Arm lift, or brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure that reduces excess sagging skin that droops downward and tightens and smoothes the underlying supportive tissue that defines the shape of the upper arm
Fluctuations in weight, growing older, and heredity can cause your upper arms to have a drooping, sagging appearance. This is a condition that cannot be corrected through exercise.
Arm lift surgery may be right for you if the underside of your upper arms are sagging or appear loose and full due to excess skin and fat.
Procedural Steps
First, Anesthesia is induced
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. This procedure is usually done under general anesthesia.
The incisions
Incision length and pattern during arm lift surgery depend on the amount and location of excess skin to be removed. We will discuss this at your consultation.
Incisions are generally placed on the inside of the arm and may extend from the underarm (axilla) to just above the elbow.
Depending on your specific condition, incisions may be more limited. Then, underlying supportive tissue is tightened and reshaped with internal sutures. Finally, the skin is smoothed over the new contour of your arm.
Closing the incisions
Your incisions will be closed either with absorbable sutures, or stitches that are usually removed within one to two weeks following your arm lift.
The results
The smoother, tighter contours that result from brachioplasty are apparent almost immediately following your procedure, although there will likely be swelling and bruising.
Arm lift recovery
During your recovery from arm lift surgery, dressings or bandages may be applied to your incisions, and your arms may be wrapped in an elastic bandage or a compression garment to minimize swelling following surgery.
A small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood or fluid.
You will be given specific instructions on how to care for the surgical site and drains, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing, specific concerns to look for, and when to follow up in the office.
Arm lift risks and safety information
The decision to have plastic surgery is extremely personal, and you'll have to decide if the benefits, risks and potential complications of arm lift surgery are acceptable.
You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure.
Arm lift surgery risks include:
- Anesthesia risks
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Poor wound healing
- Unsightly scarring
- Fluid accumulation (seroma)
- Damage to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels and muscles
- Fatty tissue under the skin might die (fat necrosis)
- Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
- Pain, which may persist
- Sutures may not absorb, but spontaneously surface through the skin, causing irritation, drainage and redness
- Possible need for revisional surgery
These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It’s important that you address all your questions prior to surgery.