Brachioplasty
(Arm Lift)

What is Brachioplasty?
A brachioplasty is removal of loose skin and fat on the upper arms, generally a result of massive weight loss.

How long will surgery be?

Brachioplasty is about a 2 to 2-and-a-half-hour procedure, performed as outpatient surgery.

What kind of anesthesia will I have?

General anesthesia is used for brachioplasty because it is safe and very well controlled. West Magnolia Surgery Center, on site at West Magnolia Plastic Surgery, is fully accredited by the AAAHC. Local anesthesia in injected into the incisions once the patient is under anesthesia for enhanced postoperative comfort.

What is recovery like?

Incisions are closed with dissolving sutures and without drains. Patients wear compression sleeves for 6 weeks but most are moving relatively comfortably and have resumed most daily activities, within reason, in about 2 weeks. No unrestricted upper body or cardio activity for a total of 6 weeks, longer if any wound healing concerns are present.

What are the risks?

The risks of brachioplasty include failure of incisions to heal, injury to adjacent structures and asymmetry of the tissues as well as other issues.

How do I prepare for surgery?

A preoperative appointment is scheduled approximately 2 weeks prior to surgery. At this time, all consents and recommendations, instructions for before and after surgery are reviewed. A long list of medications to avoid is reviewed and prescriptions are given for postoperative management.  The day before surgery, all patients are called to review final questions, confirm nothing has occurred since the patient was seen at preop that might require rescheduling of the procedure and to finalize arrival time at the facility. All patients are given ample information at the preoperative appointment regarding a time line of what to expect in the recovery process and when.