The upper arms can develop a drooping, sagging appearance due to weight fluctuations, aging, or heredity. Even with diet and exercise, it can be challenging to regain the firm skin you used to have. Loose skin in the arm area can make you feel self-conscious and make you avoid wearing sleeveless and short sleeve pieces of clothing. Loose skin in the arm area is also a common side effect of major weight loss.
Arm Lift surgery helps remove excess skin and fat, giving you firmer, more defined, and toned arms. Our board certified Plastic Surgeons can perform an arm lift in Washington, DC, to slim the arms while tightening the excess skin. If you think an arm lift may be the right surgery for you, call Peel Haus today to schedule a consultation.
People who are not obese and whose weight is relatively stable
Individuals who have skin laxity and sagging skin on upper arms
Healthy individuals who do not have medical conditions that impair healing or increase the risk of surgery
Non-smokers
Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic goals for what arm surgery can accomplish
Individuals committed to leading a healthy lifestyle, including proper nutrition and fitness.
In general, candidates for an arm lift are:
Patients with significant amounts of excess skin and fat will probably need an arm lift in Washington, DC. When you have a great deal of excess skin, liposuction alone may result in residual sagging skin. An arm lift removes the excess skin. Unfortunately, an arm lift results in a scar from the armpit down to the elbow. Your surgeon can attempt to hide the scar by placing it on the inner aspect of the arm.
If you mostly have excess fat, then arm liposuction may be enough. Liposuction deflates the arms and leaves some excess skin behind. However, the skin has a good chance of tightening on its own. Sometimes it is best to have both procedures (usually liposuction followed by an arm lift a few months later). However, the only way to know which procedure will best help you meet your goals is to consult with a Plastic surgeon.
Patients with significant amounts of excess skin and fat will probably need an arm lift in Washington, DC. When you have a great deal of excess skin, liposuction alone may result in residual sagging skin. An arm lift removes the excess skin. Unfortunately, an arm lift results in a scar from the armpit down to the elbow. Your surgeon can attempt to hide the scar by placing it on the inner aspect of the arm.
If you mostly have excess fat, then arm liposuction may be enough. Liposuction deflates the arms and leaves some excess skin behind. However, the skin has a good chance of tightening on its own. Sometimes it is best to have both procedures (usually liposuction followed by an arm lift a few months later). However, the only way to know which procedure will best help you meet your goals is to consult with a Plastic surgeon.
Best for stubborn fat with youthful, elastic skin.
Best for loose, stretched skin that needs reshaping.
During your consultation, your plastic surgeon will work closely with you to develop a treatment plan based on your individual needs and goals.
Arm Lift in Washington, DC — also known as Brachioplasty — is a surgical procedure designed to reshape and contour the upper arm by removing excess skin and tissue. It involves making incisions so your plastic surgeon can reduce excess skin and fat. There are various incision options for arm lift procedures. One of our plastic surgeons will discuss your options and what she or he feels will work best for your situation during your consultation.
Full Brachioplasty is the classic arm lift. The incision is from the armpit to the elbow. Removes skin and fat and tightens the skin.
Usually, Extended Brachioplasty extends past the elbow and up to the armpit.
Short Scar Brachioplasty is for when stubborn fat pockets or extra skin affect mostly just the upper arm.
Occasionally, the excess skin extends into the armpit. This targets that skin, sometimes even down the chest wall, to achieve maximum effect.
In all cases, skin and/or fat is removed; underlying tissue is reshaped and tightened with support sutures, and the remaining skin is lifted and smoothed and sutured into place at the incision site. Drains may be placed to keep fluid from building up; if so, they are removed after a few days. Surgery typically takes 2 to 3 hours. Post-surgery, a compression garment is worn to minimize swelling and promote healing.
Incision length and pattern during arm lift surgery depend on the amount and location of excess skin to be removed, as well as the best judgment of your plastic surgeon. Incisions are generally placed on the inside of the arm or the back of the arm, depending on the surgeon’s preference, and may extend from the underarm (axilla) to just above the elbow. Excess fat may be directly excised or treated with liposuction.
Depending on your specific condition, incisions may be more limited. Then, underlying supportive tissue is tightened and reshaped with internal sutures. Finally, the skin is smoothed over the new contour of your arm. Advanced techniques usually allow incisions to be strategically placed where they can be hidden by most types of clothing and swimsuits. Your plastic surgeon will advise you on what technique will help you reach your desired outcome.
Once the excess skin and fat have been removed, your incisions will be closed either with absorbable sutures or stitches that will be removed within one to two weeks following your arm lift. The smoother, tighter contouring that results from an arm lift is apparent almost immediately, although initially obscured by swelling and bruising.
Arm lift surgery is a safe procedure, but it is complex. As with any surgery, there are risks of infection, poor wound healing, accumulation of fluids, and skin loss. With arm lifts, other possible side effects can be asymmetry of your arms and numbness or changes in skin sensation in the surgery areas. In some cases, tissue sagging will not be fully alleviated, or patient expectations may merit a secondary office procedure to fine-tune the contour of your arms. Revision surgery may be necessary to correct these types of problems.
