An arm lift (brachioplasty) tightens the upper arms to reshape the area from a patient’s underarm to elbow. The procedure generally involves an incision along the arm to remove excess skin and fatty tissue. Combining brachioplasty with liposuction often improves the overall tightness of the arm. Patients well suited for an arm lift include those with loose or flabby arm skin due to weight loss or age. Dr. Butler, Dr. Leveque, and Dr. Patterson can help you “go sleeveless” without self-consciousness.

Typical Timing/Age

40-70

Problem

Significant excess skin and fat of the arm. Minimal skin excess with primarily fat excess may be effectively treated with liposuction alone. More moderate skin excess may be effectively treated with a short scar brachioplasty.

Procedure

Through an incision in the armpit and down along the inside of the arm, excess skin and fat are removed. Because the arm is a cylinder, tightening the skin on the medial side of the arm will tighten the skin all the way around the arm. A brachioplasty is usually combined with arm liposuction to remove more fat and further improve the contour of the arm.

Goal

To remove excess skin and fat from the arms to improve contour.

Facility

Surgery Center or Hospital

Preparation

Patients should be at a stable weight, healthy, have good nutrition and with good protein stores and should avoid any nicotine-containing substances.

Anesthesia

General anesthesia.

Recovery

Hospital stay
This is an outpatient procedure. No hospital stay is required.

Assistance

You will be able to walk around, feed and bathe yourself. The pain medications and arm compression garments will make it difficult to care for others and unsafe to drive a car during the early recovery period.

Walking After Surgery

You are encouraged to walk around the house to help reduce the risk of DVT and thromboembolism. Do not resume exercise or strenuous physical activity until you are clear by your doctor.

Showering

You may shower 48 hours after surgery.

Exercise

Light exercise is okay 2 weeks after surgery. Regular exercise after 4 weeks. Arm exercises after 6 weeks.

Sex

Wait 2 weeks because you don’t want to increase your blood pressure or stress your incisions during the early healing period.

Work

1 week or less depending on your type of work.

Swelling

Usually, peaks around 3 days and gradually goes away.

Bruising

Should subside within 1-2 weeks.

Follow-up Appointments

Your doctor will schedule your follow up appointments according to your treatment plan.

Inherent Risks & Complications

Contour irregularities, Dehiscence, Delayed wound healing, Poor scarring, Bleeding, Seroma, Numbness, Infection, Need for revision, Complications related to anesthesia.

Still have some questions, or want to find out more? The next step is easy, schedule a consult with your doctor. Our staff will be happy to discuss arm lift surgery with you further. At Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery, we want to be your partner in achieving the appearance you’ve always wanted!