Arm Lift

As with any plastic surgery procedure, our plastic surgeons try their best to make the incisions and subsequent scarring as minimal as possible. With that said, some scarring is expected from an arm lift, and most patients prefer the scar to the hanging skin and fat that prompts the need for an arm lift. Incisions are typically located on the underside of the upper arm, but can extend toward the elbow depending on the amount of skin to be removed and the location of the skin. These scars will be hidden when the arms are at rest. Scars will initially appear red and raised, and should fade over the first year following surgery. However, scars in the arms take longer to fade than in other parts of the body, therefore, it may even take up to a couple of years.

While an arm lift will improve the arm's overall contour, the procedure will not affect the arm muscles themselves. Normal strength training will be necessary to achieve a truly “toned” look, and patients should keep in mind that this kind of activity will be restricted for several weeks following the procedure. An arm lift will certainly help showcase any future or current muscle gain, due to the fact that skin and fat obscuring the arm muscles will be removed.

Many patients are surprised to find that arm lift recovery is less painful than expected. This is because the muscles of the upper arm are not disturbed during the operation, and skin and fat are the only tissues that are manipulated. This makes the recovery process much more comfortable than many other procedures that do affect the muscles. Discomfort during arm lift recovery can usually be controlled with prescribed pain medication.

Brachioplasty is the medical term for an upper arm lift which involves a cosmetic, surgical procedure to remove excess skin and fat from the upper arm. The term literally means arm (brachio) reshaping (plasty).

There are many types of liposuction available today, and at Emory Aesthetic Center, we use one of two types of liposuction for procedures at our Atlanta office. Both techniques use fluid infiltration to help remove the fat – either standard suction assisted lipectomy (SAL) or ultrasonic assisted lipectomy (UAL), which uses sound waves to break up the fat tissue. And in some cases both techniques are utilized.

While patients can resume many activities, including non-strenuous work (such as a desk job) after just one to two weeks, exercise and other vigorous activity must be further postponed. While light exercise of the lower body such as walking, a stationary bike, or an elliptical machine are possible early on, exercise which heavily affect the upper body such as weight lifting or yoga will need to be deferred for several weeks.

A mini arm lift is simply a scaled down version of a full arm lift procedure. This is not a common term, as most surgeons just customize the arm lift surgery to suit each patient’s individual needs. Generally, a procedure considered a “mini” arm lift will involve a shorter than average scar and only minimal removal of excess skin and fat—an approach that is appropriate for some patients, but certainly, not all.

Most candidates for an arm lift will not enjoy the same results from liposuction alone that they would from a full arm lift. Liposuction targets only one of two issues that call for an arm lift: excess fat. Since many people seek arm lift surgery to resolve loose, hanging skin that will not retract, liposuction must be combined with skin excision to provide the dramatic results expected of arm lift surgery.

It is common for arm lift patients to consider other procedures in combination with the arm lift procedure. Your plastic surgeon can advise you on what combination of procedures is safe in your case. Plastic surgery is highly customizable, so be sure to voice all of your goals and communicate with your surgeon about what you're looking for, so he or she can help you come up with a treatment plan that suits your needs.