What is brachioplasty?
An arm lift, or brachioplasty, is a cosmetic surgical procedure to remove excess, sagging skin on the upper arms. For some people, aging results in a loss of firmness and elasticity in the skin, causing it to droop and sag. Other people end up with excess, loose skin after losing a great deal of weight. The sagging skin can form what almost looks like a bat’s wing when the arm is raised. Brachioplasty can remove this excess skin and improve the appearance of the upper arm.

Back to top

Who is a good candidate for an upper arm lift?
You are a good candidate for an arm lift if you are in good overall health and have excess skin or tissue on your upper arm. If you need to lose weight or are still in the process of losing weight, you might want to wait until after you have reached your goal. If your arms are flabby due to poor muscle tone, exercise may help more than an arm lift will.

Back to top

Can brachioplasty be combined with liposuction or other surgery?
Yes, it can. Liposuction can be an additional way to help sculpt the arms during an arm lift procedure.

Back to top

Are there scars with brachioplasty?
Arm lift, or brachioplasty, is not a scar-free procedure. In some ways, a brachioplasty is a trade off between unsightly loose skin and scars, which usually reach from the armpit to the elbow along the bottom of the arm. Some people who need only a small amount of tissue removed can get by with incisions that reach halfway to the elbow. For people with very large amounts of excess skin, the brachioplasty scar can reach below the elbow. You have to decide which you like more, a shapely arm with no draping, excess skin, or a scar-free arm.

Back to top