Procedure

As a person ages, upper arm skin can become loose and flabby. Therefore, when people want to improve their look, many times the biceps are the last area they think of.  However, if this part of your body is your least favorite, then an arm lift from a qualified surgeon could be right for you.

Brachioplasty is a procedure to reduce the skin's redundancy on the arm's circumference.  For instance, liposuction can reduce fat deposits if there is good skin color and minimal skin sagging.  In other words, surgery can only correct any severe skin redundancy and laxity. 

The incision is made in the axillar crease of your arm and along the inner aspect of your arm, following a line that runs from the axilla of the elbow to the epicondyle.  After that, removing a small amount of skin-dermis, fat and skin, the subcutis is then closed with routine aesthetic suturing.

Patients who have lost significant weight may be recommended to undergo this procedure. However it can also be used to enhance the appearance of the arms following shoulder surgery or a mastectomy.  Before you decide whether this is a good option for you, you should discuss the risks and recovery times with your surgeon. Your surgeon will discuss any concerns and give information to help you decide whether or not you want the procedure performed.

Types of Arm Lift

  • Standard Arm Lift – This procedure will remove bat wings and the incision may extend from the axilla to the elbow.
  • Extended Arm Lift – The goal is to remove all arm flab.  Subsequently the incision is extended from the arm to the body to get rid of the saggy skin and fat that may be under the arm and chest wall.
  • Limited-Incision Arm Lift – When saggy skin is close to the armpit, it can be pulled up and tucked into it.
  • Arm Liposuction – Arm Lipo can work for you depending on the elasticity of your skin.  Therefore this procedure can be performed in combination with the Standard or Extended Arm Lift and the incisions are very small.
  • Radiofrequency for Arms – A non-surgical procedure to improve the contour of arms.  Above all, it is used to tighten skin and has proven good results with sagging arms, lines and wrinkles.  Your surgeon will recommend it if needed.

Length

The average time in surgery for this procedure is up to three hours.

Anesthesia

The type of anesthesia can be generalized or localized with sedation.

Inpatient/Outpatient

Both inpatient and outpatient are options.

Possible side effects

Possible side effects post surgery include; lymphoedema and edema can occur in the arms.

There are risks

As with any surgical procedure there is some risk.  For instance highly visible keloid scars or cutaneous nerve injuries.

Selecting patients carefully and with help from the most skilled surgeons and nurses will help to minimize risk and complications.  However, despite the highest standards, complications can still occur. If you have concerns, please discuss them with your doctor. 

Recovery

It may take 7-10 days for the healing process to complete. However post surgery, we recommend to wear a compression or elastic bandage for several months.

You may need someone to assist you with your recovery.  Similarly, avoid lifting your arms for the next 3-4 weeks after surgery.  However you can resume normal activity in 4-8 weeks.  In addition, exercise using your arms and carrying heavy objects may be done after 8-10 weeks. Above all the recovery time can be quite long for this type of procedure.

Results

Young patients with good skin tone and adiposity can achieve stable results.  In addition, older adults may get good results, however they may need several months of elastic compression post surgery.

Cost of Arm Lift

Cost can vary based on surgeon fees, anesthesia used, inpatient (hospital) or outpatient (day surgery), implant type, method of insertion, and package inclusions.  Please ask your consultant for verification on what is/is not included.

Related Body Procedures

Other common body procedures include;

Next Steps

We are here to assist you with your journey. We recommend you make an inquiry and request a firmquote . This will ensure you receive a detailed cost breakdown of your procedure, with surgeon feedback.  We do not charge you for this service. Our consultants are very experienced with all our partners and can answer any questions you may have.