Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)

If you have recently lost a great deal of weight through bariatric surgery or if several pregnancies have caused you to gain and lose weight over time, you may bothered by drooping excess skin along your upper arm. Brachioplasty, or arm lift, is a plastic surgery procedure that removes excess skin to tighten and tone the appearance of your upper arm. Read on to learn more about the arm lift procedure and variations of the technique such as the mini arm lift.

Upper Arm Lift

The upper arm lift, also called a brachioplasty, is a technique used to surgically remove excess skin that droops from the upper arm. In most cases, this skin is a result of rapid weight loss or loss of skin elasticity due to the natural aging process.

If the surplus skin on your upper arms keeps you from wearing your favorite clothes or wanting to raise your arms over your head, consider an arm lift to restore a youthful looking contour to your arms.

The upper arm lift operation begins with an incision along the arm. The location and length of the incision will vary depending on the amount of skin you wish to have removed, as well as the location of the excess skin flap. In the most extreme cases, the incision may extend from the armpit to the elbow to remove the maximum amount of skin. Your doctor may create either a curved or z-shaped incision during the procedure to minimize the appearance of scarring after healing.

If you have excess fat on your arms, you may choose to combine your brachioplasty with liposuction for the best results. After suctioning fat and tightening the skin on the arm, your surgeon will remove the surplus skin of your upper arm and complete the lift by suturing the incision closed.

After your arm lift, you will be bandaged and given a prescription for pain medication to ease your discomfort in the first few days after surgery. Keep in mind that a full arm lift is impossible to do without leaving a scar. In time, however, this scar will fade. Most patients feel that the benefits of brachioplasty far outweigh the scars left behind by the surgery.

Mini Arm Lift

The mini arm lift may be an option for patients who need only minor revision to the skin on their upper arms. The procedure for mini arm lift is similar to that of a full arm lift; excess skin and fat are removed to create a more pleasing appearance. The difference, however, is that in a mini arm lift, the incision is much smaller. In most cases, the surgeon can locate the scar in the armpit, where it is much less noticeable than down the length of the upper arm.

The mini arm lift procedure is usually used for patients who have lost a moderate amount of weight due to diet and exercise, or for those who have developed some excess skin through aging. Most bariatric surgery patients will require traditional brachioplasty, as a mini arm lift is unable to provide the drastic revision necessary after extreme weight loss.

Locate a Cosmetic Surgeon to Perform Your Arm Lift

If you are unhappy with the appearance of excess skin on your upper arms, a full or mini arm lift may be right for you. The best way to find out if you are a candidate for either type of brachioplasty is to contact a plastic surgeon in your area through DocShop. Simply select “Cosmetic Surgery” from the list of specialties above, enter your zip code into the designated field, and click the Search button. DocShop will provide you with a list of qualified cosmetic surgeons near you.