Overview

Weight loss, while a great achievement, can sometimes leave certain body parts appearing saggy and deflated. The arms are an example of this. Many consider an arm lift, known as brachioplasty, to surgically give the arm more contour. Dr. Decherd and Dr. Isakson offer San Antonio patients this surgery to help them complete their weight loss transformation. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, arm lifts are among the top 5 cosmetic procedures performed after weight loss. This surgery is necessary to remove the loose skin deformity.

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Surgical Technique

During arm lift surgery, an incision is made along the inner arm, from the armpit down towards the elbow. Once this incision has been made, liposuction may be used to remove excess fat, and any loose skin will be trimmed away. Depending on the extent of the surgery, a draining tube may be placed to help control bleeding. In patients with excessive drooping, where there is looseness within the internal tissue structures, a tightening technique will be used internally. These surgical efforts will result in a smaller circumference of the upper arm.

During/After Surgery

Brachioplasty is performed under general anesthesia in an accredited surgical facility and typically takes around 2 hours to complete. It is considered an outpatient procedure. If this surgery is combined with another body contouring procedure, then the patient may be required to stay overnight in the hospital. Following surgery, the arm should be kept elevated to help control swelling and promote circulation. Patients will experience a slow return of normal function.  Arm and hand strength, specifically, will be weak for the first several weeks as the internal tissues heal.

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Arm Lift FAQ’s

Patients that have excess fat inside their arms may be candidates for liposuction, but arm lift patients typically do not have excess fat as their primary problem. These individuals have excessive sagging and loose, hanging skin. The only way to correct this problem is through a brachioplasty procedure. Patients who have relatively good skin tone but also have excess fat in the arms can sometimes achieve their desired results with an exercise and diet regime that incorporates the use of weights.

It’s important that patients understand scarring is a part of this procedure. It is recommended that patients avoid sun exposure during the first year to protect the incisions from any additional discoloration. Most patients believe the scars are a small trade-off for a new, shapelier arm. We will discuss scar care to help assist in the healing process.

It is common for arm lift patients to combine this surgery with another procedure. Some common techniques often combined during what is known as an “upper body lift” include liposuction, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and breast surgery (breast lift). During your consultation, each surgery will be discussed and recommendations will be made on whether these procedures should be done at the same time.

An arm lift is performed to remove hanging skin and fat. The only way to build muscle is through strength training. Following surgery, once the arms are healed, patients can resume exercise and weight training. This is a great way to add shape to the arms by toning and strengthening them.