Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)

The arm lift, or Brachioplasty, is performed to surgically eliminate loose, hanging skin from the upper arms. Aging as well as significant weight loss, can cause skin to become less elastic and sagging. Dr. Anderson will evaluate your upper arms to assess where the fat is located as well as the elasticity of your skin. If there is good skin tone, liposuction alone may be recommended. If there is very little elasticity left in your skin, an arm lift may be recommended.

The incision for the arm lift surgery is placed on the inner surface of the upper arm. Although there is a scar after surgery it generally is not visible from behind. In some cases the surgical excision will extend from the armpit to as low as the elbow. In other cases, skin excision may be limited to the axillary or under arm area.

After the excess skin and fat are removed, the remaining skin is stretched and sutured into place and the incisions are bandaged.

The Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) surgery is generally done as an outpatient procedure. Most of our patients have the procedure done in our fully accredited operating facility with twilight sleep and local anesthesia.

The Recovery Period:

After Armlift surgery we advise our patients to keep their upper body propped up with the arms gently elevated as much as possible for the five to six days. A recliner is helpful or pillows behind your back so that your head is elevated. Do not lift anything heavier than a phone book for the first week. We advise avoidance of strenuous exercise for at least three weeks. You may feel some tightness in the arms for several months.