Arm Lift Procedure

What Is An Arm Lift?

Also known as brachioplasty, an arm lift surgery reshapes the under portion of the upper arm, from the underarm region to the elbow.

Enhancing Your Appearance With An Arm Lift

Fluctuations in weight, aging and to some degree, heredity can cause your upper arms to have a drooping, sagging appearance. Exercise may strengthen and improve the underlying muscle tone of the upper arm, but it cannot correct excess skin that has lost elasticity or fix tissues that have weakened and collected fat deposits.

If the underside of your upper arms are sagging or appear loose and full due to excess skin and fat, an arm lift may be appropriate for you. Understand that in order to correct these problems, you will have a scar on the inside of your upper arm.

An Arm Lift Will:

  • Reduce excess sagging skin and fat between the underarm and the elbow
  • Reshape your arm, producing smoother skin and contours 
  • Tighten and smooth the underlying supportive tissue that defines the shape of the upper arm 
  • Reduce localized pockets of fat in the upper arm 
  • Produce a more toned and proportionate appearance 

Is An Arm Lift Right For Me?

Appropriate candidates for an arm lift generally include:

  • Adults with significant upper arm skin laxity
  • Adults whose weight is relatively stable and who are not significantly overweight 
  • Healthy individuals who don't have existing medical conditions that can impair healing or increase risk of surgery 
  • Non-smokers 
  • Individuals with a positive self-image and realistic expectations

What To Expect During Your Consultation With Dr. Bruce Van Natta

A safe and successful arm lift procedure depends very much on your being completely candid during your consultation. Be sure to address any problems, concerns and questions with Dr. Van Natta. He will ask you a number of questions about your health, desires and lifestyle.

Be Prepared to Discuss:

  • Why you want arm lift surgery and your expectations and desired outcome
  • Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments 
  • Use of current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drugs 
  • Previous surgeries 
  • Family disease history

Dr. Van Natta May Also:

  • Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
  • Take photographs for your medical record 
  • Discuss likely outcomes of arm lift surgery and any risks or potential complications
  • Discuss the use of anesthesia during your arm lift procedure

Preparing For Arm Lift Surgery

Prior To Arm Lift Surgery, Dr. Van Natta May Ask You To:

  • Get lab testing or a general medical evaluation
  • Take certain medications or adjust your current medications 
  • Stop smoking well in advance of surgery 
  • Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements, as they can increase bleeding

Special Instructions You Receive Will Cover:

  • What to do the day of surgery
  • The use of anesthesia during your arm lift 
  • Post-operative care and follow-up

Your arm lift surgery will be performed at Meridian Plastic Surgery Center, an AAAHC accredited facility utilizing seasoned anesthesiologists from St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana.

You'll Need Help

Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.

What Happens During Arm Lift Surgery?

Step 1 - Anesthesia

Dr.Van Natta performs arm lift surgery under general anesthesia administered by a board certified anesthesiologist. The procedure takes approximately 1 ½ hours.

Step 2 - The Incision

Incision length and pattern depend on the amount and location of excess skin to be removed, as well as Dr. Van Natta's best judgment. Incisions are generally placed on the inside of the arm, and may extend from the underarm (axilla) to just above the elbow. (Depending on your personal situation, incisions may be more limited). If fat is to be reduced during your arm lift, it will be excised or treated with liposuction.

Inner Arm Incision

Inner Arm Incision 1Inner Arm Incision 2

Underlying supportive tissue is also tightened and reshaped with internal sutures. Finally, the skin is smoothed over the new contour of your arm.

Back of Arm Incision

Back of arm incision 1Back of arm incision 2

Minimal Incision

Minimal incision 1Minimal incision 2

(Illustrations courtesy of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)

Step 3 - Closing the Incisions

Your incisions will be closed with sutures that are absorbed by your body.

Step 4 - See the Results

The smoother, tighter contours that result from brachioplasty are apparent almost immediately following your procedure, although initial results will most likely be somewhat obscured by minor swelling and bruising. Once the swelling goes down, you'll notice that your new, shapely and toned upper arm is dramatically improved both in appearance and feel.

Important Facts About Arm Lift Risks and Complications

The decision to have arm lift surgery is extremely personal. You'll have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable to your personal situation.

Dr.Van Natta and/or his staff will explain in detail the risks associated with surgery. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure you will undergo and any risks or potential complications.

