Arm Lift

An arm lift is a cosmetic surgical procedure to improve the appearance of the under portion of your upper arms.

During an arm lift — also known as brachioplasty — excess skin and fat are removed from between the armpit and elbow. The remaining skin is placed back over the newly repositioned contours to create a more toned look.

Why it's done

As you get older, the skin on your upper arms changes — sagging and becoming loose. Significant weight loss also can cause the undersides of your upper arms to droop.

While exercise can strengthen and improve muscle tone in the upper arm, it can't address excess skin that has lost elasticity.

You might choose to have an arm lift if the undersides of your upper arms are sagging. An arm lift might also boost your body image.

Risks

An arm lift poses various risks, including:

•   Scarring. Incision scars from an arm lift are permanent, but are typically placed in areas that aren't easily visible. Rarely, incisions can result in raised, red scars. Injections of a corticosteroid medication or other treatments might be used to improve the appearance of scars.

•   Asymmetry in the shape of your arms. This could occur as a result of changes during the healing process. Also, while the surgeon will try to make your arms look as symmetrical as possible, perfect symmetry isn't possible.

•   Changes in skin sensation. During an arm lift, the repositioning of your arm tissues can affect superficial sensory nerves. You'll likely feel some temporary numbness.

•   Problems with stitches. Stitches used to secure the arm's new shape might work their way to the surface of the skin and need to be removed. This can cause inflammation of the affected skin. As a result, you might need additional surgery.

Like any other type of major surgery, an arm lift poses a risk of bleeding, infection and an adverse reaction to anesthesia.

An arm lift isn't for everyone. Your doctor might caution against an arm lift if you:

•   Are significantly overweight

•   Have frequent changes in your weight

•   Have a medical condition that interferes with wound healing

•   Are a smoker