Opening treatment guide...

Arm Lift | My Beauty Protocol

Arm Lift

Brachioplasty

Also known asVASERlipoPower-Assisted Liposuction (PAL)Arm Reduction Surgery

Educational info only, not medical advice. Ask a qualified provider. Disclaimer · Terms

Excess skin and fat are surgically removed from the upper arms, then the remaining tissue is meticulously tightened and reshaped.

Downtime: 2 weeks
Sessions: 1
Pain: High
Cost per procedure: Price level 5 of 5
Results last: Permanent with stable weight

Surgery that removes loose skin from the upper arms, leaving a visible scar.

Check first: Unstable weight.

Will it work for me?

What people use it for

Tap one to see how it helps.

The technique changes the scar and the recovery.

In no special order. Ask your surgeon which one fits you, and why.

3 techniques

2 tools

Ask your provider

Which technique would you use for me, and why?
Where will the scars be, and how long is recovery?
What is the total price, and what does it include?

Before and after your visit

Plan it around your lifeMakeup, sun, workouts — see what fits around your treatment.

The visit

Duration: 1–3 hours

What to expect, and what to avoid

Recovery

2–3 weeks

May look swollen

2 weeks

Avoid sun

6 weeks

No makeup

2 weeks

No sweat or heat

6 weeks

Other aftercare

Rest your arms on pillows
Wear your compression garment for several weeks

Your provider may give you different timing.

Day by day

Before your visit: ask when to start
- Stop aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil and vitamin E, if your doctor agrees
- Keep a stable weight
- Arrange a ride home and someone to help you for a few days
- Get medical clearance and lab tests first
Several weeks before
Stop smoking for several weeks before
After your visit
- No lifting your arms above your shoulders for 3–4 weeks
- No hard exercise or heavy lifting for 4–6 weeks
- Follow your surgeon's wound care
- Rest your arms on pillows for a few days
- Wear your compression garment
- Take your medicines as prescribed
- Go to all follow-up visits
- Initial days focus on pain management and arm elevation. Drains, if placed, are usually removed within days. Expect prominent swelling and bruising for 1-2 weeks. Light activity may resume around two weeks; strenuous exercise is restricted for 4-6 weeks. Scars mature over 6-12 months, gradually fading.

Side effects, and who should wait

Who may want to think twice

Unstable weight
Active smokers (nicotine impairs healing)
Significant chronic health conditions (e.g., heart or lung disease)
A tendency to form hypertrophic or keloid scars
Active infections in the body
Unrealistic expectations
Pregnancy (planned cosmetic surgery waits until after the baby is born)

Possible side effects

Common

Significant scarring
Swelling and bruising
Pain and discomfort
Temporary numbness or changes in skin sensation
Fluid collection (seroma)

Less common

Infection
Poor wound healing or wound separation (dehiscence)
Permanent nerve damage
Asymmetry in arm shape
Blood clots (deep vein thrombosis)
Anesthesia complications
Lymphedema (chronic swelling)

Your own risks may differ. Ask a qualified provider.

How it works, and common myths

Excess skin and fat are surgically excised, then the remaining skin is meticulously tightened and re-draped for a firmer contour.

A little more technical

Excess skin and fat are surgically removed from the upper arm. The remaining skin is then carefully tightened and re-draped to achieve a smoother, more toned contour.

Through a surgical incision, typically on the medial or posterior aspect of the upper arm, a predetermined pattern of excess skin and subcutaneous fat is excised. The underlying supportive tissue fascia may be plicated with sutures. The remaining skin is then redraped and closed under tension to create a tighter, more aesthetically pleasing contour.

Technique: Elliptical Excision; Surgically removes large amounts of sagging, inelastic skin from the underarm extending from the axilla to the elbow.
Target: Subcutaneous Fat & Skin; Eliminates the physical 'bat wing' droop by excising tissue and tightly re-draping the remaining skin over the muscle contour.
Common device / product names: Standard Brachioplasty · Mini Brachioplasty (Limited Incision) · Extended Brachioplasty · VASERlipo · Power-Assisted Liposuction (PAL)
Clinical descriptor: Brachioplasty
Permanence / longevity: Permanent with stable weight