Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)
Our upper arms are under the constant pull of gravity, and when combined with the natural weakening of our muscles and the loosening of our skin, what you have are loose upper arms. They can be so loose they swing back and forth with movement, a phenomenon known unaffectionately as bat wings. Having loose upper arms can make a person keep their shoulders covered up, even during our toasty Pennsylvania summers.
To address this, Dr. Claytor performs arm lift surgery to tighten the upper arms of many of his patients from the Main Line, Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey areas. This procedure can be performed under local anesthesia in our Quad A-accredited surgical facility, or under general anesthesia.
Dr. R. Brannon Claytor
Dr. Claytor is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and holds over 20 years of experience as a cosmetic plastic surgeon. An innovator and teacher in the field of plastic surgery, he uses advanced techniques like the drain-free tummy tuck and deep plane facelift to streamline recovery and provide natural-looking, durable results.
What is arm lift (brachioplasty) surgery?
The clinical term for an arm lift is brachioplasty. The goal of this surgery is simple — to tighten up and slim the contour of the upper arms between the elbow and shoulder. This will involve removing excess skin, any fat pockets, and tightening the muscles in the area. The end result is a slimmer, tighter contour that you’ll be proud to show off in a sleeveless dress or swimsuit.
Video: Real patient’s incredible arm lift transformation!
This lovely patient, who is 39 years old, was frustrated with her excess arm skin. She is 6 months post op in this video. We do not use drains at all which really helps with a fast recovery. Her surgery was under tumescent local anesthesia and she was able to take a shower the next day after surgery. She was thrilled with her results!
Video Transcript »
Our gorgeous patient, how old are you again? 39? 39, so young, so beautiful. She had an awesome brachioplasty, also known as an arm lift. She had an incision along here. Go ahead and flex against me—look at this phenomenal definition! See this beautiful biceps and the groove between her biceps and triceps? Just fantastic. Let’s look at the other side and do the same. Look at that incredible definition, outstandingly beautiful. You can see the nice deltoid groove between the biceps and triceps and this beautiful shape and contour where she’s tight and snug in her armpit here, and then this beautiful shape and contour out to here.
Can I have you spin around so we can see you from behind and do the same? You can just see this beautiful shape and contour here, and then we’ll go over to this side, see the absolute same, and tremendous, tremendous symmetry. Spin back around, thank you so much.
So, what was the best part of this operation?
The tumescent anesthesia, doing it under local.
Yes, wasn’t it fun?
It was fun chatting with all the nurses, and I feel like my recovery was a lot quicker because of that. That’s just my opinion.
I totally agree. I totally agree because, while I’m operating on you, I can reposition you and move you around. You remember how I bring your arm down during surgery, give you a rest? Because if you’re asleep, you can’t tell that your shoulder’s aching while you’re up there that whole time. This way, I’m able to work and contour and create this beautiful, beautiful contoured axilla.
Do you still use underarm deodorant?
I do, just by choice, but I found that I don’t actually need it.
Right, because we take a fair amount of the hair from that area, right? We take some of the actual armpit tissue out as part of it so we can give you that snatched axilla.
Did I have you wrap for very long afterwards?
I was wrapped for maybe three days.
Three days. And how many drains did we have?
Zero.
Zero, no drains. Yeah, I think it’s totally unnecessary. The wrapping, I think, is just a hassle and a nuisance. How quickly did you get back to full activity?
Full activity? Well, to be honest with you, I had surgery on Thursday. By Saturday, I was washing my own hair. Maybe that’s a little quick, but I was back. I was back to remote work within a week and then full activity within, I would say, two and a half weeks.
Wow, I tell people a month, so you were even more accelerated than the average patient. That’s fabulous. Is this something that you would recommend to a friend?
I would highly recommend it. I waited 13 years to do it, and I would not hesitate to do it again.
Fantastic! High five. Thank you so very much.
Thanks so much. Arm aesthetics, right here.
Who is an ideal candidate?
