Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)

Overview

What is arm lift surgery?

As part of the natural aging process, skin gradually loses its elasticity. As a result, the skin settles into folds and wrinkles. Along the underside of the upper arm, loss of elasticity can lead to hanging skin that has the unflattering nickname “bat wings.” Weight loss can accentuate this issue.

If you wish you had slimmer and more toned looking upper arms, brachioplasty (also known as an “arm lift”) may be a procedure for you. Brachioplasty is one of the most rapidly growing body contouring surgeries that involves surgically removing excessive skin and/or body fat from the upper arm to reshape and contour the area.

Arm Lift Surgery

Are you a candidate?

If you are self-conscious about the way your upper arms look due to excess skin, or wearing sleeveless shirts or other clothing that reveal your arms makes you feel uncomfortable, then an arm lift may be right for you.

Arm lifts are generally applicable to people who have lost a huge amount of weight, or have a condition known as “lipodystrophy” (abnormal body-fat distribution) and are left with a lot of excessive skin dangling from their upper arm (“bat wings”). The amount of excess skin present and your desired outcome will determine the type of brachioplasty procedure that will be chosen.

Ideal candidates are non-smokers in good overall health. They still have some skin elasticity remaining, which helps the skin adjust to its new contours. While the best outcomes tend to be on people who are at or near their ideal weight, this procedure may also be performed on those who are still overweight.

Procedure details

The initial consultation involves discussing your specific concerns and outcome expectations with the surgeon. The surgeon will examine you, discuss the procedure (if any) that would best suit your goals, and will discuss the potential risks and side effects of the surgery.

Arm Lift Procedure Markings

On the day of the surgery, the surgeon will make accurate pre-operative markings on your arms to use as a guide during the procedure, and will check with you to ensure that you are satisfied with the plan.

To begin the surgery, the surgeon will create an incision. Usually, this is located in the armpit, where any resulting scar can be easily hidden. If more extensive fat deposits or excess skin will be removed from the lower arm, the surgeon may need to create a more extensive incision running along the inside of the arm along the targeted area.

Next, the surgeon will remove the excess skin and deposits of fatty tissue. Most arm lift procedures use traditional surgical methods; however, liposuction surgery can also be used if large areas of excess fat are targeted for removal.

After the excess tissue has been removed and the remaining tissues have been sculpted by the surgeon, the incision is closed with sutures.

How long will recovery take?

Instructions for after-care may vary slightly from surgeon to surgeon, and depend on the exact type of procedure used, whether other procedures were done concurrently, and how well you are doing post-operatively.

Arm Lift Surgery Recovery Compression Garment Photo courtesy of www.NouvelleInc.com

Immediately following the surgery, the physician will place steri-strips (small pieces of medical tape) over the wound to assist with closure, as well as a bolero-type compression garment. The steri-strips are kept in place for two weeks, and then are replaced with Micropore brown tape for one more week. The surgeon will follow your wound healing and scar formation carefully, and may recommend special silicone tape and/or spray and compression for another four months.

You will likely be instructed to avoid bending your elbow for the first 24 hours, and to avoid strenuous activity for two weeks. Swelling all the way down the arm is almost certain, so you should avoid wearing rings or any other tight clothing or jewellery for at least the first two weeks, or until the swelling resolves.

Keeping your arm raised and frequently massaging the fluid from your arm will help reduce the swelling. Most patients take at least a week off work and other obligations to heal, but this depends on the level of activity that their job requires and how well they are healing.

It is common to experience soreness, tenderness, tightness, bruising, swelling, and redness as the arms heal, so you should plan your activities accordingly.

Will you have scars after surgery?

Some patients considering arm lift surgery are concerned about any potential scarring associated with the procedure. It’s important to understand, the surgical technique required will vary by patient, depending on how much skin and fat needs to be removed. For patients that have good skin tone or mild sagging might only require minor incisions, also known as a mini arm lift.

A more moderate to severe cases of loose, hanging skin and fat will likely require a full upper arm lift. This type of procedure requires a longer incision that may lead from the armpit to the elbow.

Arm lift surgery, like most procedures that involve incisions, will leave scars. Regardless of what type of technique is needed for each patient’s arm lift surgery, most plastic surgeons are conscientious about the placement of the incision to give their patients the best outcome with minimal scarring.

When will you see results?

In general, around 6 weeks after surgery most of the major swelling subsides and you will start to see what your final results will like like. The results will continue to improve over the next several months as the tightened arm skin continues to heal and settle.

Cost of arm lift surgery

The average cost of arm lift surgery is between $5,000 and $8,000, which typically includes the surgeon’s fee, anesthesia, medical tests, and the surgical center (operating room and recovery room fees).

The exact cost of a brachioplasty depends upon several factors, including:

• The amount of fat and/or skin to be removed
• The particular surgeon chosen
• The geographical location
• The type of procedure used (for example, arm lift procedures requiring an incision down the length of the arm to target tissues in both the upper and lower arm tend to be more expensive than upper arm surgery performed through an incision in the armpit)
• Whether or not other procedures are done concurrently

Safety information

As with any surgical procedure, arm lifts include some risks and potential side effects. Some possible complications include:

• Infection
• Hypertrophic scarring (raised, enlarged scar)
• Wound re-opening and delayed healing
• Asymmetry between the arms
• Skin laxity recurrence
• Nerve damage

After surgery, the skin of the arms may feel as though it is stretched too tight; however, this feeling should subside as the tissues become used to their new contours.

Before undergoing surgery, speak with your plastic surgeon about all the potential risks and side effects associated with arm lift surgery.

Related procedures

Two thirds of people who have a brachioplasty also have other procedures done concurrently, while they are already under an anesthetic. The procedures most commonly combined with an arm lift are:

• Liposuction
• Thighplasty (removal of excess skin and fat from the thighs)
• Lower body lift