ARM LIFT (BRACHIOPLASTY)- ARM RESHAPING (FLEMING ISLAND, FL)*

Weight loss is considered an exciting achievement for men and women, especially those who have lost a considerable amount of weight. Sometimes, weight loss or years of weight fluctuations can have a negative impact on the skin, especially the arms where the underside may become loose and sagging. Age, genetics, and gravity also attribute to loose skin in the arm region. Plastic Surgeon, Dr. William Wallace offers brachioplasty surgery (also known as arm reshaping or an arm lift) to patients who wish to have tighter arms and arms that appear more contoured. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, arm lifts are among the top 5 cosmetic procedures performed after weight loss. Patients who have sagging skin under the arm would need to consider surgery to remove the loose skin deformity. The outcomes after an arm lift are both natural looking and exciting for our patients. For many, it is one of the final steps in the transformation process after their weight loss journey.

During arm lift surgery, an incision is made along the inner arm, from the armpit down towards the elbow. Once this incision has been made, liposuction may be used to remove excess fat, and any loose skin will be trimmed away. Depending on the extent of the surgery, a draining tube may be placed to help control bleeding. In patients with excessive drooping, where there is looseness within the internal tissue structures, a tightening technique will be used internally. These surgical efforts will result in a smaller circumference of the upper arm. 

Brachioplasty is performed under general anesthesia in an accredited surgical facility and typically takes around 2 hours to complete and is considered an outpatient procedure. If this surgery is combined with another body contouring procedure, then the patient may be required to stay overnight in the hospital, but not usually. Following surgery, the arms should be kept elevated to help control swelling and promote circulation. Patients will experience a slow return of normal function. Arm and hand strength, specifically, will be weak for the first several weeks as the internal tissues heal.