Arm Lift
When the skin along the inner arm has loosened and no longer firms up the way you would like, an arm lift refines the shape of your arm so it sits in better balance with the rest of your body.
Is this right for you?
An arm lift is surgery that removes excess, sagging skin from the upper arm and smooths the line of the arm again. It suits some people more than others, and an in-person consultation will tell you more clearly where you stand.
This may be a good fit if
- The skin on your arms has become loose and lax after weight loss.
- The skin on your arms has drooped over time.
- You want a slimmer arm contour that is more in proportion with your body.
- You understand that this surgery leaves a scar, and you accept that trade-off in exchange for a change in the shape of your arm.
This may not be right if
- You do not want a scar on your arm; this surgery always leaves a line of scarring.
- You have a health condition that is not yet stable, or an allergy, that your doctor needs to assess before surgery can be considered.
- The change you care about is mainly about fat rather than excess skin; in that case your doctor may discuss other options with you, or combining the procedure with liposuction.
How it works
Before surgery, you are examined and counselled by plastic and aesthetic surgeons. Your doctor will ask about your current health and any history of allergies, and will ask whether you take any supplements, vitamins, aspirin or blood thinners, and whether you smoke or drink alcohol. If you do, you should stop these before surgery. Your doctor will also talk through the surgical approach and what you are hoping for, and will tell you honestly whether adding liposuction would help reach the result you want.
Your doctor examines you, takes your measurements and plans the incision. You also have routine pre-operative tests. This is the time to ask any questions still on your mind.
An arm lift is usually performed under local anaesthesia with sedation. Local anaesthesia numbs the arm; sedation is medicine that helps you relax and feel less anxious during surgery. The operation usually takes one to two hours, depending on how loose the skin is.
Your doctor assesses how much excess skin there is in order to plan the right incision. The incision sits under the armpit and runs along the arm, usually on the inner side so the scar is harder to see. It may be a straight line, a zig-zag or a wavy line; its length depends on how much excess skin there is and whether liposuction is added.
Realistic expectations
This surgery refines the shape of your arm by taking away excess skin. Understanding what it will not do helps you hold the right expectations.
What this will not do
- This surgery does not erase scarring; it trades sagging skin for a line of scarring placed where it is harder to see.
- This surgery is not a substitute for keeping your weight steady; weight changes later on can affect your result.
- An arm lift on its own is not a way to remove fat; if fat needs to be reduced, your doctor will discuss combining it with liposuction.
Recovery
Recovery is different for everyone and depends on how much skin is removed and whether liposuction is done. The milestones below are typical time frames, not fixed numbers.
- The day of surgery to one day after
- If there is not much excess skin and the operation is short, you may go home the same day. If there is a lot of excess skin and the operation runs longer, you may stay in hospital for about a day for monitoring; a drain, if one is placed, is usually removed within 24 hours.
- The first few days
- You should start moving gently as soon as you can, as this helps you recover faster. You are usually given antibiotics and pain relief for about five to seven days.
- Around one week
- Stitches, if they need to be removed, are usually taken out after about seven days.
- The first few weeks
- The skin may stay swollen and bruised for a while, then settle gradually. If liposuction is done, you are fitted with a compression garment and should keep it on for about three to four weeks.
- Around two to six weeks
- Many people are largely recovered after about two weeks and can return to sport after about six weeks.
Risks & safety
As with any surgery, an arm lift carries risks. According to the source, these risks are very uncommon, but you should understand them clearly before you decide.
- An allergic reaction to the anaesthetic or sedative.
- Infection.
- A collection of fluid under the skin (seroma).
- A collection of blood under the skin (haematoma).
- Altered sensation, meaning numbness or a change in feeling in the arm.
- The two arms not matching evenly.
- Poor scarring.
How we do it
At The Gioi Dep, an arm lift begins with a consultation with plastic and aesthetic surgeons. Your doctor asks about your health and the medicines you take, arranges routine pre-operative tests, takes your measurements and plans an incision suited to you. Your doctor also tells you honestly whether liposuction should be combined, so the plan fits your actual situation.
The incision is placed on the inner arm so the scar is harder to see, and your doctor chooses the type of incision, straight, zig-zag or wavy, based on how much excess skin you have. According to the source, you can lower your risks by having your assessment, counselling and surgery with plastic and aesthetic specialists, and then following your aftercare instructions closely.
Frequently asked questions
Will the surgery hurt?
The operation is usually done under local anaesthesia with sedation, so you do not feel pain during surgery. Afterwards, you are usually given pain relief for about five to seven days.
Will I have a scar?
Yes. This surgery always leaves a scar. Your doctor places the incision under the armpit and along the inner arm so the scar is harder to see, but the scar is the trade-off for removing loose skin.
How much time off will I need?
It is different for everyone. Many people are largely recovered after about two weeks. You should start moving gently early, and you can usually return to sport after about six weeks.
Will I need to stay in hospital?
It depends on how much excess skin there is and how long the operation takes. If there is little excess skin and the surgery is short, you may go home the same day. If there is a lot of excess skin and the surgery is longer, you may stay for about a day for monitoring.
How long does the operation take?
Usually one to two hours, depending on how loose the skin is and whether liposuction is added.
Will the result look natural?
The goal is an arm contour that is slimmer and more in balance with your body. The result depends on how much excess skin you have and varies from person to person; your doctor will talk through what is achievable in your case.
Do I need liposuction as well?
Not everyone does. During your consultation, your doctor will assess you and tell you honestly whether adding liposuction would give your arm a shape closer to what you want.
How should I prepare before surgery?
Let your doctor know about your health and any history of allergies. If you take supplements, vitamins, aspirin or blood thinners, or if you smoke or drink alcohol, you should stop before surgery as your doctor advises.
When will the swelling and bruising go down?
The skin may stay swollen and bruised for a while after surgery, then settle gradually and recover over a few weeks. If liposuction is done, you are fitted with a compression garment and should keep it on for about three to four weeks.
The next step
Book a consultation to find out if this is right for you.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.