An arm lift, or brachioplasty, is a cosmetic procedure that removes skin from the mid-to-upper arm to improve its contour and restore its shape. Patients who experience massive weight loss are often left with large amounts of excess skin and tissue once they reach their goal body weight. Arm lift surgery strategically recontours the arm to greatly increase a patient’s overall confidence and self-esteem. Surgeons can also perform this procedure with other surgeries during an upper body lift.

At Plastic Surgery Associates of Santa Rosa, we offer upper arm lift surgery as an intervention for people who cannot manage to tone or tighten their arms with natural methods. Dr. Francisco Canales, Dr. Heather Furnas, and Dr. Eric Culbertson are seasoned plastic surgeons in Sonoma County who are highly knowledgeable in fat removal and skin tightening procedures. If you want to hear more information about how brachioplasty can change the appearance of your upper arms, please contact us for an appointment by calling (707) 537-2111. We look forward to meeting you!

Before & After Photos

Before and After Photos

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What is an Arm Lift?

One big challenge when getting older or losing weight is dealing with excess skin. It typically collects along the elbow and up toward the shoulder, particularly in patients who have lost significant amounts of weight. An upper arm lift removes this hanging skin, sometimes known as “bat wings.”

The popularity of medical weight loss strategies including bariatric surgery and semaglutide/tirzepatide has risen hugely in recent years. This has also led to a rise in body contouring procedures. Massive weight loss patients seek body contouring surgery like arm lifts, thigh lifts, abdominoplasty, and liposuction ⁽¹⁾ to reach their body contouring goals.

Brachioplasty Surgical Technique

For a standard arm lift, our surgeons place incisions along the underside of the arm to remove skin from the area. They mark this area with long ellipses to approximate the amount of skin to remove and to ensure the final sutures and remaining scars are concealable. Depending on the patient, these incisions may extend past the elbow or lower into the armpit to address loose skin in these areas. The surgeon then carefully removes the skin and loose tissue, reshapes and restores the upper arm, and sutures the incision with precision. ⁽²⁾

Benefits of an Arm Lift

Look and feel fitter and younger with upper arm lift surgery. This procedure:

Ideal Candidates

If you are tired of hiding your “bat wings” and would prefer your arms to appear healthy and fit again, you may be a great candidate for an arm lift. You need to be in good overall health so that your skin will recover properly. Some of the key indicators for potential arm lift patients are loose, hanging skin on their upper arms, plus minimal tautness of the skin. You should be at or close to a healthy, stable weight before your surgery. You should also have reasonable, yet optimistic expectations about your results.

Initial Consultation at Plastic Surgery Associates

Every arm lift journey begins with a personal consultation. This initial meeting allows you to discuss your concerns, desired outcomes, and expectations with Dr. Canales, Dr. Furnas, or Dr. Culbertson. Your surgeon will conduct a thorough examination of your upper arms, evaluating the quality of your skin, the amount of excess fat, and the overall arm contour.

Our surgeons believe in a patient-centered approach, collaborating closely with individuals to create a customized treatment plan tailored to their specific needs and desires. We will explain the arm lift procedure, outline potential risks and complications, provide before and after photos of previous patients, and answer any questions or concerns you may have.

As you await your surgery date, you may read our blog to learn more about cosmetic body contouring.

How Can I Prepare for Surgery?

Before an arm lift, patients should avoid:

They should:

Arm Lift Procedure

In most cases, we perform your upper arm surgery in an outpatient facility, except in cases where we combine and execute several cosmetic surgeries at one time. An upper arm lift can complement other surgeries like a tummy tuck, thigh lift, or mommy makeover when Dr. Canales, Dr. Furnas, or Dr. Culbertson considers it appropriate. An upper arm lift typically requires general anesthesia and often takes 2 to 3 hours to complete. Your surgeon will surgically remove the excess skin, starting at the elbow and continuing to the armpit. They position the incision as discreetly as possible, although it will become a visible scar. In cases where liposuction can eliminate stubborn pockets of fat, your surgeon performs this during your arm lift to improve your results. After pulling the skin taut, they place sutures. Keeping them clean, covered, and supported with compression garments will be an important part of the recovery process.

Recovery

A typical recovery time frame takes an estimated two weeks with lots of rest. Give your body time to heal. You use your arms for almost everything, so most patients should slowly make their way back to their daily activities. If needed, we schedule a suture removal appointment about ten days following surgery. You must wear your compression garments as directed.

For at least one month, you should avoid all exercise and strenuous activity except frequent, short walks. If you experience uncontrolled bleeding, excessive swelling, fluid buildup (hematoma), signs of infection, numbness in the hands or arms, or unusual scarring, please contact Plastic Surgery Associates of Santa Rosa immediately.

Results

A surgical arm lift removes loose skin, but only small amounts of fat. You should follow a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and a balanced diet to avoid a dramatic change in your weight, which might undo your results. As soon as your recovery period ends and your surgeon permits you, we encourage you to start strength training. This is a good way to improve the shape of your upper arms by toning and strengthening the muscles.

Combining Procedures

Many patients combine an arm lift with other procedures. This is called an upper body lift and often includes liposuction and a breast lift. Our surgeons also frequently include an arm lift procedure during after weight loss surgery for those who have lost a significant amount of weight and need contouring throughout their body. At your initial consultation, your surgeon will discuss complementary surgeries with you so your personal treatment plan matches all of your needs and goals.

What About Non-Surgical Arm-Toning?

Although there are a lot of noninvasive skin tightening options, they can only give you small improvements. To correct moderate to severe skin laxity, arm lift surgery is your best choice. In addition to treating loose skin, Dr. Canales, Dr. Furnas, or Dr. Culbertson also use liposuction on small pockets of fat to smooth the tissue and remaining skin.

Cost of an Arm Lift in Santa Rosa

Before they estimate your costs, Dr. Canales, Dr. Furnas, or Dr. Culbertson starts with a consultation to understand your concerns and goals. Following this, they develop your unique surgical plan. Arm lift pricing generally ranges between $8,000 and $12,000. We accept several payments and can give you information on low-interest financing.

Schedule An Appointment

No matter what you call your droopy skin or “bat wings” under your upper arms, plastic surgeons Dr. Canales, Dr. Furnas, or Dr. Culbertson see it as a way to improve your appearance with cosmetic surgery. This innovative surgery provides physical and emotional benefits as well. If you are at or close to a healthy, stable weight but still cannot get rid of the skin and flab that hangs off your arms, please contact us online or call (707) 537-2111 to book a consultation with us.

FAQ

References

1. Di Pietro V, Colicchia GM, Cervelli V, Gentile P. Arm Contouring after Massive Weight Loss: Liposuction-Assisted Brachioplasty versus Standard Technique. Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery. 2018;11(2):73-78. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/JCAS.JCAS_102_17
2. Han HH, Lee MC, Kim SH, Lee JH, Ahn ST, Rhie JW. Upper Arm Contouring with Brachioplasty after Massive Weight Loss. Archives of Plastic Surgery. 2014;41(3):271-276. doi:https://doi.org/10.5999/aps.2014.41.3.271