An arm lift procedure or brachioplasty is a type of cosmetic surgery that will reduce loose, sagging or flabby skin in the upper arm area for men or women. An arm lift can be done for lax skin that hangs in excess folds on men or women. An arm lift or arm tuck can reduce skin that jiggles or hangs like wattles when the arms are lifted. Arm tuck surgery can also be performed in conjunction with other types of plastic surgery on the body.

Information on arms lift surgery

An arm lift can correct different types of conditions:

• lax or drooping skin on the arm that shakes when you move the arm
• sagging, loose, flapping or flabby skin on the arm following weight loss or bariatric surgery
• floppy skin or excess skin on one or both arms, that makes someone reluctant to wear sleeveless clothes
• loose skin or wrinkly underarm skin, with reduced elasticity due to aging

If there is a lot of excess fat in the arm area, the extra fatty areas may be first removed with liposuction surgery. In general, you would have the liposuction procedure done several months prior to the arm lift. Sometimes it may be done at the same time as the arm tuck.

Upper Arm Lift Cost

This is considered to be very serious surgery. So give a lot of thought to whether or not you really need this. For loose or saggy skin that hangs in folds on the upper arms, expect the cost of an arm lift to start at $3000. You can also have extra costs for anesthesia, hospital or other fees. An arm lift can also be combined with a number of other procedures on the body, such as a breast lift or augmentation or breast reduction. These procedures may be done together in what is called an upper body lift (as opposed to a lower body lift which targets the buttocks and thighs). Or they may be done separately, although the surgeon might put together a package deal if they are done, for example, within a year or so.

An upper arm lift surgery is done under anesthesia, like other major cosmetic surgeries. Prior to the brachioplasty, you will have had a consultation with the surgeon to discuss how much excess skin should be removed. If there is a great deal of fleshy skin, the costs may be higher. Since health insurance does not cover most cosmetic surgeries, you must also consider financing. There will be a scar from the arm tuck incision, generally on the underside of the arm. After surgery, you will need about two weeks to recover. If other procedures were done at the same time, of course, recovery would be longer.

Mini Arm Tuck Cost

A mini arm tuck can be an option when there is not as much sagging skin on the arms. The cost of a mini arm lift is around $2000. You would need to find out if there are other costs for anesthesia, hospital or other fees. These costs won't be covered by insurance, so you will need to have your own financing. A mini arm lift for skin that has lost elasticity is similar to a regular brachioplasty. The difference is that the incisions are smaller. The incisions can often be hidden in the armpit area, so you don not have the scar running down the underside of the arm.

As with any cosmetic surgery such as face lift or brow lift, an arm lift procedure is not something to take lightly, so make sure you have ruled out other ways to deal with flabby arms, things like exercise and diet. If you are a woman or man considering this, you would need to be in overall good health, and not be a smoker. After the procedure, you may need to wear compression garments. It is important that you follow all directions. Be aware to that there are the same risks as with any surgery, including infection, swelling, pain, and the issues of anesthesia.

For either a full arm tuck or a mini arm lift, it is essential to choose a qualified and board certified cosmetic surgeon, one who has a great deal of experience in doing arm cosmetic surgery. Speak to several plastic surgeons. Ask to see before-and-after photos of people who have had this operation, especially people whose arms had similar issues to your own.