Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)

Arm lift (called Brachioplasty) is actually one of four different types of procedures.  The simplest is done with Thermage to tighten relatively small amounts of skin in the upper arm between the armpit and the elbow area.  This is the only non-operative skin tightening procedure that is currently effective in this area—but again Thermage in this part of the body is successful when relatively small amounts of skin tightening are needed.

More commonly, some form of surgery is necessary and these procedures are cosmetic in nature.  This smallest operative procedure involves liposuction alone to this area.  Liposuction alone is successful when your skin tone is good (i.e. tight skin) but there is an excess of fat.  This procedure is done usually with anesthesia as an outpatient and takes about an hour.  After surgery, as in all cases of liposuction, some type of compression garment (in this case a sleeve) is worn for 2 or 3 weeks to help with swelling and reinforce good skin contraction.  This scars left by the liposuction cannula are small.  Bleeding and infection would be very rare.  This biggest problem would be contour.  Sometimes the skin doesn’t contract as expected and extra loose skin is present which is either tolerated or removed surgically.  Sometimes a small area of fat remains which again is either tolerated or removed as a “touch-up” procedure.

The most common form of brachioplasty involves the resection of skin and fat in the upper arm.  This “wobble” of tissue is most common after weight loss where the skin has been stretched out and does not contract in after the weight loss in the area.  In this situation the best procedure to improve contour is to resect both skin and fat from the upper arm.  This results in a scar that extends from the armpit down toward the elbow region.  The scar is the biggest concern with this procedure because it usually is wide (several millimeters) and long.  Thus is a sleeveless shirt or short sleeve shirt the scar may be visible on the inner arm.  In addition, the resection of tissue sometimes requires the removal of a skin nerve inside the fat which can result in some decreased sensation along the inside of the forearm.  Again, other risks such as bleeding and infection are rare.  Surgery is done in the operating room under anesthesia as an outpatient.  Compression sleeves or ace wraps are worn after surgery for 2 or 3 weeks.  Sometimes a drain is needed to remove excess fluid for a few days.  Pain is not usually severe but medication is given.

If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Topol, give our office a call or send us an e-mail.