If the loose skin on the underside of your upper arms moves freely when you shift your arm, an arm lift could be a good procedure for you. Loose upper arms can simply be the result of aging and genetics, or they can be the result of the patient gaining and then losing a good deal of weight.
An arm lift removes the loose skin and accumulated fat and returns tone and contour to your upper arms. But Dr. Claytor wants his patients to understand that an arm lift is not intended to be for weight loss: patients need to be near their ideal weight, as subsequent weight loss will lead to more loose skin.
The procedure does leave a long scar that Dr. Claytor creates on the underside of the arm so it is often unnoticeable. Most are not troubled by the scar, but if you are, microneedling can be used following the procedure to significantly minimize the appearance of scars.
*Individual results may vary
How is an arm lift performed?
This procedure involves a lengthy incision; this is usually unavoidable. Dr. Claytor usually makes an incision that runs on the underside of the upper arm, running from the underarm to the elbow. Through this incision, he is able to remove excess fat pockets with liposuction. He then repositions and tightens the underlying muscle tissue, and trims away excess skin.
This incision may be avoided if the patient doesn’t have extensive sagging skin. Sometimes Dr. Claytor can use a minimal incision arm lift technique. In this technique, he makes a few small incisions near the underarm, in lieu of one long incision on each arm. This method, while creating much less scarring, doesn’t allow the same degree of overall tightening.
Video Transcript »
Dr. Claytor here, introducing everyone to a phenomenal patient who is five weeks post an arm brachioplasty. What’s a brachioplasty? It’s an operation to remove excess skin from the underside of the arm. So, you can see here, five weeks afterwards, she’s doing exceptionally well and has beautiful contours to her arms. She’s out, she’s ready for ballroom dancing now. Turn your arm this way a little bit and raise your arm up over your head so that we can see the scars.
We want to be fully transparent and share with everyone: this is a scar result after five weeks, really exceptional. She’s still putting scar cream on, and we will still see further improvement with sort of the little purple turning more white and almost an invisible scar. But you can see the scar as it comes down here. I put a little Z-plasty in the armpit, and that allows for better mobility and less scar tethering through here, and it also disguises the scar better.
So, here we are, five weeks after arm brachioplasty done under local anesthesia, super fast recovery. And how are you feeling? “Great, absolutely great. I’m so thrilled.” “Would you recommend this operation to any of your friends?” “All the way, already have. You know I’m a billboard.” “Thanks so much.”
Arm brachioplasty is a great operation for improving patients’ contours. Here you can see a before picture and then merging to the after picture demonstrating her excellent results.
What will my arm lift recovery be like?
Recovery from arm lift surgery is not difficult. The key to a successful recovery is to avoid lifting much with your arms. As you would assume, lifting too much weight can strain your incisions and create complications.
After your procedure with Dr. Claytor, you’ll return home with your arms wrapped in bandages. Dr. Claytor prefers a drainless arm lift, meaning an even speedier recovery. You’ll be given compression garments for both arms to minimize swelling and help your arms adapt to their new contour. There will be swelling, due to the tissue repositioning, but it should be mostly gone in around two weeks. It will return at times, and you can alleviate it by keeping your arms elevated as much as possible during your early recovery. It helps to sleep with your arms elevated for the first two weeks. Within one to two weeks you can return to work, but strenuous activity and lifting will need to wait. Dr. Claytor will discuss a timeline with you.
“Dr. Claytor is TERRIFIC!!! I am so thankful I found Dr. Claytor.Dr. Claytor is AMAZING at what he does,a true perfectionist. He is also very kind, caring, and wonderful. He’s the doctor that really listens and will make suggestions. Dr. Claytor goes the extra mile to make you happy. I am so pleased with the results. You will be in great hands, if you choose Dr.Claytor. The staff at Claytor/Noone plastic surgery will make you feel right at home.”
