Arm Lift

Arm lift procedures are available from Dr. Charles Slack at his plastic surgery practice near Dallas, Texas for patients in Plano, McKinney, and the surrounding communities. Board certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Slack is a skilled plastic surgeon, and he offers arm lift surgery as an option for individuals whose upper arms are not responding to diet and exercise. Loose, sagging, or excess upper-arm skin can be corrected with an arm lift, a relatively simple surgical procedure.

Alone or in Tandem with Another Procedure

An arm lift (medical term: brachioplasty) may be performed alone or in combination with another body contouring procedure such as the following:

An Arm Lift Leaves a Scar

It’s important to know that there will be an unavoidable scar left by the incision(s) of an arm lift procedure, and although the scars will fade with time, they may never disappear completely. However, many individuals prefer the scar to the excess, flabby, hanging skin that occasioned the need for an arm lift.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Brachioplasty?

An individual’s upper arms may have lost tone and skin elasticity for a number of reasons, such as the following:

  • significant weight loss
  • repeated fluctuations in body weight
  • heredity
  • aging.

Although exercise can tone and strengthen the arm’s muscles, it cannot do anything for skin that is sagging or loose and although diet can address excess fat in the arms, it too will not remove excess skin or change the skin’s lack of elasticity. In fact, arm lifts are performed most often for individuals whose admirable diet and exercise changes have brought them to a significantly lower body weight, with remaining upper arm skin that will not “shrink to fit” their new physiques.

If this sounds like you, and you’re in good health with a stable body weight, an arm lift may be an appropriate option for you. Talk to Dr. Slack in person for an initial consultation to get a better idea of your best alternatives regarding body contouring procedures, including an arm lift.

What an Arm Lift Does

An arm lift can be performed to:

  • remove excess or sagging skin and fat in the arm between the underarm and the elbow
  • reduce localized deposits of fat in the upper arm
  • tighten the underlying supportive tissue in the arm
  • reshape the arm, resulting in a smoother contour
  • bring about better-toned arms that are in proportion to the rest of a person’s body

The Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) Procedure

As Dr. Slack will remind you, if you smoke, you need to quit at least two weeks before the surgery. Smoking impedes the body’s ability to heal.

An arm lift is performed under general anesthesia. The length and location of the incision that Dr. Slack will make in the arm will depend in part on the site and amount of skin to be removed. An arm lift incision is usually made on the inside of the arm or on the back of the arm, and it may extend from the underarm (armpit or axilla) to a point just above the elbow. In some cases, a shorter incision or a different pattern is possible.

If there are deposits of fat in the upper arm, they will be removed by liposuction and/or by excision. The underlying supportive tissue in the arm is tightened, reshaped, and sutured in place. The excess skin is removed.

Lastly, the remaining skin is draped appropriately to make a smooth contour for the entire arm. The incisions are closed with sutures that will gradually be absorbed into the skin or with sutures that will be removed later by Dr. Slack.

Arm Lift Results

Although some swelling and/or bruising can be expected soon after an arm lift, these are temporary, and the new contour of the arms will be apparent immediately. The results of an arm lift are often rather dramatic since the hanging, saggy upper-arm skin is now gone.

Post-arm lift follow-up appointments with Dr. Slack will be scheduled before the surgery. Each patient’s physical status and feelings about his or her procedure are always monitored closely by Dr. Slack and his staff.

Ask Dr. Slack about an Arm Lift in Plano and McKinney, Texas

If you feel that an arm lift may be a good option for you, schedule a private consultation with Dr. Slack to discuss your goals and concerns. He looks forward to speaking with you.