What Is An Arm Lift?

Arm Lift Surgery Fort Lauderdale — Excess Under Arm Skin

Fluctuations in weight, growing older and even heredity can cause your upper arms to have a drooping, sagging appearance. If this happens you are a good candidate for an arm lift, a.k.a. brachioplasty, in our Fort Lauderdale office.

Also known as brachioplasty, an Arm Lift removes excess skin and fat that form under the upper arm.

Exercise strengthens and improves the muscle tone of the upper arm. Yet, it can’t correct excess skin that has lost elasticity. It also can’t fix underlying weakened tissues and localized fat deposits.

If the underside of your upper arms are sagging, an Arm Lift is right for you. It also be suitable if the upper arms are loose and full due to excess skin and fat.

Consultation

You will meet with Dr. Thomassen and have a thorough history and physical exam. For the history part, it is important to discuss any medical conditions. You should also mention medications, allergies, prior surgeries, and habits that impact healing.

For the physical exam, Dr. Thomassen will decide based on the amount of excess skin, what procedure is best for you

Anesthesia

Anesthesia includes the medications that will keep you comfortable during the surgical procedure.

Options for this procedure include local anesthesia, intravenous sedation, or general anesthesia.

Dr. Thomassen will recommend the best choice for you. If your procedure is minimal, local anesthesia is enough.

Arm Lift Procedures

Short Scar Brachioplasty

In a short scar arm lift or brachioplasty we keep the incision hidden in the axilla or armpit. This avoids a long scar running the length of the arm. It does not contour the arm as well as the other procedures. A short scar arm lift is only indicated for minimal correction of excess upper arm skin.

Arm Lift Short Scar — Minimal Scar Brachiplasty

Inner Arm Incision

This excision pattern leaves a scar in the natural crease between your biceps and triceps muscle.

Arm Lift Surgery Incision Line — Inner Arm Incision Brachioplasty

Arm Lift — Inner Arm Incision Brachioplasty

Back of Arm Incision

This excision pattern leaves a scar on the undersurface of the arm. This avoids a visible scar when extending your arm out. It is the preferred location for the scar.

Liposuction

Dr. Thomassen will usually use liposuction to remove areas of localized fat within the upper arm. This is done at the same time as the incision. To achieve this, he will use the arm lift incision to insert a small tube (cannula). The cannula suctions excess fat in the upper arm. Dr. Thomassen will carefully remove small amounts of fat. He continuously checks the contour and fat thickness of the areas being treated. Once he completes one upper arm, he will move to the other upper arm and carry out the same procedure. He repeatedly compares the two sides, adjusting the process to confirm the upper arms match.

Closing the incisions and Dressings

We close your with absorbable sutures that absorb on their own in 4-6 weeks. Dressing and an elastic garment is applied at the end of the procedure. This dressing and elastic garment apply gentle pressure on the skin. This helps prevent excess fluid from accumulating in the treated areas.

See the results

The smoother, tighter contours from brachioplasty are instantly clear after your procedure. Nevertheless, swelling and bruising will initially obscure the results. The swelling and bruising resolves in 4-6 weeks. You can see our results in our before and after page. Please be sure to visit us for an excellent results when needing an arm lift in Fort Lauderdale.