Brachioplasty (Upper Arm Reduction)
Definition
A brachioplasty, also known as upper arm reduction or arm lift surgery, is a body contouring procedure that reduces excess skin and fat while reshaping the upper arm and underlying supportive tissue to provide better contour. Oftentimes, excess sagging skin from the inner arm area is removed.
Other body contouring cosmetic procedures that can be combined with brachioplasty are:
Alternative names
Arm lift surgery; upper arm reduction
How do I know if an arm lift is right for me?
Exercising and good dieting can help with muscle firmness and tone but doesn’t adequately address loose skin.
More commonly in women, upper arm skin tends to sag or droop over time for multiple reasons, such as aging, pregnancy, massive weight loss or genetics.
An adult of any age is safe to go forward with an arm lift procedure, provided the following conditions are true:
- Patient does not have any medical condition that can hinder recovery
- Patient is a non-smoker
- Patient is not significantly overweight
- Weight is relatively stable
A brachioplasty is not a substitute for good dieting and exercise, which must be maintained to retain the benefits of the procedure.
Before the brachioplasty procedure
A plastic surgeon may suggest you take certain medications or adjust the ones you’re currently on before the aesthetic plastic surgery. You will need to avoid aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements before and immediately after your brachioplasty since they increase the risk of bleeding.
Your plastic surgeon will ask you to quit smoking if you smoke. Smoking slows recovery and increases the risks of problems. Your doctor will suggest you quit smoking before having this procedure.
On the day of your arm lift surgery, be sure someone can drive you home. We also recommend identifying someone who can stay the night with you to help monitor your recovery.
After the surgical procedure
After your arm lift procedure, surgeons will apply dressings and bandages around the incisions and perhaps wrap your arm in a compression garment to reduce swelling. A temporary tube may be inserted to drain away excess blood and fluids.
You must avoid strenuous activity, especially bending and lifting, for about 3-4 weeks after your reconstructive surgery until healing is complete.
Potential side effects
Some risks include:
- Bleeding
- Fatty tissue under the skin might die
- Fluid accumulation
- Infection
- Wound separation
- Scar revision
- Unfavorable scarring
Outlook (prognosis)
While everyone is unique, arm lift recovery generally lasts 3-4 weeks. You should be able to return to work within a week, and light exercise is usually permitted after six weeks. Take all the medications prescribed by your surgeon.
A brachioplasty surgery is a permanent cosmetic procedure and can last a lifetime if you adjust your lifestyle.
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This entry was written by Jennifer Cruz-Urbano, marketing specialist, and reviewed for accuracy by Kalyan C. Dadireddy, MD. Generative AI was leveraged as part of the content creation process.