An Arm Lift or Arm Reduction procedure, medically known as Brachioplasty, removes the excess sagging and loose skin of the upper arm. The procedure tightens and smooths the underlying tissue and fat in order to redefine the shape of your arm.

At the beginning of an arm lift, small incisions are created in order to infiltrate a significant volume of dilute local anesthetic and epinephrine. The local anesthetic substantially reduces pain after surgery, while the epinephrine dramatically reduced blood loss and bruising. Although pain pills are prescribed, most patients are off of them in just a few days.

The amount of skin removed is determined by how much excess skin exists. Generally a large ellipse of skin is taken out from the armpit to the elbow. Pinching together the loose skin and marking the excess determines the width of the ellipse. Removing too much skin can put too much tension on the incision and may result in separating of the skin edges. In many cases, such as many of the massive weight loss patients, there is so much loose skin that the excision extends past the elbow to the forearm and through the axilla down the side of the chest. This is known as an “L” brachioplasty.

While many patients have already lost the majority of the excess fat before they come in for a consultation, some still have excess fat that can be removed at the beginning of the procedure through liposuction.

The surgery is designed to hide the scars as much as possible. When the arms are down by a patient’s side, they are not visible. They can be seen, however, when wearing short sleeve shirts with the arms elevated. As most patients getting an arm lift have lost a lot of weight and have a lot of excess skin to take out, the standard scar runs on the inside of the upper arm, just past the elbow onto the forearm for a few inches and onto the side of the chest after passing through the anterior of the axilla.

The length of time you need to avoid lifting your arms after an arm lift will depend on the extent of the procedure and your body’s healing process. It is best to follow your surgeon’s post-operative instructions, which may include avoiding lifting heavy objects or reaching overhead for a certain period of time, typically 2-6 weeks. It’s important to give your body enough time to heal properly and avoid any complications.

To reduce swelling after an arm lift:

• Keep your arms elevated above heart level.
• Apply cold compresses or ice packs to the affected area.
• Wear compression garments as instructed by your surgeon.
• Avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting.
• Follow a healthy diet and stay hydrated.
• Massage the affected area gently to improve circulation.
• Take any prescribed pain medication as directed.
• Follow all postoperative instructions given by your surgeon.

It is generally not possible to have arm lift surgery without any scars. The procedure involves making incisions on the inner side of the upper arm to remove excess skin and fat. The incisions are carefully placed to minimise visible scarring, usually along the inner arm where they are less noticeable. Surgeons strive to create discreet incisions and employ various techniques to reduce scarring. However, it’s essential to understand that some degree of scarring is inevitable with any surgical procedure. Over time, the scars typically fade and become less noticeable, but they may still be visible, especially if you have a predisposition to develop prominent scars.

Patients who have lost a considerable amount of weight typically have a laundry list of cosmetic procedures that they are considering and it is not uncommon to combine some of them to reduce costs and time of work. An arm lift can be done in the same setting as a tummy tuck, liposuction, breast augmentation or thigh lift.

The biggest downside of a brachioplasty is the scars. A mini-Arm lift only leaves a scar in the armpit, however; only a small amount of skin can be removed resulting in a relatively minor improvement in the uppermost portion of the upper arm. Few patients are candidates for a mini-brachioplasty.