Arm Lift/Brachioplasty

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The journey toward obtaining a sculpted body can have many turns and victories, and nothing compares to the satisfaction of meeting your weight goal. The problem is that while fat can easily be removed with an exercise routine, it is not that easy for the skin to catch up. As a result, you may end up with technically slim arms but with a lot of skin hanging each time you lift your arm. A good procedure to combat the extra skin is an arm lift (or Brachioplasty), which removes excess skin on the arm and offers a tighter aesthetic. At Azul® Cosmetic Surgery & Medical Spa, anyone who wants more contoured arms can schedule an appointment for brachioplasty.

Candidates for Arm Lift

Ideal candidates for arm lifts are patients near their target weight but with excess skin hanging from their upper arms. The procedure is often recommended for those who went through significant weight loss but were left with excess skin. This is quite common, especially when you have reached your 30s and collagen production has significantly reduced.

While excess skin is the main target of the procedure, an arm lift can also reduce lingering arm fat if the content is minimal. Typically, this involves fat that is not responsive to dieting and exercise alone, creating the appearance of “bat wings.”

Patients seeking an arm lift should be at a stable weight and no longer seek to lose (or gain) any more pounds. Doing so can compromise the results, so you should wait until you are happy with your weight to start the body contouring measures. Your health should be good, and there should be no underlying health conditions that could complicate recovery. Non-smokers also make the best candidates for the procedure.

How Does It Work?

An arm lift is a surgical procedure, which means that incisions will be made to remove the excess skin. Most of the time, these incisions are made alongside the inner or back of your arm, but if the excess skin is minimal, one incision near the armpit is usually enough. Potential scars can be treated with scar revision treatment once the area heals completely.

Once the incisions have been made, the excess skin will be trimmed, and the remaining tissue will be sutured into place. If necessary, liposuction can also be used to remove lingering fat. The underlying tissue may also be reshaped underneath the skin, helping the tendons and muscles become more supportive.

Recovery from Arm Lift

Since arm lifts are surgical procedures, they often come with downtime. Taking some time off from work is recommended for recovery. One or two weeks is often enough, but you might want to take longer if you have hard labor to do with your arms (e.g., lifting heavy objects). You should also avoid intensive activities like exercise, as it can cause the wound to swell even if you don’t technically use your arms.

Swelling, bruising, and pain after an arm lift are normal, with peak symptoms happening within the procedure’s first two to three days. After that point, they will gradually decrease, most resolving after about six weeks. Any potential pain is often kept under control with OTC medicine, which our providers may recommend based on your needs.

You will be asked to keep a compression garment wrapped around the arm to speed up the recovery. This will help the skin and underlying tissue settle into the correct position, giving you that tight arm look. It should also keep the swelling minimal, speeding up the recovery significantly.

Arm Lift Results

The results of an arm lift are immediate, although you won’t be able to see them until the swelling goes down. Once it does and you remove the compression garment, you will observe the first results within the first two to four weeks.

The final results usually settle after about three to six months, after the skin has fully healed and your arm shape has become more apparent. The scars should be minimal and well-concealed at this point, although it can take another half a year to mature completely. Should you be bothered by the scars, they can usually be reduced with laser procedures.

An arm lift offers permanent results unless you go through drastic weight modifications once more. To maintain your results, we recommend that you follow a healthy diet and have a regular exercise routine in check. Collagen induction therapies are also recommended at this stage, as they keep the skin from sagging again with age.

Frequently Asked Questions