You may be a candidate for an upper arm lift if:

• You have loose, excess or sagging skin on your upper arms which is resistant to diet and exercise;
• You have unsightly excess skin on your upper arms due to massive weight loss.

The Procedure

The goal of an upper arm lift is to eliminate the excess skin and fat from the upper arms creating a smaller upper arm and more youthful appearance. An incision is made from the armpit to the elbow in order to remove excess skin and fat and although it fades with time, a scar will remain on the inside of your arm but will only be visible when you lift your arms. Dr. Kearney performs this procedure under general anesthesia and most patients can return home following surgery. Patients usually go home with a wrap or compression garment around their upper arms in order to help reduce swelling.

Recovery

Most patients return to work within 1 week after the procedure and can resume normal activity with 3 to 4 weeks. Swelling and bruising gradually disappear over a 3-4 week period and scars usually fade within 6-18 months, depending on your skin.

Last updated by Robert Kearney at March 6, 2012.