Arm Lift Surgery – The Facts

Because of weight loss, aging, and other factors, our skin will eventually change over time. Changes are not just visible in our faces but over certain areas of our body, commonly in the arms. The skin on our arms easily loses its thickness and elasticity over time, and the decrease of elastic tissue and collagen in the dermis of the skin, will cause it to stretch and sag.  This is especially common in people who have lost  a significant amount of weight, but sagging arm skin can be corrected with arm lift surgery.

What is an Arm Lift and how is it done?

Brachioplasty, also known as arm lift or arm tuck, is a surgical procedure designed to remove excess sagging skin in order to tighten and smoothen the skin of the arms. This will help achieve a toned and proportionate appearance. If needed, liposuction can be performed to get rid of the fat layers. When the excess skin is detached, the remaining skin is stretched and stitched back into place.

The surgery often lasts for 2 hours and after giving the patient time to recover, they can be sent home on the same day. Healing time after the surgery will vary between individuals. The doctor will ask you to avoid engaging in strenuous activities such as lifting heavy objects.

Who can have Arm Lift surgery?
Ideal candidates:
•    Those who have lost massive surgery after a Bariatric surgery (stomach stapling)
•    Those that have developed upper arm flabs due to aging or tanning
•    Those that have no medical conditions which may hinder their healing process

Arm Lift Surgery may not be suitable for:
•    Those who have excess fat (liposuction needs to be done first)
•    Those with multiple infections of the sweat glands (Hidradenitis Suppurativa) until treated appropriately
•    Those women who had Radical Mastectomy or extensive breast cancer surgery since permanent arm swelling may be triggered after surgery

Before deciding on getting an arm lift, one must reflect on the scars that will be permanently found on the side of his or her arms. Depending on the length of the incision, the scar could extend from just within the armpit area or down to the elbow.  Although surgeons have already hidden these scars at the inner side of the arm, its appearance varies from one patient to the other and you may be required to wear limited clothing to hide the scars.