West Michigan Plastic Surgery
8175 Creekside Drive, Suite 100
Portage, MI 49024
Phone: (269) 222-1611
Monday–Thursday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
West Michigan Plastic Surgery
3035 Capital Ave SW, Suite 110
Battle Creek, MI 49015
Phone: (269) 222-1611
Tuesday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Friday: 12:30 p.m.–4 p.m.
Tighten and Tone Flabby Arms
Flabby arms are often the result of weight fluctuation, aging, or pregnancy, causing the skin on the underside of the arms to sag and droop. Unfortunately, exercise can do little to help sagging skin since it’s the result of diminished skin elasticity. An arm lift is a great way to tighten the skin and restore the youthful appearance of the arms.
Dr. Scott Holley has significant expertise with arm lift surgery and body contouring procedures, so he is the ideal choice for arm lift surgery in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids.
Arm Lift
Before & After Photos
*Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.
What Is An Arm Lift?
An arm lift, also known as brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure that tones and tightens the arms by removing loose skin and excess fat. It targets the area in the upper arm that extends from the armpit to the elbow. In some cases, liposuction may be recommended in addition to skin excision.
Good Candidates For An Arm Lift
An arm lift is a good option for people with significant sagging of the upper arms along with fatty deposits. Arm lift candidates should also be healthy, non-smokers, and have realistic expectations of surgery.
Those concerned about arm heaviness with minimal loose skin may benefit from non-surgical CoolSculpting® cryolipolysis.
Your Arm Lift Consultation
During your initial consultation, Dr. Holley will provide you with all the relevant information about the procedure, and discuss your overall goals and expectations. He will also examine your arms and evaluate key factors such as skin elasticity, and the amount of excess skin and fatty tissue. Dr. Holley considers your overall aesthetic goals when crafting a treatment plan.
Brachioplasty is often combined with additional surgeries for patients looking to address other areas of the body, especially those who have experienced significant weight loss.
How Does It Work?
An arm lift is an outpatient procedure that is typically done under general anesthesia. The procedure takes about 2-3 hours to complete.
The incision for brachioplasty typically starts in the armpit area and extends toward the elbow. The precise placement and extent of the incision will depend on the amount of redundant skin to be addressed. The location of the incision is designed to minimize the visibility of the scar.
After the incision is made the surgeon will remove the redundant underarm skin and fat, and tighten the skin to tone and contour the arm. Liposuction may be used to assist with fat removal.
Compression wraps are applied to the arms to help minimize swelling and promote healing. Small drain tubes are occasionally placed beneath the skin to drain excess fluid that may accumulate.
Results
Some initial results can be seen immediately after surgery, but final results can take up to 6 weeks. The arms will have a contoured, more toned look after brachioplasty. The results of an arm lift are long-lasting but significant weight loss or weight gain in the future will impact the results.
Recovery
Patients typically experience some bruising and swelling after arm lift surgery, as well as some mild discomfort. The need for narcotic pain medication is minimal. Patients can usually return to work within one week following surgery and return to full, unrestricted activity can be expected by 3-4 weeks.
