Arm Lift
Remove loose, hanging upper-arm skin and improve arm contour with a personalized brachioplasty procedure designed around your anatomy, goals, and degree of skin laxity.
When Exercise Can’t Correct Loose Arm Skin
An arm lift, also known as brachioplasty, is designed for individuals whose upper arms have loose, sagging, or excess skin that does not improve with diet and exercise.
Exercise can strengthen and tone the underlying muscles, but it cannot tighten skin that has lost elasticity. Likewise, diet can help reduce body fat but cannot remove excess hanging skin.
For appropriate candidates, arm lift surgery can create a smoother, better-proportioned upper-arm contour.
What Causes Loose Upper-Arm Skin?
Loss of tone and elasticity in the upper arms can occur for several reasons.
Significant Weight Loss
After substantial weight loss, stretched skin may not shrink enough to match the body's new shape.
Weight Fluctuation
Repeated changes in body weight can stretch skin and reduce its ability to retract.
Aging
Natural loss of skin elasticity can gradually create looseness and sagging in the upper arms.
Heredity
Genetics influence skin quality, elasticity, fat distribution, and how the arms change over time.
What an Arm Lift Does
Brachioplasty can address both excess skin and selected fat deposits while tightening and reshaping the tissues that support the upper arm.
Remove Excess Skin
Remove loose or hanging skin between the underarm and elbow.
Reduce Localized Fat
Selected upper-arm fat deposits may be removed with liposuction, excision, or both.
Tighten Supportive Tissue
Underlying tissues are reshaped and secured to improve contour.
Improve Proportion
The goal is a smoother arm shape that better complements the rest of the body.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Brachioplasty?
Arm lift surgery may be appropriate for healthy individuals with stable body weight and persistent upper-arm skin laxity.
Stable Weight
Your body weight should be relatively stable before surgery.
Good General Health
Candidates should be healthy enough to safely undergo surgery.
Persistent Skin Laxity
Loose arm skin remains despite weight loss, nutrition, and exercise.
Realistic Expectations
Patients should understand both the contour improvement and the permanent scar required to achieve it.
An Arm Lift Leaves a Scar
Brachioplasty requires an incision, which means a permanent scar is unavoidable.
The scar usually fades with time but may never disappear completely.
For many patients, the trade-off is worthwhile because the scar replaces the loose, hanging upper-arm skin that prompted the decision to have surgery.
Inside or Back of the Upper Arm
The incision is typically placed along the inside or back of the arm and may extend from the underarm toward a point just above the elbow.
In some cases, a shorter incision or alternative pattern may be possible.
Arm Lift Alone or With Another Procedure
Brachioplasty may be performed by itself or incorporated into a broader body-contouring plan.
Liposuction
Reduce localized fat in the arms or other treatment areas.
Learn More → 02Tummy Tuck
Address excess abdominal skin and abdominal contour concerns.
Learn More → 03Thigh Lift
Remove excess thigh skin as part of more comprehensive contouring.
Learn More → 04Breast Surgery
Breast augmentation, lift, or reduction may be incorporated into selected treatment plans.
Learn More → 05Body Lift
Address more extensive loose skin after major weight loss.
Learn More →The Arm Lift Procedure
Arm lift surgery is performed under general anesthesia. The length and location of the incision depend on how much skin needs to be removed and where the excess tissue is located.
Excess fat may be removed with liposuction, direct excision, or a combination of the two.
The underlying supportive tissue is tightened and reshaped, excess skin is removed, and the remaining skin is redraped to create a smoother upper-arm contour.
Anesthesia
General anesthesia is used for the procedure.
Incision
The incision is placed according to the amount and location of excess skin.
Fat & Tissue Contouring
Localized fat is removed and supportive tissues are tightened.
Skin Removal & Closure
Excess skin is removed and the remaining skin is draped smoothly over the arm.
Smoking and Healing
Smoking can impair the body's ability to heal after surgery. Patients who smoke are instructed to stop before an arm lift.
Dr. Slack discusses preoperative instructions with each patient before surgery so they know exactly how to prepare.
Arm Lift Results
Some swelling and bruising are expected after surgery, but these changes are temporary.
The improved arm contour is visible immediately because the loose, hanging skin has been removed.
Follow-up appointments are scheduled before surgery, and Dr. Slack and his staff continue to monitor healing and the patient's overall recovery.
Immediate Improvement in Arm Contour
Although swelling and bruising take time to resolve, the reduction in excess hanging skin is apparent immediately.
Arm Lift Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about brachioplasty, scars, candidacy, and what the procedure can accomplish.
An arm lift, also called brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to remove excess upper-arm skin and fat, tighten supportive tissues, and create a smoother arm contour.
Exercise can strengthen and tone the arm muscles, but it cannot remove excess skin or restore skin elasticity once significant laxity is present.
Yes. A permanent scar is an unavoidable part of brachioplasty. The scar generally fades over time but may never disappear completely.
The incision is usually placed along the inside or back of the upper arm and may extend from the underarm to a point just above the elbow. A shorter incision or different pattern may sometimes be possible.
Good candidates are generally healthy individuals with stable body weight and persistent loose upper-arm skin that does not improve with diet and exercise.
Yes. When localized fat deposits are present, liposuction may be used along with skin removal and tissue tightening during brachioplasty.
Yes. An arm lift may be performed alone or in combination with procedures such as liposuction, tummy tuck, thigh lift, breast surgery, or body lift.
The new arm contour is visible immediately after surgery, although temporary swelling and bruising will affect the appearance during early healing.
Find Out if an Arm Lift Is Right for You
A private consultation with Dr. Slack allows you to discuss your concerns, goals, scar expectations, and whether brachioplasty or another body-contouring option is appropriate.
Ready to Discuss Your Upper-Arm Concerns?
Meet personally with Dr. Slack in Allen, Texas to determine whether arm lift surgery may be appropriate for your anatomy and body-contouring goals.
Allen, Texas · Serving Plano, McKinney, Frisco & North Dallas