Arm Lift

At The Center for Cosmetic Surgery, our plastic surgeons perform brachioplasty, often called arm lift surgery, to tuck and tighten unattractive upper arms. Arm lift surgery helps our patients from metro Denver and Colorado Springs who have sagging skin that hangs from the upper arms. It also reduces the size and thickness of the upper arm so clothes fit more comfortably. A new arm contour improves your appearance and allows you to hold your arms up with confidence.

Arm Lift
 Before & After Photos

Case: 1 of 9
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Before & After Arm Lift Case 11798 Back View in Golden, CO
B/A (2 months)
Case: 1 of 8

Case #11798

40 year-old patient who had lost 100lb and presented with significant upper arm tissue excess. Dr. Steinwald advised her she would be ago candidate for a formal brachioplasty with lengthwise incisions hidden on the underside of the arms. Approximately 320-350gm of tissue was removed from each side, and she is shown at approximately 2 months p... Read More
Surgeon: Paul M. Steinwald, M.D.
Before & After Arm Lift Case 628 View #1 View in Golden, CO
BEFORE / AFTER (3 mo)
Case: 2 of 8

Case #628

39 year-old woman following moderately severe weight loss (approximately 50-60 pounds), who was left with a fair amount of upper arm skin laxity, and was otherwise not a candidate for liposuction.  I recommended a formal Denver brachioplasty to excise extra skin, and recontour the arm in a much more pleasing manner, with well-hidden... Read More
Surgeon: Paul M. Steinwald, M.D.
Before & After Arm Lift Case 450 View #1 View in Golden, CO
Before / After
Case: 3 of 8

Case #450

This 69-year-old woman underwent a brachioplasty (arm lift) to correct the significant laxity in her upper arms.  She is shown before and 3 months after her procedure.  This technique places the scar at the lower margin of the arm, keeping the scar well-hidden when viewed from the front or back. Read More
Surgeon: Andrew J. Wolfe, M.D.
Before & After Arm Lift Case 441 View #1 View in Golden, CO
Before / After
Case: 4 of 8

Case #441

This 56-year-old woman underwent a brachioplasty to tighten the skin and remove fat along the posterior aspect of her arms.  With this posterior scar technique, the scar is placed along the inferior portion of the arm.  This allows significant removal of excess fat along with skin, and keeps the scar in what may be a less consp... Read More
Surgeon: Andrew J. Wolfe, M.D.
Before & After Arm Lift Case 886 View #1 View in Golden, CO
Before / After (1 month)
Case: 5 of 8

Case #886

This 32 year-old woman had lost 80-90 lb naturally (currently in the 150 lb range), and had resistant skin excess on her upper arms (which was probably also partly genetic). She underwent a formal brachioplasty/arm lift, with incisions hidden towards the bottom of the arm on outstretched view, and did quite nicely, with results here shown at... Read More
Surgeon: Paul M. Steinwald, M.D.
Before & After Arm Lift Case 442 View #1 View in Golden, CO
Before / After
Case: 6 of 8

Case #442

This 58-year-old woman underwent a brachioplasty with posterior scar placement.  She had very little excess fat, but a significant amount of skin laxity.  She is shown before and 5 months after her procedure.
Surgeon: Andrew J. Wolfe, M.D.
Before & After Arm Lift Case 839 View #1 View in Golden, CO
Before / After (2 months)
Case: 7 of 8

Case #839

69 year-old woman with lifelong issues with lax arm skin, extending down to her forearm areas. I advised her that despite her thin skin/weak tone, she could benefit greatly from excision of these excess tissues by way of an extended brachioplasty. She indeed underwent this procedure as an outpatient, and to both of our delight, healed quite w... Read More
Surgeon: Paul M. Steinwald, M.D.
Before & After Arm Lift Case 11940 Back View in Golden, CO
B/A (6 months)
Case: 8 of 8

Case #11940

59 year-old woman who had lost 90+ pounds via a gastric sleeve resection several years earlier; she underwent a modest upper arm lift (brachioplasty) with Dr. Steinwald, as well as an extended breast reduction/lift, which greatly improved her lax underarm areas. These photos are from approximately 6 months post-op. Read More
Surgeon: Paul M. Steinwald, M.D.

Keep in mind that each patient is unique and your results may vary.

Am I a good candidate for an arm lift?

The ideal candidate for an arm lift is a person who has excessive, loose skin on the upper arms that hangs unattractively and is resistant to diet and exercise. The procedure can also reduce the size of the arms by reducing fat volume in addition to the abundance of skin. During a consultation, one of our plastic surgeons can best determine the appropriateness of the procedure for you.

What if my arms are thick but I don’t have loose, sagging skin?

Liposuction works wonderfully for removing fat from the upper arms. As long as the skin is not excessive and has reasonable elasticity, your arms will tolerate fat removal without skin excision.

How is arm lift surgery performed?

First, power-assisted liposuction is performed to reduce the fat content of the upper arm and take tension away from the tuck by lessening the weight of the arms. This is followed by a direct excision of excess skin and underlying fat. Finally, the tissues are sewn together so that the arm is tucked and tightened.

Our Exceptional Plastic Surgeons

Dr. Steven Vath, Dr. Andrew Wolfe, Dr. Paul Steinwald, and Dr. Matthew Freeman
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What are the drawbacks of an arm lift?

In most situations, an arm tuck requires an incision along the inside of the upper arm extending from the arm pit down towards the elbow. Every effort is made to keep the incision as short as possible and not extend it all the way to the elbow. Nonetheless, this leaves a scar on the inside of the upper arm which may be visible when wearing a short sleeve shirt. Some patients with a significant excess of upper arm skin find this trade-off quite acceptable.

What is arm lift recovery like?

After arm lift, an elastic compression garment is worn for 2 weeks at all times, followed by another 2 weeks while active. Generally, discontinuation of pain medication is possible after 2 to 3 days and return to non-strenuous work at 1 week. Unrestricted arm use may begin at 6 weeks.

A Reputation Built on Results

Had inverted t-anchor top surgery with Dr. Steinwald. Had some complications after but he took care...
Dr. Steven Vath is just THE best plastic surgeon! I am a registered nurse and have worked in the specialty...
Dr. Vath is a wonderful caring surgeon. All of the staff that I have encountered have been very helpful...
My 2nd procedure done with Dr. Vath I am soo impressed with how thin and straight my scar lines are....

What kind of anesthesia is used for arm lift surgery?

The preferred method of achieving adequate pain control and sedation is general anesthesia. In healthy patients, general anesthesia is very safe with low complication rates. You will be entirely asleep for the duration of the procedure and awaken in recovery room. Anesthesia is delivered by a board-certified anesthesiologist who cares for you before, during, and after surgery ensuring a comfortable and safe experience.

To learn what an arm lift and other plastic surgery procedures in Denver can do for you, request your consultation using our online form or simply call (303) 278-2600.

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