Upper Arm Lift

An arm lift, also known as brachioplasty, is a procedure performed to correct excessive arm laxity and loose skin after weight loss or due to age.

Through an incision on the inner aspect of the arm, Dr. Maddali removes excess skin and tightens the arm tissues. This creates a sleeker, better toned appearance in the upper arms and often allows the patient to feel more confident wearing sleeveless clothing.

Who should consider an arm lift?

Heavy upper arms are often caused from the increased volume associated with weight gain. To accommodate the increase in volume, your skin stretches. As you lose weight, the skin of your upper arms often fails to tighten, so it sags. The result is loose upper arm skin. The only way to improve this problem is to undergo an arm lift, also called brachioplasty.

Is Liposuction an option?

If the arms contain excess fat, liposuction may be performed at the time of the procedure for the best outcome in shape, size, and contour.

When the skin is relatively tight, but excess fat is the main problem, liposuction may be performed alone to recontour the arms. 

Arm Lift Disadvantages

Most plastic surgeons agree that visible scars are the main drawback of arm lift surgery. The scars extend from the armpit to the elbow, along the inside of the arm. You might say the arm lift exchanges one cosmetic problem (loose skin) for another (scars).

In many cases, those who exhibit loose, sagging skin on their upper arms are willing to accept these scars in order to get better shaped arms overall.  The scars also fade and flatten out significantly over time.

To learn more about upper arm lift (brachioplasty) in San Francisco, contact the plastic surgery office of Sirish Maddali MD.