Due to pregnancy, massive weight loss or as a natural effect of aging, skin on the underside of a person’s upper arm develops and sags substantially as unsightly flaps, giving the appearance of what is referred to in a derogatory sense as “wings”. Whether this is due to excess skin that can no longer recede or the loss of skin elasticity, the cosmetic surgical solution is to treat the affected area with what is known as a brachioplasty, or arm lift.

A standard surgical procedure, an arm lift reshapes the area from the underarm to the elbow, giving it a healthier aesthetic appearance. The surgery itself last for about two hours under a general anesthetic. The technique involves removal of the excess skin to tighten the region, smoothing of the underlying supportive tissue, and reduction of localized pockets of fat that may also be contributing to the deterioration of skin elasticity. It is normally accompanied by liposculpture to remove any subcutaneous fat remaining underneath the skin. The final result is an arm that looks toned and youthful, and perhaps even spent a few hours lifting weights in the gym on a regular basis.

It must be emphasized that arm lifts are not meant to assist a person who is trying to lose weight. Rather, the procedure is only recommended to people who are quite healthy, but have developed the excess skin under their upper arms for the reasons mentioned above, which cannot be tightened or shrunk even through strenuous exercise. It is a contouring method, and one must not undergo the surgery if the objective is to reduce accumulated arm fat.

Preparing for a brachioplasty is mostly a matter of stopping smoking and the consumption of aspirin and other similar pharmaceuticals, as these have detrimental effects on the healing of the wound. Some doctors have suggested eating a high protein diet and taking of supplements such as arnica or bromelain to boost the healing process.

While the normal risks associated with any surgery are present in a brachioplasty, your primary concern will most probably be the scarring that is caused by the procedure. Consider that the process involves making an incision from the armpit to the elbow, and no doctor can predict with certainty the type and depth of the scars that you will receive, as this is dependent on your body’s own healing capabilities. Scarring can be minimized, however, by following standard post-operative care instructions.

A bandage is applied to the treated area after surgery, which will be removed along with the stitches after about two weeks. One should not engage in any heavy lifting or other similar activity involving the arms for four weeks. The scars from the procedure will be reddish and knobby for about a few months, but should lighten and smooth out in about a year from the time of the surgery. Until then, it is strongly advised that the patient avoid any exposure of the scars or the treated area to sunlight.

While a brachioplasty is considered generally safe as far as cosmetic surgeries go, there are several types of persons who should not undergo an arm lift. One type is any individual who has undergone a mastectomy, as the lymph glands that drain fluid in the affected area may have been damaged during said surgery, and this will lead to chronic redness and swelling of the upper arms. Other such persons who would be bad candidates for an arm lift include those who have a history of arm or armpit infections, or those who suffer from axillary hidradenitis, otherwise known as excess sweat formation. Lastly, those of advanced age who may have trouble healing properly from a surgery that slices through such a large surface area should be disqualified from undergoing this procedure.