Arm Lift

Conveniently located to serve the areas of San Antonio, TX

Arm Lift Advanced Concepts in Plastic Surgery Dr. Suresh Koneru

An arm lift, also known as brachioplasty, is a body-sculpting procedure that removes excess skin from the upper arms to reshape them for a smoother, more athletic appearance. Droopy skin, “bat wings,” can affect self-esteem and body proportions, making it difficult to find proper clothing. It can also cause discomfort and affect your quality of life. However, these issues, often caused by aging or weight loss, do not need to be permanent.

At Advanced Concepts in Plastic Surgery, we have helped many patients improve their figures and achieve more sculpted bodies with customizable procedures. Dr. Suresh Koneru is a board-certified plastic surgeon with decades of experience performing innovative body sculpting procedures that have helped patients enjoy beautiful, long-lasting results. His specialized techniques result in minimal scarring and downtime, so you can enjoy lasting results and return to your daily routine as quickly as possible.

Contact our office or call (210) 499-5900 to learn more about how we can improve your appearance.

About Arm Lifts

Loose skin is common after aging, weight changes, and pregnancy. As you age, your skin slows its production of essential proteins (collagen and elastin) that help maintain its structure and firm, smooth appearance. Excessive sun exposure, hormonal changes, and the environment can also cause accelerated aging, which makes you look older than you are. (1)

Although patients can often burn excess fat with dieting and exercise, the skin cannot always bounce back after it is stretched. Droopy skin can make it difficult to wear clothing you feel comfortable in, and some people cannot fit into their clothing because of excess skin. Dr. Koneru can remove this excess skin with an arm lift to help you achieve more slender arms and more balanced proportions. This is a popular body contouring procedure; surgeons performed it more than 23,000 times in 2023. (2)

Arm Lift After Weight Loss

After weight loss, many patients are unprepared for the amount of excess skin they experience. Semaglutide and tirzepatide, colloquially known as the “skinny shot” are weight loss injections that accelerate your metabolism to help you lose weight more quickly. When you lose weight quickly, the skin cannot always bounce back on its own. Dr. Koneru can address a significant amount of excess skin on the arms with a slightly longer incision and specialized technique for smoother, leaner arms.

Arm Liposuction

Although exercising and dieting can sometimes allow patients to reach their aesthetic goals, some people develop exercise-resistant fat, which they have trouble addressing with lifestyle changes. If you have pockets of excess fat on the arms that are stubborn even after exercise and dieting, Dr. Koneru can remove it with liposuction to further define your arms. (3) With a thin incision and a small cannula, Dr. Koneru can remove the excess fat tissue with gentle suction that preserves the surrounding tissue.

Breast Lift (Mastopexy)

Many patients combine an arm lift with a breast lift (mastopexy) to reshape the upper body. During the procedure, Dr. Koneru removes excess skin from the breasts and lifts their position for a curvier, more youthful-looking appearance. Droopy skin in this area is common after weight loss and is sometimes known as “Ozempic breast.” Some patients also experience changes to their skin from aging that can affect how their bras fit. With a breast lift, we can reshape the breasts, including the areolas, and remove excess skin to improve your clothing options and your figure. We can also adjust the position of your breasts for a smoother appearance.

Benefits

There are several benefits to an arm lift, including:

  • Smoother, more athletic arms: After removing excess skin, you can enjoy enhanced definition and smoother arms.
  • Customizable procedure: You can combine the procedure with liposuction or other body contouring procedures.
  • Improved clothing options: Removing loose skin can help you feel more comfortable wearing different types of clothing.
  • Lasting results: Dr. Koneru can permanently remove the excess skin for a smoother figure and a more youthful-looking appearance. While results are long-lasting, future weight fluctuations or the natural processes of aging can cause the skin to sag again.
  • Improved self-esteem: After the procedure, you might experience boosted confidence.

Candidates

Suitable candidates for an arm lift would like to remove droopy skin from the arms. They take good care of their bodies and are nonsmokers. Most candidates would also like to:

  • Improve the way their clothing fits
  • Achieve long-lasting results
  • Restore their self-confidence

We can also discuss whether you would benefit from additional treatments to reach your body goals.

