Who Is a Good Candidate for an Arm Lift?

Do you avoid sleeveless tops because of loose, sagging skin on your upper arms that won't respond to exercise? If so, an arm lift, often paired with arm fat removal in West Bloomfield, MI, may be the right solution if you're in good general health, close to a stable weight, and dealing with skin laxity or excess fat that diet alone can't correct. 

At Bloomfield Plastic Surgery, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Julio M. Sosa performs this body contouring procedure to help patients with "bat wings" feel confident baring their arms again. Call today to schedule a consultation and find out if you're a candidate. 

What is an arm lift? 

So, what is an arm lift? Also called brachioplasty, it's a surgical procedure that removes excess loose skin and fat from the upper arm, running from the elbow up toward the armpit. Dr. Sosa makes an incision along the inner or back of the arm, removes the loose tissue, and tightens the remaining skin for a firmer, more toned contour. Because surgery addresses the underlying skin structure directly, it produces results that exercise alone cannot achieve. 

An arm lift often includes arm fat removal through the use of liposuction tools at our office. Liposuction is helpful because it addresses any stubborn fat pockets in the area. This combination approach tends to produce more complete, natural-looking results than treating skin or fat alone. 

Who can benefit from an arm lift? 

An arm lift tends to work best for patients who fit a few specific criteria:  

• Significant loose skin: Patients with sagging skin that hangs down, or bat wings, are the most common candidates. 
• Stable weight: Being at or near your goal weight helps ensure your results last, since weight fluctuations afterward can affect your new contour. 
• Good skin elasticity elsewhere: While the treated skin lacks elasticity, healthy skin in surrounding areas tends to heal and scar more favorably. 
• Nonsmoker status: Smoking impairs healing and increases the risk of complications, so most surgeons require patients to quit well before surgery, 
• Realistic expectations: Understanding that an arm lift leaves a scar, usually along the inner arm, in exchange for firmer, smoother skin, 

Recovery, aftercare, and results 

Recovery from a body contouring procedure typically takes 2 – 3 weeks before returning to work, with full recovery and optimal results visible around 3 – 6 months as swelling resolves and scars begin to fade. You'll wear a compression garment for the first few weeks to support healing and minimize swelling, and strenuous activity, especially anything involving the arms, is restricted during that time. 

Results from an arm lift are generally long-lasting, particularly if your weight remains stable afterward. While you may get a scar during the recovery process, it typically fades over the first year and is positioned to be easily hidden by clothing. 

Enjoy a more defined arm contour in West Bloomfield, MI 

If loose skin or bat wings have kept you from feeling confident in short sleeves, an arm lift combined with arm fat removal can restore a firmer, more toned appearance. Dr. Julio M. Sosa at Bloomfield Plastic Surgery can evaluate whether this body contouring procedure fits your goals. 

If you have questions such as, "What is an arm lift?" or want to learn more, call today to schedule a consultation in West Bloomfield, MI, and take the first step toward arms you feel good showing off.