The Risks of Arm Lift Surgery Include:

  • Unfavorable scarring - these arm scars are sometimes more significant than scars on other parts of the body. Ultimately, scar making is genetically determined.
  • Bleeding (hematoma) 
  • Infection
  • Fluid accumulation
  • Anesthesia risks
  • Poor wound healing
  • Skin loss (Rare)
  • Blood clots
  • Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
  • Skin discoloration and/or prolonged swelling
  • Asymmetry
  • Major wound separation (Rare)
  • Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis)
  • Damage to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and lungs (Rare)
  • Pain, which may persist (Rare)
  • Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications (Rare)
  • Sutures may spontaneously surface through the skin, become visible or produce irritation that require removal 
  • Possibility of revision surgery with additional expense

These risks and others will be fully discussed prior to your consent. It is important that you address all your questions directly with Dr. Van Natta. It is natural to feel some anxiety, whether excitement for the anticipated outcomes or preoperative stress. Be sure to discuss these feelings with Dr. Van Natta during your consultation

When You Go Home

If you experience shortness of breath, chest pains or unusual heart beats, seek immediate medical attention . If any of these complications occur, you may require hospitalization and additional treatment. The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although good results are expected, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure, and another surgery may be necessary.

Your Recovery

Following Dr. Van Natta's postoperative instructions is key to the success of your surgery. It is important that the surgical incisions are not subjected to excessive force, swelling, abrasion or motion while you are healing. Following your surgery, dressings or bandages may be applied to your incisions, and your arms may be wrapped in an elastic bandage or a compression garment to minimize swelling. Dr. Van Natta will give you specific instructions on how to care for yourself after surgery.

Specific Instructions May Include:

  • How to care for the surgical site and drains
  • Medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the potential for infection
  • Specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health
  • When to follow up with Dr. Van Natta.

Be sure to ask specific questions about what you can expect during your individual recovery period.

Arm Lift Results

The results of arm lift surgery will be long-lasting, provided that you maintain a stable weight and general fitness. As your body ages, it is natural to lose some firmness, but most of your improvement should be relatively permanent.

Arm Lift Costs May Include:

  • Surgeon's fee
  • Surgical facility costs 
  • Anesthesia fees 
  • Prescriptions for medication 
  • Post-surgery garments 
  • Medical tests

Typically, health insurance does not cover the cost of an arm lift. Our practice offers patient financing plans, so be sure to ask us about this option.

Your Satisfaction Involves More Than a Fee

When choosing a plastic surgeon for an arm lift, remember that the surgeon's experience and your comfort with him or her are equally as important as the final cost of the surgery. As with most things in life, you get what you pay for.

Arm Lift Glossary

  • Arm lift: A surgical procedure, also known as brachioplasty, to correct sagging of the upper arms.
  • Axilla: The underarm area. 
  • Brachioplasty: A surgical procedure, also known as arm lift, to correct sagging of upper arms. 
  • General anesthesia: Drugs and/or gases used during an operation to relieve pain and alter consciousness. 
  • Hematoma: Blood pooling beneath the skin. 
  • Intravenous sedation: Sedatives administered by injection into a vein to help you relax. 
  • Liposuction: Also called lipoplasty or suction lipectomy, this procedure vacuums out fat from beneath the skin's surface to reduce fullness. 
  • Local anesthesia: A drug injected directly to the site of an incision during an operation to relieve pain. 
  • Skin laxity: Degree of loose skin. 
  • Sutures: Stitches used by surgeons to hold skin and tissue together.

Questions To Ask Your Plastic Surgeon

  • Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
  • Were you specifically trained in the field of plastic surgery? 
  • How many years of plastic surgery training have you had? 
  • Is the office-based surgical facility where you perform surgery accredited by a nationally- or state-recognized accrediting agency, or is it state-licensed or Medicare-certified?
  • Am I a good candidate for this procedure? 
  • What will be expected of me in order to get the best results? 
  • Where and how will you perform my procedure? 
  • Is there a specific surgical technique recommended for me? 
  • How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery? 
  • What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure?
  • How are complications handled? 
  • How can I expect my arms to look over time? 
  • What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of my arm lift?
  • Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at for this procedure and what results are reasonable for me?

Use This Checklist As a Guide During Your Consultation

The following points are important relative to Dr. Bruce Van Natta:

  • He is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
  • He was trained specifically in the field of plastic surgery.
  • He has been in practice more than 20 years.
  • His surgical facility, Meridian Plastic Surgery Center, is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, and it is state-licensed and Medicare-certified.

How are complications handled? If you experience a rare complication requiring reoperation, Dr. Van Natta often won't charge for his services, but you may well have additional expenses for the operating room as well as anesthesia.