Fluctuations in weight, growing older and even heredity can cause your upper arms to have a drooping, sagging appearance. Exercise may strengthen and improve the underlying muscle tone of the upper arm, but it cannot address excess skin that has lost elasticity or underlying weakened tissues and localized fat deposits.

An arm lift, or brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure that reshapes the under portion of the upper arm, from the underarm region to the elbow.

An arm lift:

• Reduces excess sagging skin and fat between the underarm and elbow that droops downward
• Tightens and smooths the underlying supportive tissue that defines the shape of the upper arm
• Reduces localized pockets of fat in the upper arm region
• Results in a more toned and proportionate appearance

Good candidates for arm lift surgery:

• Adults whose weight is relatively stable and who are not significantly overweight
• Healthy individuals who do not have medical conditions that can impair healing or increase risk of surgery
• Non-smokers
• Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic goals for what thigh lift surgery can accomplish
• Adults with significant upper arm skin laxity

In order to achieve the improved arm image, there will be a scar on the inside of the upper arm.

The Surgery

Step 1 – Anesthesia

Anesthesia will be administered by a board-certified M.D. anesthesiologist.

Step 2 – The Incision

Incision length and pattern depend on the amount and location of excess skin to be removed, as well as the best judgment of your plastic surgeon. Incisions are generally placed on the inside of the arm or on the back of the arm, depending on the surgeon’s preference, and may extend from the underarm (axilla) to just above the elbow. If fat is to be reduced during your arm lift, it will be excised or treated with liposuction.

Depending on your specific conditions, 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.

Step 3 – Closing the Incisions

Your incisions will be closed with sutures.

Step 4 – See the Results

The smoother tighter contouring that result from brachioplasty are apparent almost immediately, although initially obscured by some swelling and bruising. Your new shapely and toned upper arm is dramatically improved both in appearance and feel.

Making the Wise Choice

Plastic surgery involves many choices. The first and most important is selecting a surgeon you can trust. A doctor’s board certification is one of the best indicators of his or her training. Ask for certification from The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), the only one of 24 boards approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) that certifies physicians in plastic surgery of the face and all areas of the body. To be ABPS board-certified, a physician must meet these rigorous standards:

• Graduate from an accredited medical school

• Complete at least five years of surgical training following medical school with a minimum of two years of plastic surgery residency training

• Pass comprehensive oral and written exams