Arm Lift Surgery Options

The cosmetic surgical options will depend on the amount of fat that needs to be removed as well as the amount of skin sag that has developed.    Arm lift options include:

• liposuction with or without 
• a limited skin excision procedure
• extended incision procedure
• modified extended arm lift incision that incorporates any excess skin along the lateral chest and breast.  

• application of a protective surgical tape on your incision for the first 1-2 weeks after your procedure.  The surgical tape protects the incision from the outside environment while also maintaining a lubricating environment for your scar.
• Apply a lubricating scar ointment ( we use biocorneum) for the next 1-3 months.  Ideally the ointment contains vitamin E, silicates, sunblock, and a gentle steroid.  Our preference is biocorneum because it contains all of these elements in an easy to use pump applicator.
• Apply a silicone sheet for the 1-3 after surgery.  Many patients will just use the sheet at night and use the ointment during the day.
• Steroid injection into the scar if it remains raised after 6 months
• Profractional laser remodeling if it remains raised or conspicuous after 6 months.

A limited incision arm lift is a technique designed for patients with minimal to moderate skin sag that is located mostly in the tissue towards the underarm area.

It is performed by placement removing a horizontal crescent of tissue in the axilla.  The scar is hidden in the axilla.  Liposuction is added if necessary.

Most patients can return to work in less than a week

An extended or vertical arm lift is a technique designed for patients with moderate to severe skin sag that usually extends from the axilla to the elbows.

The extended arm lift with a scar that extends from the axilla to the elbow.  It is hidden in the body side of the arm so that it remains hidden with the arms down.  Liposuction is added if necessary.

Most patients can return to work in 7-10 days.  Final results, however, are not apparent for 6 to 12 months.  

An extended or vertical arm lift can be extended from the axilla to the breast.  This modified procedure is particularly common in patients who have lost a tremendous amount of weight.  Tremendous weight loss patients will show excessive skin in many areas of the body including the arms, breast, trunk, and thighs.  In reality, excessive skin can be seen anywhere on the body.  Liposuction is added if necessary.

Most patients can return to work in 1-2 weeks.  Final results, however, are not apparent for 6 to 12 months.  

Limited Incision Arm Lift

• Scar is located in the arm pit and difficult to see

Extended or Vertical Incision Arm Lift

• Incision is in the biceps groove line extended from the axilla to the elbow

Extended Arm Lift  extended to the breast  and lateral chest

• The extended arm lift incision located is in the biceps groove line seen from the axilla to the elbow is extended from the axilla down the side of the chest to the breast.  This extension reduces the loss skin along the lateral chest and contributes the cosmetic improvement seen with adding a breast lift or reduction procedure.

4 weeks

The thin skin of the upper arm does not have a very good ability to contract or shrink.  For this reason, once the skin is stretched after gaining weight, the skin remains loose even after weight loss.  

For for young patients that are beginning to gain weight in their arms, a potential strategy that can prevent the need for a surgical lift in the future is to prevent the fat from accumulating in the first place with Coolsculpting nonsurgical fat removal or a very small office based liposuction procedure.  

Bingo arms is a lay term I hear from many of my prospective patients given to the visual of a person with large arms that tend to flap around with the arms are raised.

Approximately 12 to 18 months