Arm Lift in Sacramento: Brachioplasty for Loose Skin After Weight Loss
One of the transformations I find most rewarding to see in my patients is the one that happens after significant weight loss. Achieving weight loss can bring about a huge change in your health, your body, and your confidence. In some cases, though, that process can also leave behind excess skin that doesn’t go away on its own.
The arms are one of the areas where weight loss shows up most through loose, sagging skin. Some patients tell me that even after their weight-loss journey, they still feel self-conscious wearing certain clothing or showing their arms. These are the cases where we can consider a procedure like an Arm Lift in Sacramento, also known as Brachioplasty.
What is a Brachioplasty?
An Arm Lift, or Brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the arms. It’s typically performed from the underarm area to the elbow in patients who have excess skin in that area.
Unlike simple Arm Liposuction, which can be a great option for patients with just a bit of extra fat, an Arm Lift is designed specifically for people who have excess skin that Liposuction alone can’t correct, or for those who have already lost a significant amount of weight and are dealing with loose skin.
That’s why, when I evaluate a patient after significant weight loss, I don’t just look at how much fat is in the arms. I also assess the amount and quality of the skin and the kind of result they’re hoping to achieve.
How is a Brachioplasty performed?
The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. The procedure typically takes about 45 minutes to an hour per side.
There are different incision options, depending on how much excess skin there is and where it’s located:
- Incision below the biceps groove: the scar sits along the lower or inner part of the arm.
- Incision along the back of the arm: allows excess skin to be removed along the back of the arm.
- Short-scar Arm Lift: the incision is made near the underarm and is reserved for select patients with a more limited amount of excess skin.
The choice of technique depends on each patient’s individual characteristics and how much skin needs to be removed.
Brachioplasty scarring
With an Arm Lift, during our initial visit, I also look at any pre-existing scars from other surgeries, whether cosmetic or otherwise. Those scars can tell me a lot and are one of the best indicators of how future scars are likely to heal.
If someone already has pre-existing scars that are thin, flexible, flat, and have good color, I generally don’t worry too much about the new ones, since the scars in the new area are likely to heal just as well.
A small, thin scar isn’t something I worry about too much, and, in some cases, scars can be camouflaged even further with additional treatments ranging from laser therapy to cosmetic scar tattoos.
How do you decide between Arm Liposuction and an Arm Lift?
This is one of the most common questions that comes up when we talk about improving arm contour after weight loss. Arm Liposuction is an ideal option for patients who just need to reduce arm volume but aren’t especially concerned about loose skin.
We recommend Liposuction for patients whose arms carry extra fat and who are happy with a reduction in volume, without expecting a dramatic transformation. It can provide a reasonable reduction.
For patients who want a significant amount of fat removed and understand that this could leave excess skin behind, a Brachioplasty is definitely the better option. That’s why it’s so important to determine what each patient actually needs during the consultation. Not every set of arms after weight loss calls for the same procedure.
Brachioplasty recovery
There’s naturally some discomfort the first night, but most patients recover quite well and tell us they only need pain medication for a day or two before stopping altogether.
We typically see patients the day after surgery for a quick check-in. At that visit, we remove the initial dressing and replace it with a much lighter one that’s easy to change.
Patients can shower normally after 48 hours. The dressings are mainly there to absorb the small amount of drainage that can occur with any incision early on. Once the incision has dried, usually within 48 to 72 hours, it generally doesn’t need to stay covered.
Over the following days, patients can gradually resume their activities. We generally recommend waiting about three weeks before going back to certain activities.
Bruising and swelling are normal during recovery and are simply part of healing after surgery.
Brachioplasty after weight loss
For many patients, losing weight means finally reaching a goal they’ve worked toward for a long time. Reaching a healthy weight, though, doesn’t always mean the body bounces back to exactly the shape it had before.
When there’s a significant amount of excess skin on the arms, an Arm Lift can be an option to improve their contour. My goal during the consultation is to understand what’s changed in your body after weight loss, what bothers you, and what you’re hoping to achieve with surgery.
Every patient is different, which is why the technique, incisions, and surgical plan all need to be tailored to your individual characteristics. If you’ve lost a significant amount of weight and loose skin on your arms is still bothering you, a consultation can help you understand your options.
At Ideal Plastic Surgery, we start with an assessment where we look at your body, your history, the quality of your skin, and your goals. From there, we can determine whether a Brachioplasty, Liposuction, or another alternative might be right for you.
If you’re considering an Arm Lift in Sacramento after losing weight, schedule a consultation with me, and let’s talk about your goals and the options available to you.
By Dr. Pirko Maguiña
