Arm Lift / Upper Body Lift

What It Does

As we age, the skin of the upper arm can become loose and flabby, creating both discomfort and self-consciousness. Men and women who have achieved significant weight loss (following bariatric surgery, for example) often experience the frustration of excess skin and persistent fat along the upper arms. Brachioplasty, commonly known as an arm lift, removes excess fat and skin and helps to create more youthful contours in the upper arm.

Significant weight loss may also produce rolls of skin under the arms, on the chest, and across the back. In addition to an arm lift, you might benefit from additional surgery that works to create an upper body lift. During an upper body lift, excess fat and skin is removed from under the arms and on the chest. The excision can be continued form the chest to the breast to accomplish breast lift that better matches the tightened arm and chest contours.

Procedure Basics

Based on your arm anatomy, including assessments of the amount of looseness and excess fat, the arm lift or upper body lift will be marked out awake before surgery. The procedure is done under general anesthesia, so be sure to have someone available to pick you up and be with you following your surgery. During the surgery, an incision will be made along the back of the upper arm from the underarm to the elbow. Excess skin and fat are removed through that incision, but optimal contouring may also require liposuction. The incision may be made under the arms to hide the surgical scar when your arms are lowered, or the incision may be made along the back of the arm. These options will be reviewed with you during your consultation.

If there is a great deal of excess skin in the upper body to remove, the incision may continue through the underarm to the chest area, allowing your   Incisions may extend from the lateral chest to the breast, and occasionally will also extend across the back in the bra band area.

Recovery

Straight-forward recovery and successful surgery require that you follow post-operative care instructions carefully. You will be given instructions on taking medications prescribed to you and on caring for your incisions.  You should avoid subjecting the incisions to any excess stress, force, or abrasion during the healing process. Patients usually resume normal activities four to six weeks after surgery.

Most commonly, drains are not required but may be used in some instances. Drains are small plastic tubes that are temporary, and are removed in in the office about one week after surgery. You will also need to wear compression garments or bandages on your arms and upper body to help reduce post-surgical swelling and to help support your incisions as they heal. Keeping your arms elevated above your heart for the first few days helps to reduce swelling. The results of your surgery will be quickly apparent once post-surgical swelling subsides. Results may take up to a few months to be fully visible and will be long-lasting, provided you follow a healthy nutritional diet, and avoid damaging sun exposure.

Additional Information

The most significant consequence of arm lift is the necessary scar that extends from the elbow to the armpit. With dildigent scar management, many patients heal into good quality scars that represent an acceptable consequence relative to the benefits achieved. Possible risks following surgery include prolonged numbness or tingling in the fingers and arms, poor wound healing, unfavorable scarring, swelling in the hands, asymmetry, and persistent pain.

During your consultation, you will also want to discuss the extent of your surgery. If your upper arms simply seem to have fat deposits that weight reduction will not help, liposuction through small incisions may be the simplest approach. If you are considering an upper body lift in addition to an arm lift, you may want to review information on breast surgery to match your breasts to your new body contours.

Depending on the extent of surgical work that will be required and your personal expectations, it may be necessary to schedule more than one surgery to achieve your goals or to correct any issues that might arise during the healing process.

Additional Resources

There is a wealth of information available concerning brachioplasty (arm lifts) and body lifts provided by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (www.plasticsurgery.org) ; click on “Cosmetic” and choose from the list of procedures. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Inc. (www.surgery.org) also provides in-depth information; choose “Procedures” for a list of topics.

To schedule a consultation to discuss arm lift or upper body lift surgery with Dr. Christine Kelley, please call 317/575-0330.