What to expect
- Average Time: Two to three hours, depending on the amount of work required
- Anesthesia: General
- Am I a good candidate? Adult with significant arm skin laxity, in good health, has a stable weight
- Recovery: Recovery instructions will be given to you post-surgery.
- Risks: Bleeding, infection, poor healing, uneven body contour, or body asymmetry and anesthesia risks
- Inpatient/Outpatient: Both are possible.
- Cost: The cost of the procedure will be discussed at your consultation with Dr. Peterson.
Drooping skin is often caused by a decrease in skin elasticity and weakness in the tissues that hold skin and fat in place. By removing excess skin and repairing the tissue underneath, an arm lift, also known as brachioplasty, can give you a more youthful upper arm and restore the confidence to wear everything in your closet.
An arm lift is not a substitute for weight loss and is not intended strictly for the removal of excess fat. If skin elasticity is sufficient, liposuction may be used to remove unwanted fat instead of an arm lift. If the skin is not able to support liposuction, a combination of the two procedures may be needed to achieve best results.
Surgery Details
Dr. Peterson will make an incision, either on the inside or back of your arm. Then, she will tighten up and reshape the tissue that supports your fat and skin. This improves the contour of the finished arm. Excess skin is removed before the incision is closed, and the skin is pulled tight to fit the new contour of the arm.
The results of your arm lift will be noticeable as soon as swelling goes down and fluid build-up has been removed. If you maintain a stable weight, the results of the procedure will be mostly permanent.