Arm Lift

1. For patients with otherwise good quality skin (few stretch marks and good elasticity - these are typically younger patients who have not had many wide fluctuations in weight) and who simply have a bit too much fullness of the upper arm, liposuction alone can be utilized to contour the arm. Liposuction alone can be done under local anesthesia only, and has an easier recovery than more invasive procedures. Results can be seen in about 3-5 months after the procedure.
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2. For patients with minimal fullness but significant hanging skin of the arm (usually patients who have achieved dramatic weight loss), removal of the skin itself without liposuction may be best. This can be done as an outpatient procedure and can also be combined with other body contouring procedures such as a tummy tuck or breast lift. In contrast to liposuction alone, this surgery requires placement of a scar down the arm (similar to an in-seam on a long sleeve shirt) which may need to cross over to the armpit. The recovery is a bit more involved than liposuction alone, but patients can see dramatic improvement sooner.
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3. For patients who have significant excess skin and excess fat, a combined liposuction and excision procedure may be warranted. This can achieve the most dramatic results, but does entail more recovery and upfront cost.

Still not sure, no worries! Dr. Albright can help guide you through this process.

Any surgical procedure has risks, and Dr. Albright will help you determine if the benefits of a procedure outweigh the risks. Arm lifts are no different. The most common patient concerns after arm lift relate to symmetry and scarring. For full arm lifts (not liposuction alone), a scar is placed on the "in-seam" of the arm and may cross over to the armpit. The scar may widen due to tension at closure. Additionally, by removing excess skin and weight, patients may unmask a pre-existing "arm band" that is not easily corrected. A revision surgery may be necessary to acheive a better result.

Other more rare risks include damage to sensory nerves of the forearm, and longterm swelling of the arm (lymphedema).  Dr. Albright carefully screens patients for risk factors for the development of these rare but serious complications. This is yet another reason why it is so important to see a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Albright.

Although every patient is different and recovery will depend on specific techniques used, most patients will require several weeks of arm compression with either ACE wraps or a formal compression sleeve. For skin excision patients, range of motion in the arms will be limited for 2 weeks so as to limit more tension on the incision and risk a wound healing problem. This means limited reaching or pulling, and elbows should be tucked in at their sides. Patients may be able to resume light exercise by 4-6 weeks depending on wound healing. Final results may be seen about 5-6 months after surgery.