Also known as brachioplasty, an arm lift reshapes the under portion of the upper arm, from the underarm region to the elbow. board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Balakhani performs the arm lift procedure in Delaware for women and men who want to give their upper arms a tighter and more toned appearance.
Table of Contents
- Why Get an Arm Lift?
- What happens during arm lift surgery?
- Important facts about the safety and risks of brachioplasty
- My recovery
- The results will be long-lasting
- How much will arm lift surgery cost?
- Schedule a consultation
- Words to know
Why Get an Arm Lift?
Enhancing your appearance with an arm lift
Fluctuations in weight, growing older, and even heredity factors can cause your upper arms to have a drooping, sagging appearance.
Exercise may strengthen and improve the underlying muscle tone of the upper arm, but it cannot address excess skin that has lost elasticity or underlying weakened tissues and localized fat deposits.
If the undersides of your upper arms are sagging or appear loose and full due to excess skin and fat, an arm lift may be right for you.
Some of the benefits of an arm lift:
- Reduces excess skin and fat between the underarm and the elbow
- Reshapes your arm to result in smoother skin and contours
- Results in a more toned and proportionate appearance
A special note: In order to achieve your improved image, there will be a scar on the inside of your upper arm.
What is an arm lift?
An arm lift, or brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure that reshapes the under portion of the upper arm, from the underarm region to the elbow. The procedure is performed to:
- Reduce excess sagging skin that droops downward
- Tighten and smooth the underlying supportive tissue that defines the shape of the upper arm
- Reduce localized pockets of fat in the upper arm region
Is it right for me?
In general, candidates for an arm lift include:
- Adults with significant upper arm skin laxity
- Adults of any age whose weight is relatively stable and who are not significantly overweight
- Healthy individuals who do not have medical conditions that can impair healing or increase risk of surgery
- Non-smokers
- Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic expectations
The best way to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Balakhani for your arm lift in Delaware. Dr. Balakhani can examine your upper arms, go over your medical history, and ask you what your goals are for your procedure to determine if it is the right option for you.
Procedural Steps:
What happens during arm lift surgery?
Step 1 ” Anesthesia
Medications are administered for your comfort during your arm lift in Delaware. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.
Step 2 ” The incision
Incision length and pattern depend on the amount and location of excess skin to be removed, as well as the best judgment of your plastic surgeon.
Incisions are generally placed on the inside of the arm, or along the back of the arm, depending on the surgeon’s preference, and may extend from the underarm (axilla) to just above the elbow. If fat is to be reduced during your arm lift, it will be excised or treated with liposuction.
Inner Arm Incision
Depending on your specific conditions, incisions may be more limited. Then, underlying supportive tissue is tightened and reshaped with internal sutures. Finally, the skin is tightly stretched over the arm muscles so that it is smoothed and highlights the new contour of your arm.
Back of Arm Incision
Minimal Incision
Step 3 ” Closing the incisions
Your incisions will be closed with absorbable sutures or stitches that will be removed within 1-2 weeks following your arm lift.
Step 4 ” See the results
The smoother, tighter contours that result from brachioplasty are apparent almost immediately following your procedure, although initial results will be somewhat obscured by swelling and bruising. Your new, shapely, and toned upper arm is dramatically improved both in appearance and feel.
Important facts about the safety and risks of brachioplasty
The decision to have arm lift surgery is extremely personal and you’ll have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable.
You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure you will undergo and any risks and potential complications.
The risks include:
- Unfavorable scarring
- Bleeding (hematoma)
- Infection
- Fluid accumulation
- Anesthesia risks
- Poor wound healing
- Skin loss
- Blood clots
- Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
- Skin discoloration and/or prolonged swelling
- Asymmetry
- Major wound separation
- Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)
- Damage to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and lungs
- Pain, which may persist
- Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
- Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation that requires removal
- Possibility of revisional surgery
These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It is important that you address all your questions directly with your plastic surgeon during your arm lift consultation in Delaware.
It is natural to feel some anxiety, whether excitement about the anticipated outcomes or preoperative stress. Discuss these feelings with your plastic surgeon.
When you go home
If you experience shortness of breath, chest pains, or unusual heartbeats, seek medical attention immediately. Should any of these complications occur, you may require hospitalization and additional treatment.
The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although good results are expected, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure and another surgery may be necessary.
Be careful
Following your physician’s instructions is key to the success of your surgery. It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, swelling, abrasion, or motion during the time of healing. Your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself.
Be sure to ask questions: It’s very important to ask your plastic surgeon questions about your arm lift procedure. It’s natural to feel some anxiety, whether it’s excitement for your anticipated new look or a bit of preoperative stress. Don’t be shy about discussing these feelings with your plastic surgeon.
My recovery
Following your arm lift in Delaware, dressings or bandages may be applied to your incisions, and your arms may be wrapped in an elastic bandage or a compression garment to minimize swelling. A small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect.
You will be given specific instructions that may include: How to care for the surgical site and drains, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health, and when to follow up with your plastic surgeon.
The results will be long-lasting
The results of arm lift surgery will be long-lasting, provided that you maintain a stable weight and general fitness. As your body ages, it is natural to lose some firmness, but most of your improvement should be relatively permanent. To see real results provided by Dr. Balakhani, please visit or arm lift before-and-after gallery.
How much will arm lift surgery cost?
Cost is always a consideration in elective surgery. Surgeon’s fees for an arm lift may vary based on their experience, the type of procedure used, as well as the geographic office location.
Cost may include:
- Surgeon’s fee
- Hospital or surgical facility costs
- Anesthesia fees
- Prescriptions for medication
- Post-surgery garments
- Medical tests
Your satisfaction involves more than a fee
When choosing a plastic surgeon for an arm lift, remember that the surgeon’s experience and your comfort with him or her are just as important as the final price of the surgery.
Most health insurance does not cover cosmetic surgery or its complications.
Schedule a consultation
Contact our office today to schedule a consultation for your arm lift in Delaware with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Balakhani. He can answer any questions about the procedure you may have so you can be feel confident and ready on the day of your procedure.
Words to know
- Arm lift: A surgical procedure, also known as brachioplasty, to correct sagging of the upper arms.
- Axilla: The underarm area.
- Brachioplasty: A surgical procedure, also known as arm lift, to correct sagging of upper arms.
- General anesthesia: Drugs and/or gases used during an operation to relieve pain and alter consciousness.
- Hematoma: Blood pooling beneath the skin.
- Intravenous sedation: Sedatives administered by injection into a vein to help you relax.
- Liposuction: Also called lipoplasty or suction lipectomy, this procedure vacuums out fat from beneath the skin’s surface to reduce fullness.
- Local anesthesia: A drug injected directly to the site of an incision during an operation to relieve pain.
- Skin laxity: Degree of loose skin.
- Sutures: Stitches used by surgeons to hold skin and tissue together.