Arm Lift

An arm lift, also known as a brachioplasty, is a cosmetic surgery procedure performed to correct excessive arm laxity and loose skin after weight loss or due to age.

During a traditional brachioplasty. Dr. Horowitz makes an incision along the inner aspect of the arm from the underarm to the elbow. Excess skin is removed and the arm tissues are tightened. This restores a more youthful appearance to the upper arms. With lesser degrees of skin laxity, a limited-incision brachioplasty is perfomed , limiting the scar to the underarm itself. Either of these techniques may be combined with liposuction to maximize the shape, size, and contour of the arms.

Is an armlift for anybody with loose skin on their upper arms?

Heavy upper arms are often caused from the increased volume associated with weight gain. To accommodate the increase in volume, your skin stretches. As you lose weight, the skin of your upper arms often fails to shrink back, so it sags. The result is loose upper arm skin. A similar phenomenon occurs when skin loses its elasticity with age. The only way to improve this problem is to undergo an arm lift.

Is Liposuction an Option?

The only time liposuction alone is an option is when there is excess fat, but the skin is tight. It is not a good choice if your problem is due to loose skin. An arm lift is the better choice when the skin is loose.

Are there any disadvantages to having an Arm Lift?

The greatest drawback of this operation is the risk of visible scars. The scars extend from the armpit to the elbow, along the inside of the arm. This operation exchanges one cosmetic problem (loose skin) for another (scars). In general, those with very loose saggy skin are most likely to find this exchange worthwhile. Fortunately, in appropriately selected patients, a limited-incision brachioplasty can provide significant improvement while limiting the scars to well-concealed areas.