Listen to more patent stories »
Combining an arm lift with complementary procedures
As you discuss your personal goals with Dr. Claytor, you may learn that you are a candidate for additional procedures, as well. For example, arm lifts are often done when having a body lift to help fully restore body proportions.
- Key Benefits
- Glossary
- Improved arm contour: An arm lift, or brachioplasty, removes excess skin and fat, enhancing the overall appearance and contour of the upper arms.
- Enhanced range of motion: Removing excess skin can improve the range of motion in the arms, making daily activities easier and more comfortable.
- Clothing choices: Post-arm lift, patients can often comfortably wear sleeveless or form-fitting clothing without feeling self-conscious about loose, sagging skin.
- Reduced chafing and discomfort: An arm lift can alleviate skin rubbing and irritation, reducing discomfort and the risk of skin infections.
Brachioplasty: The medical term for arm lift surgery, a procedure designed to tighten and smooth the under portion of the upper arms.
Liposuction: The surgical removal of fat deposits from various parts of the body, including the arms.
Axillary Region: Referring to the area of the armpit or underarm.
Anesthesia: Drugs or substances used to induce a loss of sensation or awareness, often administered to eliminate pain during surgery.
Incision: A cut made during surgery to access the area being treated.
Sutures: Stitches used to hold body tissues together after an incision or injury.
Compression Garments: Special clothing worn to reduce swelling and support healing tissues after surgery.
Recovery Period: The time it takes for a patient to heal following surgery, which can vary based on the individual and the procedure.
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon: A surgeon who has met specific education and training requirements and passed examinations administered by the American Board of Plastic Surgery or equivalent organizations in other countries.
Intravenous Sedation (IV Sedation): A type of anesthesia administered through the veins to help patients relax and minimize pain.
Scarring: The process by which wounds heal, often leaving a visible mark or line on the skin.
Hematoma: A collection of blood outside of blood vessels, often appearing as a bruise or swelling.
Seroma: A pocket of clear serous fluid that sometimes develops in the body after surgery.
Preoperative Consultation: A meeting between the patient and surgeon prior to surgery to discuss the procedure, expectations, risks, and recovery.
Postoperative Care: The care, treatment, and monitoring of patients after surgery.
Contraindications: Conditions or factors that serve as reasons to withhold a certain medical treatment due to the harm it would cause to the patient.
Frequently asked questions
Why choose Dr. Claytor for your plastic surgeon?
Double Board-Certified for a high level of safety and precision
Chief of Plastic Surgery at Main Line Health, a top health system
Board Member of The Aesthetic Society, shaping the future of aesthetics
8x Philadelphia Magazine Top Doctor for exceptional patient care
Recognized as one of America’s Best Plastic Surgeons by Newsweek
Drain-free recovery expert for faster, more comfortable healing
Deep plane facelift innovator and global educator
Active researcher in surgical and non-surgical aesthetic advancements
Highly regarded for his surgical expertise and outcomes, as well as his dedicated follow-up care
If you are interested in an arm lift and would like to see if you are a good candidate, call (610) 527-4833 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with Main Line Top Doctor, Dr. Claytor. We are happy to serve patients from Philadelphia, Main Line, Bryn Mawr, and surrounding areas.
References »
Sisti A, Cuomo R, Milonia L, Tassinari J, Castagna A, Brandi C, Grimaldi L, D’Aniello C, Nisi G. Complications associated with brachioplasty: a literature review. Acta Biomedica. 2018 Jan 16;88(4):393-402. doi: 10.23750/abm.v88i4.5609.
Rohrich RJ, Mohan R, Durand PD. Brachioplasty Refinements. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2020 Apr;145(4):754e-756e. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000006688.
Reed LS. Brachioplasty with limited scar. Clinics in Plastic Surgery. 2014 Oct;41(4):753-63. doi: 10.1016/j.cps.2014.06.009.
Nagrath N, Winters R. Brachioplasty. 2023 Jul 25. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. R. Brannon Claytor — Updated on Nov 3, 2024
