Brachioplasty (Arm Lift Surgery)

Brachioplasty, also known as Arm Lift surgery, is performed to remove excess skin and tissue from the upper arms. One of the fastest growing cosmetic procedures, the number of arm lift procedures performed in the U.S. grew over 5,000% between 2000 and 2018.¹ Our Las Vegas brachioplasty specialists are seeing increasing numbers of patients from the city and surrounding areas as this procedure becomes more popular. Discerning patients appreciate the skill and experience offered by Dr. Hankins and Dr. Sohn.

Why Get Brachioplasty?

Excess upper arm tissue, sometimes call “bat wings”, can develop after significant weight loss or bariatric surgery, but may also arise as a result of aging. By removing excess tissue and fat surgically, a slimmer, firmer arm shape can be restored. Our Las Vegas area patients often find that restoring their natural arm shape gives them the confidence to wear sleeveless clothes and gives them greater comfort in wearing clothing with fitted-sleeves.

Benefits of Arm Lift Surgery

Be more confident in sleeveless outfits
Feel comfortable in blouses, shirts and jackets
Interact confidently without worrying about how your arms look (in photos too!)
Improvements in muscle shape and tone become more visible
Remove or reduce stretch marks from the inner arms
Reduce or remove stubborn fat pockets post weight loss
Look and feel more youthful and fit

How Does Brachioplasty Work?

Brachioplasty is performed by creating an incision on the inside of the upper arm, allowing access to the tissues. Incision length varies somewhat based on the patient, but generally with a standard brachioplasty the incision runs from the armpit to just above the elbow. Incisions can be straight, curved, or Z-shaped depending on the objectives of the patient and the surgeon.

Liposuction can be performed at the same time if needed to remove additional fat. Excess skin and fat are removed along with any stretch marks near the incision. Once the desired arm shape and contour has been achieved, the incision is closed by placing dissolvable stitches, or sutures, and closing the incision in layers from the deepest tissues outward to the skin surface. This technique minimizes the tension on the tissues and the incision, resulting in the smallest, flatest and thinnest scar possible.

Our surgeons are experienced and highly skilled in not just removing skin and fat from the upper arm, but in safely removing the correct amount of tissue. Additionally, their technique in closing the incision layer by layer gives noticeably better results than those using a less meticulous approach. Removing the right amount of tissue leaves you with a well-shaped, slimmer arm that is proportionate with your shoulders, lower arms, and the rest of your body, while still looking more youthful and fit.

Mini Arm Lift

A mini arm lift is much the same as the standard arm lift or brachioplasty. However, the incision is usually much shorter and is often diamond shaped. Our surgeons can still perform liposuction to remove excess fat. With the shorter incision, much less skin and tissue is removed. The mini arm lift is most suitable for patients that have fat or skin laxity that is concentrated near the top, inner, or back of the arm. Little to no change can be made to the mid and lower aspects of the upper arm. With the smaller incision and scar, a mini arm lift can be attractive to patients, but patients who have loose skin from major weight loss or patients with sagging skin on the middle and lower portion of the upper arm are typically not good candidates for the mini arm lift.

Brachioplasty Recovery

Brachioplasty is an outpatient procedure, so patients go home the same day. Most often the arms are wrapped in a dressing, especially if liposuction was performed. Dressings are removed in our office within a few days of surgery and replaced with smaller, lighter dressings.

Incision sites must be kept clean and dry until the incision is fully closed and healed, approximately two weeks. Dissolvable stitches continue to keep the tissues closely aligned as the deeper skin and tissue layers continue to heal and strengthen.

Light activities can usually be resumed after the first postoperative office visit. Patients can expect some discomfort and swelling. Discomfort can often be managed with over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen, but stronger medicine may be prescribed if needed. Swelling is often seen in the lower arm and hands, but can also be seen in the neck area. Swelling can be managed with elevation and rest. You may be advised to keep the arms elevated for some portion of the day. Patients must avoid lifting and arm exertion — this includes using your arms to push yourself out of bed or out of a chair. Having someone stay with you for the first week makes healing easier and ensures you do not stress the surgery site or the healing incision.

