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Arm Lift Surgery

Wake Plastic Surgery proudly serves Cary, Raleigh, and the surrounding areas.

Arm lift surgery involves the removal of excess skin and fatty tissue from the upper arm. It is often the only way to effectively improve the contour of the arm after significant weight loss or aging. Many patients report that they want to get rid of their “bat wings” so that they can return to wearing short sleeve shirts or other form fitting clothing.

Arm Lift Highlights

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    • BMI of 32
      and below
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    • 1 Week
      out of work
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    • 4-6 Week
      Recovery Period
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    • Care Credit Financing
      as low as $278 for
      36 months
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    • Starting Cost
      $10,000

Why choose Wake Plastic Surgery?

Our surgeons use a technique utilizing Power Assisted Liposuction or PAL in all arm lift cases. The PAL is used to both remove unwanted fatty tissue and to separate the skin from the underlying tissues of the arm in a gentle fashion. The unwanted excess skin can then be removed with minimal swelling and bruising with minimal risk of injuring either nerves or lymphatics. This technique has led to achieving significantly better results with significantly lower side effects than when he used more traditional techniques in the past.

Our Arm Lift Results

What kind of results can be expected?

Posterior arm scar 6 months after surgery at wake plastic surgery cary nc

Posterior arm scar 6 months after surgery

How bad is the scar?

The drawback to full arm lift surgery is the scar. There simply is no way to remove the unwanted skin without placing a scar on the arm that typically runs from the armpit to the elbow. Dr. Stoeckel prefers to locate the scar on the posterior aspect of the arm so that it is well concealed in most natural body postures. The scar certainly improves dramatically during the first year of recovery, but it is always perceptible and is something that needs to be understood before undergoing the procedure.

What can be done for the loose skin under the armpit?

In some cases, the excess skin of the arm is continuous with excess skin of the lateral chest wall. In these cases, extension of the scar onto the chest under the armpit is needed to fully improve the upper body contour. When this is done, it is considered an extended brachioplasty or flankplasty. The scar is longer, but the improvement in the laxity of the side of the chest is usually well worth it.

How bad is the recovery process?

Arm lift surgery does indeed have a difficult recovery process for most. The actual pain associated with the procedure is well tolerated, but there is a constant reminder of the procedure for several weeks due to the soreness associated with arm movements. A long sleeved compression garment needs to be worn for 1-2 weeks after surgery to minimize swelling.

Who is a good candidate for the surgery?

The best candidates are those who are relatively close to their ideal body weight. Patients that have loose skin rather than just large arms will have better results, even though liposuction will be performed on all patients. Good candidates have realistic expectations, especially in regards to the permanent scars associated with the procedure.

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