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Brachioplasty literally means Arm Lift. There is no better treatment for excessive upper arm skin. Liposuction can remove excess fat from the upper arm, but it cannot reduce loose skin. Only surgical resection can do that.

Who Can Benefit From Brachioplasty?

Occasionally, a person is born with an unusual amount of loose skin on their upper arms; however, most of my patients who undergo an Arm Lift have lost a significant amount of weight and are unhappy with the residual bulk and laxity of their upper arm skin.

With weight gain, the skin expands to cover the increased surface area. This happens every place on the body that stores fat. After weight loss, the arms, abdomen, breasts, thighs, face and back are frequently left lax. As a result, Plastic Surgeons like myself who specialize in Post-Bariatric Plastic Surgery lift and tuck all these areas, including the arms.

The tailoring of excess skin is an important component of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery, and can dramatically improve appearance. If you have lost a large amount of weight, removing the excess skin can help complete your transformation.

Before and After Brachioplasty (Arm Lift)

Brachioplasty Before and After Pictures (Arm Lift)

Excess skin was removed from this weight loss patient’s arms using Brachioplasty. The scar runs along the bottom of the arm to decrease its visibility.

The woman shown above has lost about half her body weight, and was left with a large amount of skin on her upper arms, sometimes referred to as “bat wings”. The Brachioplasty (Arm Lift) Before and After Pictures above show her results. The picture on the left shows the amount of excess skin present before her arm lift. The picture on the right reveals her appearance after Brachioplasty. The incision is placed along the inferior border of the arm to keep it out of sight.

After Weight Loss, When Can I Get A Lift?

If you have recently lost weight, or have had bariatric surgery, it is recommended to wait at least one year before having Skin Tightening Surgery, which includes Brachioplasty. This allows your body to adjust to its new physiology. This also gives your skin a chance to contract, and your body’s digestive system a chance to relearn how to absorb the nutrients you need to heal. If it has been a year, and there is still too much skin, Cosmetic Plastic Surgery can help. In the San Francisco Bay Area call (925) 943-6353 and schedule a personalized consultation, and see if Post-Bariatric Plastic Surgery is right for you.

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