After two weeks you should be able to resume most of your normal activities, with some restrictions on lifting and arm exertion for four weeks after surgery. These restrictions will ease as your arm tissues and incision heal. You may also be given topical recommendations (gels, creams or massage) to soothe the skin, aid in healing, and minimize scar formation.

Brachioplasty Results

Confidence and comfort in the way you look are the best results of a brachioplasty. Feeling free to move, wave, wear what you want — all improve the way you feel as you go about your interactions with those around you.

Your arms will be slimmer, while still proportionate to the rest of your body. Incisions continue to heal for up to 12 months, so you may continue to treat the incision with topical creams or gels to enhance healing and decrease the appearance of the scar. Protection from the sun is vitally important to any healing incision, so protective outerwear and sunscreen are important for the first 12 months (and really all the time!)

Planning Your Arm Lift Procedure*

Average Procedure Time:
2 hours

Average Recovery Time:
1 – 2 weeks

Post-Op Consultation:
8 weeks

*Your treatment plan at Hankins & Sohn Plastic Surgery Associates will be customized to meet your needs and your individual experience will vary depending on a number of factors. All information provided on this page is an estimate of typical time and cost and does not represent an offer or guarantee of pricing or availability. Please schedule a consultation appointment to discuss which options may apply to you.

Contact Hankins & Sohn For Brachioplasty in Las Vegas

If you are interested in brachioplasty, contact our office for a consultation with one of our experienced and Board Certified plastic surgeons. Contact us or call us at 702-948-7595.

Frequently Asked Questions About Brachioplasty

Scarring is inevitable when surgery is performed, but the type of scar is very dependent on you, your procedure, and your healing. Brachioplasty scars are often easy to conceal and our surgeons are experienced in strategic placement of incisions. Patients who typically heal quickly may experience more favorable scarring, as well as patients who follow all recovery instructions carefully.

Can brachioplasty be combined with other procedures?

Absolutely! Brachioplasty is often combined with other procedures of the upper body, including: male breast reduction, liposuction, and breast lift or augmentation. It can also be combined with other non-surgical procedures of the same area, including: IPL of the neck and chest, Ultherapy, CoolSculpting and Liposonix. Think of an upper-body picture you have taken recently – any of those areas are great companion treatment areas when combined with an arm lift.
Can I avoid the scar and just have liposuction?

You may be a liposuction-only candidate if you have only mild-to-moderate thickness of your upper arms and your skin is firm, thick and taut. However, if your skin has been stretched beyond a certain point, it will not “bounce back”. If you have loose skin on your arms, you will likely be much happier with brachioplasty results than with liposuction alone. If you need brachioplasty, commit to the best incision management possible, and know that your scar will likely be pale, thin, flat and barely noticeable even with a sleeveless shirt!
Are there risks associated with arm lift surgery?

All procedures carry some level of risk. As an outpatient procedure, brachioplasty is a lower risk procedure. However, the most common risks related to surgery and anesthesia still apply, such as bleeding, infection, damage to healthy tissues, poor healing, numbness, and unsightly scarring.² While no procedure is risk-free, our surgeons prioritize your safety in every step along the way. You can be confident that your health, safety and happiness is our primary goal.
Am I a candidate for brachioplasty?

If you are concerned with sagging skin and fat in your upper arms, you may be a good candidate for brachioplasty. Ideal brachioplasty candidates are in good health, have relatively stable weight, and do not smoke or use tobacco products.

¹ American Society of Plastic Surgeons. 2018 Plastic Surgery Statistics Report. Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/News/Statistics/2018/plastic-surgery-statistics-full-report-2018.pdf

² https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/arm-lift/safety

This content has either been authored or reviewed and approved by the doctors at Hankins & Sohn Plastic Surgery Associates.