What is brachioplasty?

Arm lift, also called brachioplasty, is the surgical procedure intended to eliminate unsightly excess skin in the arms, making them smoother and firmer while improving their appearance. In mild cases, the arm lift can be performed with less-invasive techniques and with local anaesthesia; in more advanced cases, surgery under general anaesthesia may be required.

Why is it done?

With ageing, particularly from the age of 40, the skin starts becoming flabby, especially in women. Arms are a part of the body in which flabbiness is highly visible and many women develop a complex about it. Several degrees of flabbiness in arm contours can be distinguished, and the specialist in Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery uses different techniques for each degree.

What does brachioplasty surgery involve?

Brachioplasty involves making an incision in the inside of the upper arm, in order to eliminate excess skin. In the cases that are more serious, it may even be necessary to make an incision from the armpit to the elbow, always on the inside of the arm. Via this incision, all excess skin is removed. In cases in which the patient wants to remove excess fat from his arms, this intervention may be combined with liposuction. Brachioplasty usually takes around 2 hours.

How to prepare for the intervention

During the pre-surgery consultation, you will undergo an evaluation by the experienced surgeon, the results of which will be taken into account in the specific instructions given to you about how to prepare for surgery: whether you have to stop smoking, take iron supplements etc.

Post-operative care

In the first few days after the brachioplasty, it is normal for your arms to feel more tender and be swollen; they revert to normal over time. You can resume your normal routine in around 15 days, and the final result will be visible after a few months. The result of the brachioplasty is permanent and leaves no visible scars.