Arm Lift for Sacramento, Granite Bay & Coeur d’Alene

In this procedure, the excess skin from the elbow to the armpit is marked and excised to provide a smooth contour to the upper arm. It also removes a slight degree of fatty tissue, and liposuction is typically performed on the backside of the arm to help remove fullness and improve contour.

What Procedures Can be Combined with a Brachioplasty?

There are many procedures that can be combined with this surgery if desired. Oftentimes, patients have other areas with excess skin that are dealt with at the same time. These can all be discussed specifically for each patient during the consult.

What Type of Anesthesia is Used for this Procedure?

Either general anesthesia or IV sedation can be used quite well with a brachioplasty. Patients tend to tolerate both equally well.

What Should I Expect After Arm Lift Surgery?

The surgery itself takes a couple of hours. You will then remain in our recovery room for a couple of hours afterwards to assure that you are ready to be discharged. You will then be discharged home with compressive garments around your upper extremities to help with the initial healing phase. We also often recommend patients to visit a sporting good store and purchase compression sleeves. These compression garments are the most comfortable form of compression after surgery as they allow for decreased swelling and improved contour. Patients are typically asked to wear these for about four to six.

Arm Lift Cost

The cost of arm lift surgery ranges from $3,200 to $12,000. The total expense depends on your location, the plastic surgeon, and the procedure details. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average price of brachioplasty is $5,490, but that may not include the fees for anesthesia, the operating room, and other expenses. How much you pay for arm lift involves more than the actual surgery because there are recovery garments, pre-op medical tests, prescription medications, and other surgery-related items.

Dr. Coscia offers financing options so you can eliminate loose upper arm skin with affordable monthly payments!

Arm Lift Surgical Techniques

Brachioplasty requires IV sedation or general anesthesia. There are three incision patterns used for arm lift. One technique places an incision on the inside of the arm from the underarm to just above the elbow, and another creates an incision on the back of the arm. A limited incision approach is an option for mild to moderate loose skin and keeps the incision in the underarm area in a crescent shape.

After Dr. Coscia makes the appropriate incision for your needs, he lifts the skin tissue. Fat pockets in the upper arm are removed with liposuction or excised. Dr. Coscia then tightens and reshapes the underlying tissues, securing them in place with internal sutures. He smooths the skin over the sculpted arm shape and closes the incisions with absorbable sutures or stitches.

You will have a bandage around your arm with sterile gauze to reduce swelling and lower the risk of infection. Most patients notice a smoother, tighter arm contour right after surgery, but swelling and bruising may take several weeks to disappear. The incision lines will fade over time but will not disappear completely. You can enjoy your results for many years. While your skin will continue to age and lose some firmness, you will still have a smoother, firmer shape than before due to the surgical changes.

What Causes Loose Upper Arm Skin?

Loose skin and fat accumulation in the upper arms are standard parts of natural aging. Your skin produces less elastin and collagen with age, and these proteins are responsible for strong, flexible tissues. Too much time in the sun, cigarette smoke, nutrition, alcohol consumption, and other lifestyle factors can contribute to the decline in elastin and collagen. These changes cause thin, sagging skin.

Weight gain stretches the skin beyond its capacity, making it impossible for the tissues to retract with weight loss. Carrying the extra weight damages the collagen and elastin fibers, so the skin can’t snap back and conform to a slimmer body shape. This is often a problem for people who have lost 100 or more pounds, especially after bariatric surgery. It’s common to have lax tissue in the arms after weight loss, and some people are genetically predisposed to “batwings.”

Push-ups and other exercises that target the triceps muscle group in the back of your upper arms can tone the area, but building muscle may not accomplish the results you’re looking for, especially if you’re a woman looking for a slimmer upper arm appearance that is toned but not bulky with muscle.