Brachioplasty

Firmer, prettier arms. Ready to be unveiled.

Loose skin on the inner arm is a common result of aging or significant weight loss. The skin often has a saggy appearance that keeps patients from wearing form-fitting clothing or sleeveless shirts.

The purpose of this procedure on the body is to tighten the sagging skin by removing any excess. I generally use an incision along the back of the inner arm so that the scar is as discreet as possible. If the patient’s arms also have excess fat, the procedure is often paired with liposuction. This type of operation produces amazing results, with the caveat that patients will experience some scarring.

Brachioplasty

This 33-year-old woman lost 210 lb leaving her with lipodystrophy. She underwent a brachioplasty to remove the excess skin on her upper arms. Her photos were taken 6 months post-op.

Brachioplasty

This 68-year-old (5’4 ~ 170 lbs) patient was unhappy with the excess skin on her upper arms. She underwent a brachiaplasty. Her photos were taken months post-op.

Brachioplasty

This 31-year-old patient underwent a bilateral brachiaplasty following a significant weight loss. Photos were taken at her pre-op and 6 month post-op appointment.

Brachioplasty

This 21-year-old patient was unhappy with the appearance of her arms. She underwent an abdominoplasty. She is shown 6 months after the procedure.

Brachioplasty

This 23 year old woman lost 120 pounds after undergoing weight loss surgery. One of her major areas of concern were her upper arms, where loose skin prevented her from dressing the way she wanted to. She underwent an upper arm lift or brachiaplasty to tighten her skin and improve her contour.

Brachioplasty

This 40 year old woman lost 100 pounds over 5 years through diet and exercise. One of her areas of concern were her upper arms. She underwent a brachiaplasty with an incision placed far enough back to be inconspicuous.

Brachioplasty

This 61 year old lady lost 155 lbs after having weight loss surgery. One area of significant concern to her was the loose skin on her arms. She underwent a brachiaplasty leaving her with a contour that allowed her to dress the way she wanted to. The scar is placed far enough back on her arm that it is as inconspicuous as possible.

Disclaimer: These photos are published for informational purposes only to illustrate the nature of the procedure. They in no way constitute a guarantee of results.

Quick facts

How long is the the surgery?
2-2 ½ hours.

General or local anesthesia?
General anesthesia.

When can I go home?
Most patients go home on the day of surgery, however we can arrange for nursing care the first night if needed.

Painful?
Not a terribly painful procedure. The arme will feel tight and sore but most patients find the discomfort tolerable and manageable.

When can I shower?
Immediately after the surgery. We put waterproof dressings on the incisions to keep them dry. Patients can normally remove their bandages after 48 hours and wet the wounds. If a drain is used, we typically advise our patients not to shower until the drain is removed around the 5th postoperative day.

Recovery?
We ask our patients to weare a compression garment and to avoid activities involving the upper extremities for the first 4 weeks. At the end of the 8th week, you should be able to do all activities without restriction.

Which procedures can this surgery be combined with?
In massive weight loss patients, an upper arm lift is often combined with a surgery to address the breasts like a breast lift or a breast reduction. Sometimes a little bit of liposuction is suggested to contour the back of the arms.

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