Arm lift (Brachioplasty)

What is an arm lift?

Brachioplasty is a surgical procedure to lift and reshape the upper arms. As we age or experience weight changes, our upper arms may start to sag due to stretched skin, weakened tissues, or stubborn fat deposits. While exercise can help tone the underlying muscles, it can’t remove excess skin or restore firmness.
During an arm lift, excess skin and fat are removed from the underarms - the area between the armpit and elbow - to get a more defined arm appearance. This may involve cutting away the excess skin and fat, and may involve the use of liposuction.

Why do some people develop loose skin on their arms?

Skin contains elastin, a protein that helps it bounce back after stretching. As we age or go through weight changes, the skin’s elasticity decreases. This can lead to sagging, especially in areas like the arms and thighs.
Smoking also damages elastin, making the skin age more quickly.

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Procedure information

People who consider brachioplasty often report drooping or sagging upper arms. This can occur due to age-related changes in skin elasticity or from losing a lot of weight.
You may be a good candidate for brachi oplasty if:
- You maintain a stable and healthy weight.
- You are generally healthy.
- You do not smoke, or can stop smoking around the time of surgery and wound healing.
- You have realistic expectations about what surgery can achieve.
- You are accepting of a long and visible scar, in trading for a better arm contour.
Before your surgery, you’ll have a detailed consultation with Dr Law to discuss your goals, the procedure, and any risks. Clinical photos will be taken, and a second consultation will be arranged to answer further questions. It’s important to stop smoking at least six weeks before surgery to reduce risks. You may need blood tests and other health checks, and will receive personalised instructions to prepare you for surgery.
Brachioplasty is performed under general anaesthetic, so you’ll be asleep during the operation.
After careful assessment of your situation, Dr Law will select the procedure that will offer you the most benefits. Broadly speaking, brachioplasty may involve the following:
- If your skin is firm and the main concern is excess fat, liposuction alone may be enough. This is done through small incisions under general anaesthetic.
- If you also have loose skin, surgical excision will be required. This may involve:
  - A small incision in the armpit.
  - A longer incision along the back of the arm (sometimes extending to the elbow).
- Wherever possible, scars are placed in natural folds to minimise visibility.
- Liposuction is often used alongside excision to smooth out the contours.
After brachioplasty, your arms will be bandaged and in a compression garment for four weeks. Soreness, swelling, and bruising are normal and improve with time. Drains may be used and are usually removed the next day. Stitches dissolve on their own. Avoid exercise for four weeks and wait six weeks before full activity. Dr Law will monitor your recovery with follow-up visits.

FAQs

- Everyone heals differently. Scars generally fade over the first year but will not disappear completely. Scars from liposuction are usually very small and hard to see after 6–12 months.
- However, larger scars from skin excision may be more visible. In some people – especially those with darker skin or those prone to thick scarring – scars may become raised, itchy or even keloid (excessively thick and raised). Treatments like silicone sheets or steroid injections can help if this happens.
- It's important to balance your expectations: while the sagging skin may be gone, some patients may still choose to wear long sleeves if scars are visible. Be sure to discuss this with Dr Law.

Risks & complications

All surgery carries risks and may include:
- Drug reactions.
- Allergic reactions.
- Infection.
- Bleeding and haematoma (blood clot).
- Seroma (fluid collection).
Risks specific to brachioplasty will be discussed with you during your consultation and will also be provided in your consent paperwork. These include:
- Wound healing problems and poor scarring.
- Skin numbness.
- Skin necrosis (skin loss): This is very rare.
- Asymmetrical results: No two sides of the body are identical to start with and there may be subtle differences between the arms afterwards too.
Choosing a qualified plastic surgeon with proper anaesthetic support helps minimise these risks.