Some complications that may occur are:
After an arm lift in Washington, DC, you will be taken to post-op, where you will come out of anesthesia and be on pain medication. Depending on your situation, you may be kept overnight at the hospital or may be able to go home. You will need someone to drive you home afterward and stay with you for at least 24 hours. You will be able to shower the day after your surgery.
Your plastic surgeon will send you home with detailed instructions for changing bandages, cleaning incision sites, showering, and other post-op activities. She will see you in her office one week after your surgery. At that time, she would remove drains if they were placed.
Your plastic surgeon will give you a prescription for pain medicine preoperatively. You will be on narcotic pain medicine for around 2 to 3 days following the surgery. Tylenol is used to transition off narcotics, and then NSAIDs (Motrin, Advil) can be used after the first two weeks. You will be able to drive once you have stopped taking narcotics.
It’s essential to line up help for at least two or three days once you’re home following surgery, as your arms will be sore. You will be prescribed pain medications and have somewhat limited mobility. Having someone to help around the house during the initial period after surgery can make a recovery significantly easier.
Plan to take a week off of work and other responsibilities after your surgery. You will need this time to rest and recover. You will need to rest and will be given instructions to move about to help prevent any blood clots.
Expect soreness, tenderness, and sensitivity during recovery, especially during the first six weeks post-op your arm lift in Washington, DC. For the first six weeks, you will not be able to exercise or do any heavy lifting. If you have young children, you will want to enlist help to assist with childcare, as picking up children (or heavy objects) for the first six weeks is strongly advised against.
Some patients opt to take a few weeks off work for recovery. If you have a physically demanding job, it’s crucial to take plenty of time off, so you don’t jeopardize your recovery. Of course, you will also want to avoid exercise for the same reasons.
As with any surgery, there is a risk that a complication may develop. For arm lift surgery, these risks include excessive bleeding, infection, anesthesia reaction, asymmetry, poor scarring, and fat necrosis, which should resolve in six months but may require excision in a second surgery. Your plastic surgeon will provide a list of guidelines to follow to reduce the risk of complications. These instructions will include information on exercise and medications in the weeks before and after surgery. Complications can usually be managed, but it is important to follow your plastic surgeon’s pre-and post-operative instructions to reduce the risk of complications.
The most common complication is an infection of the incision site. Your plastic surgeon will discuss how to minimize the risk of infection during your consultations. If you think your incisions may be infected, call us immediately. To lower your infection risk, avoid bathing, swimming, or using hot tubs for the first two weeks post-surgery. You’ll be able to shower the day after your surgery. You might have an infection if you have a fever or notice warmth and redness in your arms. If this happens or you have shortness of breath or chest pain, please get in touch with our office as soon as possible.
Contour visible, swelling and bruising peak.
Compression worn; daily life gradually resumes.
Swelling subsides; refined silhouette emerges.
Scars soften; final, lasting contour.
Initially, your arms will have more of a contour, but they will also be swollen and bruised and in compression garments. You will need some patience here, as the tissue repositioning can cause some enduring swelling. After about six weeks, most of the arm swelling should subside, and the arm results will improve over the next several months as the tightened arm skin continues to heal and settle. Try not to get discouraged if you aren’t fully satisfied with your results after the first few weeks. Some patients may take up to a full year for their arms to fully recover. But when the swelling has passed and your scars have started to fade, you’ll notice slimmer, younger-looking arms with great contour!
If you work, how much time can you take off? Is there a slower time of the year for your work that might be best for your surgery?
Do you have a desk job or something more physical? This will factor into when you are ready to return to work.
Do you have someone available to help you the first week after surgery? Will they need to take time off work?
If you have a big event coming up (wedding, reunion, vacation), give yourself extra time to heal. You will need at least six weeks, but a few months would be even better.
Do you want to have surgery before summer? If so, winter or early spring is the best time to have a thigh lift so that you will be fully healed and swimsuit-ready by summer.
This arm lift timeline can help you make an informed decision about when to have surgery. All of these factors should be taken into consideration when making your surgery plans, and it can be helpful to think about what works best for you, as well as for anyone who will be helping you during the healing process. This can help you plan the ideal time for your arm lift and recovery.
There are many important factors to consider when scheduling arm lift surgery in Washington, DC:
If you are bothered by excess fat and loose skin on your arms, an arm lift may be an excellent option. It’s important to ensure that you’re a good candidate for this surgery and have realistic goals. Take the first step by reaching out to Peel Haus today to schedule a consultation with one of our Board-Certified Plastic Surgeons. She can answer any additional questions you have about an arm lift.
Our plastic surgery team is widely recognized as one of the best practices for body and facial implants in Washington DC. Schedule a consultation with our expert team today to create your unique treatment plan for an arm lift in Washington DC.
(202) 891-4287 — A $50 deposit secures all appointments
