combining procedures can increase operative time and recovery demands, so the safest sequence is individualized. Our surgeons limit the total operative time to under 6 to 8 hours, considering the patient’s overall health, blood-clot risk, mobility, and recovery needs. They may recommend staging surgery in the interest of patient safety.
What Is Recovery Like?
Recovery varies with the extent of surgery and whether other procedures are performed at the same time. Light daily activity begins early, while lifting and strenuous upper body activity are restricted for several weeks. Your surgeon will give you a personalized return-to-work and exercise plan.
Recovery Timeline
Week 1
- Swelling, bruising, tightness, and soreness are expected.
- Dressings and a compression garment may be used to support the arms and limit swelling.
- The arms should be elevated when possible, and gentle walking is encouraged.
- Lifting, pushing, pulling, and repetitive arm movement are restricted.
Weeks 2-6
- Swelling and tightness gradually improve.
- Many patients return to desk-based work as comfort allows, depending on job demands and the extent of surgery.
- Exercise and heavier lifting are resumed gradually only after your surgeon confirms that the incisions are healing appropriately.
- Compression may continue for several weeks if recommended.
Long Term
- The arms continue to soften and settle over several months.
- Scars may look pink, firm, or raised early and usually fade and soften over a year or longer.
- Results are generally long lasting when body weight remains stable.
- Aging and future weight changes can alter the result over time.
Does an Arm Lift Leave Scars?
Yes. A visible, permanent scar is an unavoidable part of most arm lift procedures. The scar is usually placed along the inner or posterior upper arm and may extend from the armpit toward the elbow. Patients with skin excess extending onto the chest may require an extended incision that leaves a longer scar. Although our surgeons plan the incisions to make the scars as inconspicuous as possible, full arm lift scars cannot be completely hidden. Scar quality varies from person to person, and scar care may include silicone therapy, sun protection, massage, or other treatments after the incision has healed.
Risks and Considerations
Potential risks include bleeding, hematoma, infection, seroma, delayed wound healing, wound separation, prominent or widened scars, asymmetry, contour irregularity, numbness or other changes in skin sensation, persistent pain, fat necrosis, nerve injury, injury to deeper structures, blood clots, anesthesia complications, and the possible need for revision surgery. Swelling of the arm or hand can occur during recovery. Nicotine use, medical conditions, and weight instability can increase the risk of healing problems.
Why Choose UVA Aesthetic Plastic Surgery?
- Experienced plastic surgeons with expertise in aesthetic and reconstructive body contouring
- Individualized incision planning based on the location and degree of skin excess
- Thoughtful use of liposuction when it can improve contour
- Academic medical center resources and perioperative safety standards
- Comprehensive postoperative care and scar management
- Ability to coordinate staged or combined body contouring procedures, when appropriate
Insight From Our Surgeons
Arm lift procedures are tailored to the location and amount of excess skin and fat. Dr. Sergesketter often favors a posterior incision along the back of the arm because it can be less conspicuous; she may continue the arm lift incision onto the lateral chest, called an extended brachioplasty, when excess skin continues into that area.
Arm Lift FAQ
Can liposuction replace an arm lift?
Liposuction may work well when the main concern is localized fat and the skin has good elasticity. When substantial loose skin is present, an arm lift is needed because liposuction alone may not create the desired contour.
Will I need drains?
Some arm lifts are performed without drains, while others use temporary drains to remove fluid. The decision depends on surgical technique, tissue removal, and surgeon preference.
How long do I wear compression?
Compression is commonly used during the early recovery period to help manage swelling. The specific garment and duration vary, and your surgeon will tell you when it can be discontinued.
Can brachioplasty improve stretch marks?
Stretch marks located within skin that is removed will also be removed. Stretch marks outside the excised skin generally remain, although their position or appearance may change as the tissues are tightened.
Should I wait until my weight is stable?
Yes. A stable, maintainable weight helps make the result more predictable and reduces the chance that future weight loss or gain will recreate skin laxity or change the contour.
How long do results last?
Results are generally long lasting because the excess skin that is removed does not grow back. The remaining tissues still age naturally, and significant weight changes can affect the contour over time.
Your Next Step
To learn more about arm lift and other body contouring procedures at UVA Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in Charlottesville, request a consultation with one of our plastic surgeons using the online form or call (434) 924-5078 to schedule an appointment.
