As we age, it is not just our face and neck that feel the effects. The changes caused by the degradation of the skin eventually spreads to other parts of the body and causes saggy, loose skin to develop in specific areas. One area that often experiences these changes are the arms.

Along with weight fluctuations, the effects of the natural aging process can cause your arms to develop a saggy appearance known as bat wings. These pockets of stubborn fat and loose skin can be incredibly embarrassing, especially as we head into bikini season. Worst of all, this problem can’t always be fixed with exercise and dieting alone.

Fortunately, there’s another solution. That loose skin and stubborn fat in your upper arms can be effectively eliminated with an arm lift surgery. This amazing plastic surgery procedure is designed to get rid of those flabby bat wings and deliver well-toned arms that you can feel more confident showing off.

What Is The Arm Lift Surgery?

An Arm Lift, also known as Brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to reshape the under-side of the arm in order to remove excess saggy skin from your arms to give them a more defined appearance.

An arm lift helps in the following ways:

  • Reduces the sagging skin that droops down, causing the appearance of bat wings
  • Smoothes and tightens the tissue along the upper arm instantly.
  • Decreases localized pockets of fat in the upper arm area.

The Arm Lift Procedure

Everyone’s individual bodily proportions are different, so not every surgical procedure is the same. The technique employed to complete your arm lift will depend on the level of correction desired as well as your unique bodily shape.

Standard Upper Arm Lift


For patients with a lot of skin and tissue, an incision is made along the length of the arm from the underarm to the elbow. The fatty tissue and loose skin are then removed. The surgeon might choose to include liposuction during the surgery to remove localized fatty deposits.

Extended Upper Arm Lift


Extended Upper Arm Lift is recommended for patients who have experienced significant weight loss that resulted in the formation of loose, saggy skin. Usually when this happens, there is a need to redefine the arms to better fit the new contours of your body.

In this technique, an incision is made along the full length of the upper arm, and a great amount of loose skin and fat is removed. The incision is then closed and the remaining skin is tightened. While this is an extremely invasive surgery, it produces the best results.

Limited Excision Upper Arm Lift


This technique is only for those who need very little correction. An incision is created in the armpit to remove a tiny amount of fat along the arm. The excess skin is then trimmed and tightened after which the incision is closed. This procedure leaves behind very little postoperative marks and requires a very short recovery period.

Aftercare and Recovery Time


The recovery time will differ depending on the kind of surgery performed and the extent of correction you desire. A compression garment is provided to reduce the swelling post surgery. Your doctor will ask you to keep your arm at an elevated position. Oral medication will also be prescribed to help ease any discomfort you may experience.

While routine daily activities can be resumed within two to three weeks, it takes approximately up to six months for the final results to be visible.

Contact Our Office

An arm lift is the perfect solution for anyone who wants to get rid of that excess stubborn fat and loose skin in the upper arm region. If you’re interested in learning more about the surgery, contact North Coast Plastic Surgery to schedule your consultation today!