Brachioplasty
Refine your silhouette with our Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) procedure for tighter, youthful upper arms.placeholder
Refine your silhouette with our Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) procedure for tighter, youthful upper arms.placeholder
An arm lift, also known as brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure to remove loose skin and excess fat deposits in the upper arm. With age, upper arm skin can become loose and flabby. Plastic surgeons will discuss brachioplasty with patients who want to tighten this skin and look as good as they feel. In some cases your plastic surgeon may suggest that liposuction be used alone or in conjunction with an arm lift to remove excess fat in the upper arms.
Dr. Edward Park stands out as a Top Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in Inland Empire. He provides an extensive range of plastic surgery services, medical spa treatments, and aesthetic procedures across Inland Empire, Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, and Ontario.
Brachioplasty, or arm lift, is a procedure that removes loose skin and extra tissue from the upper arms. Loose skin can happen because of age, genetics, or weight loss, and it may not go away even if you stay active and healthy. An arm lift removes this skin and reshapes the arm for a smoother look.
If extra fat is making your upper arms look fuller, liposuction can be added to the arm lift. Liposuction works well when the main issue is fat and the skin is still firm, but it can’t remove a significant amount of loose skin. Brachioplasty isn’t meant for weight loss. It’s for improving the shape of your arms after your weight is stable.
A Cleaner Contour
The main benefit of brachioplasty is that it removes loose skin that diet or exercise can’t fix. For the right person, an arm lift can:
Brachioplasty leaves a permanent scar, so it’s important to weigh this against the benefits. If the loose skin bothers you more than the idea of a scar, the improved arm shape may be worth it.
You might be a good candidate for brachioplasty if you have loose skin on your upper arms and your weight is stable. You should also be in good health, have realistic expectations, and be ready to follow instructions about smoking or nicotine before and after surgery.
Arm lift surgery is common after major weight loss, when the skin has stretched and does not shrink to fit the smaller arm. If your weight is still changing, it’s best to wait until it’s stable before having surgery. If you’re interested in more body contouring after weight loss, you can also ask about post-weight loss surgery. How much loose skin you have, where any extra fat is, and how you feel about a scar all affect whether brachioplasty is right for you. A consultation lets you find out what an arm lift can change and if liposuction or another option might work instead.
Each brachioplasty is planned based on how much and where the loose tissue is. Your surgeon will mark the areas to remove and choose an incision pattern that allows for reshaping the arm while trying to place the scar in the best spot. The incision length depends on how much skin needs to be taken out.
During surgery, the extra skin is removed and the remaining tissue is reshaped for a smoother upper arm. If there is extra fat, liposuction may be used as well. The incisions are closed carefully so your arms can heal in their new shape. Since every patient is different, your surgeon will talk with you about your specific procedure, anesthesia, scar placement, and recovery plan before surgery. This way, your care is tailored to you.
It’s normal to have swelling, bruising, soreness, and tightness in your upper arms at first. You’ll get instructions on how to care for your incisions, manage discomfort, and slowly return to your usual activities. You may also need to wear a compression garment to support your arms and help with swelling as you heal.
You can start light walking soon after surgery, but you will need to avoid lifting, hard exercise, and anything that puts strain on your incisions for a while. When you can go back to work depends on your surgery and your job. Recovery takes several weeks, and your activity will increase as your surgeon checks your healing.
A Gradual Refinement
You’ll notice less loose skin soon after surgery, but swelling may make your arms look fuller at first. As the swelling goes down and your arms heal, you will see a smoother shape. Brachioplasty scars are permanent, but they usually change a lot as they heal. At first, they may look red or stand out, but they will soften and fade over time. Keeping your weight steady can help keep your results, though normal aging will still affect your skin and arms as time goes on.
Face N Body Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery brings together the experience and perspective of board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Edward Park and Dr. Alex Cheah. Dr. Park has more than two decades of surgical experience and completed his plastic and reconstructive surgery training at Stanford. Dr. Cheah is double board-certified in plastic surgery and general surgery and completed his plastic surgery training at UT Southwestern. Together, they approach body contouring with careful attention to anatomy, proportion, scar placement, and the amount of correction that makes sense for each patient.
Surgery is performed in Face N Body’s private, AAAHC-accredited on-site surgery center in Upland, supported by an experienced surgical team that includes a board-certified anesthesiologist with more than 30 years of outpatient surgical experience. From the initial consultation through follow-up and recovery, patients receive coordinated care in one dedicated setting.
If loose skin on your upper arms is a concern, a consultation is the best way to find out what can help. Dr. Park or Dr. Cheah will examine your arms, see if the issue is mostly skin or fat, and explain what kind of incision and scar you can expect to reach your goals.
Inland Empire, Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Claremont, Alta Loma, Montclair, Fontana, Redlands, Corona, Chino Hills, Diamond Bar, Riverside, Victorville, Eastvale, Orange County, and Los Angeles.
Yes. Brachioplasty is the medical term for an arm lift, a surgical procedure that removes loose upper-arm skin and reshapes the remaining tissue for a smoother contour.
Yes. Some fat can be removed as part of brachioplasty, and liposuction may be added when localized fat is contributing to the shape of the upper arm. The exact approach depends on how much of the concern comes from fat versus loose skin.
It can in some patients. Liposuction may be enough when excess fat is the primary concern and the skin has good elasticity. If a significant amount of loose skin is present, removing fat alone will not address it and may make the laxity more noticeable.
The scar pattern depends on how much skin needs to be removed and where the excess tissue is located. More extensive brachioplasty generally requires a longer incision. Your surgeon will explain the expected scar placement during your consultation so you can weigh it against the amount of improvement the procedure can provide.
Initial recovery generally takes several weeks, although the timeline varies with the extent of surgery and your normal activities. Light daily activity usually returns before strenuous exercise or heavy lifting, and your surgeon will guide you as you progress.
Walking is usually encouraged early in recovery, but strenuous exercise and upper-body activity need to wait until the incisions and deeper tissues have had time to heal. Your surgeon will let you know when it is safe to gradually return to your normal workouts.
Yes. Significant weight loss can leave loose skin along the upper arms that does not contract on its own. Brachioplasty is one of several body contouring procedures that may be considered after weight loss once your weight has stabilized.
The skin removed during surgery does not grow back, so the improvement can be long-lasting. Significant weight changes and normal aging can still affect the arms over time, which is why maintaining a stable weight is helpful.
The cost of brachioplasty varies based on the extent of surgery, whether liposuction is included, anesthesia and facility needs, and your individual treatment plan. Face N Body can provide a personalized estimate after your consultation.
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