Who is a Candidate?

A person with loose and flabby skin under the upper arm.

Intended Results:

To give the arms a tighter, more youthful look.

Procedure Description:

An arm lift is designed to remove sagging, excess skin under the upper arms that may be due to significant weight loss or loss of elasticity as a result of the aging process.

Arm lifts are not recommended as a weight loss procedure and work best on patients who are not significantly overweight.

The procedure may be performed after a weight loss program to address the issue of sagging skin once the target weight is achieved.

This procedure is done on an out patient basis under IV seditation or general anesthesia.

The entire procedure takes an average of about two hours.

There are two types of Arm lifts:

• Upper Arm Lift

This procedure involves an incision that either runs the full length of the inside of the upper arm, or at the back of the arm from the armpit to the elbow.

This procedure removes excess sagging skin of the upper arm and improves the contour of the arm.

In some cases, an upper arm lift may be combined with liposuction for best results. The fat is suctioned away from the area first, and then the excess skin is removed and the incision is closed.

• Mini Arm Lift

This procedure is very similar to the upper arm lift, but less skin must be reshaped and the size of the incision is smaller and located in the armpit area.

This procedure is less common than the upper arm lift, since the majority of patients require more contouring and reshaping for the best results.

Recuperation and Healing:

Although most patients will go home the same day as the procedure, it is important to have someone available to drive and help out overnight.

Dressings will be applied to the area, and drains may be placed to allow fluids and blood to drain temporarily.

Patients will usually be able to return to work within a week or two and complete recovery is expected within two to six weeks.

Insurance Guidelines:

This procedure is considered cosmetic and therefore is not covered by insurance. The patient is responsible for payment.

NOTE: The specific risks and the suitability of this procedure for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome can occur occasionally. Major complications are unusual.