Consultation

During your consultation, Dr. Koneru will discuss your medications, lifestyle, medical history, and aesthetic goals to determine the most effective treatment plan. He will also examine your arms and answer any questions you have about your procedure.

We can also recommend other body contouring treatments if you have additional goals. Many patients choose to include an arm lift procedure in their mommy makeover.

To learn more about the additional body sculpting procedures we offer, see the blog!

Preparation

To prepare for an arm lift, you must stop taking medications and supplements that thin your blood 1-2 weeks before your procedure and stop smoking for 3 months before your surgery. We recommend scheduling 2-3 weeks off work and asking someone you trust to drive you home and stay with you after your procedure. Dr. Koneru will provide more instructions during your consultation to help you prepare.

Procedure

During your procedure, our team will cleanse your skin and administer anesthesia. Dr. Koneru will mark your skin for the procedure and make an incision along the underside of the arm. This incision will allow Dr. Koneru to remove excess skin from the upper arm for a smoother, contoured appearance. It often extends from the armpit to the elbow; sometimes, this incision is z-shaped. Dr. Koneru will discuss how your incision will look during your consultation.

If you receive arm liposuction as a part of your treatment, Dr. Koneru will most likely perform this before the skin removal. He will inject the treatment area with tumescent fluid and insert a thin tube to gently suction away the excess fat. After making the desired adjustments, Dr. Koneru will close the incisions with sutures.

Recovery

Arm Lift Advanced Concepts in Plastic Surgery Dr. Suresh Koneru

Your recovery time will depend on your treatment plan and whether or not you receive corresponding procedures such as liposuction. We will provide specific instructions based on your needs.

While it is important to prioritize resting during recovery after an arm lift, we recommend that you take light walks to improve blood flow. However, you should minimize intense exercise. If you choose to undergo additional body contouring procedures, we can provide specific instructions to help you achieve them and recover.

Results

After an arm lift, you can enjoy smoother, more athletic-looking arms. Removing the excess skin can reshape the arms for a more sculpted look. If you take good care of your body, you can enjoy lasting results.

Corresponding Procedures

We offer several additional body sculpting procedures, which we can combine with an arm lift to help you meet your goals. Receiving more than one procedure in a single appointment can often minimize downtime and have cost savings.

Fat Grafting

Fat grafting is a procedure that removes excess fat from one area of your body and places it into another to balance your proportions. If you receive arm liposuction, we can cleanse the excess fat and use it to increase the volume of the buttocks or breasts for a smoother, curvier appearance. Using your own fat can help you achieve natural-looking results. Unlike dermal fillers that dissolve over time, your own fat provides long-lasting results.

Brazilian Butt Lift

A Brazilian butt lift (BBL) is a procedure that increases the size of the buttocks for a smoother appearance and curvier look. If you recently experienced pregnancy or weight changes, it is common to experience changes to your appearance that affect your self-esteem and how your clothing fits; with a simple procedure, we can reverse these changes with a fat graft.

Mommy Makeover

A mommy makeover is a series of procedures that address the effects of pregnancy on the body so you can achieve a smoother, more balanced appearance. To address changes in these areas, we can remove excess skin from the midsection, thighs, breasts, and back. We can also improve the shape of the breasts with implants and increase their size to balance your body proportions.

The Cost of an Arm Lift in San Antonio

The cost of an arm lift will depend on whether you need additional procedures to achieve your aesthetic goals. During your consultation, we can discuss the best treatment plan for your needs and provide an all-inclusive quote. We can also discuss financing to help make your treatment more accessible.

Contact our office or call 210-499-5900 to learn how our simple, customizable procedure can help you achieve your body goals with long-lasting results.

FAQ

Is an arm lift painful?

We use general anesthesia for your comfort during the arm lift procedure. Discomfort, swelling, and tenderness after the procedure are normal. These side effects often resolve on their own after the first week of recovery.

Will I have visible scarring after an arm lift?

The surgical techniques used during an arm lift do cause scarring. However, Dr. Koneru will most likely make incisions along the inside of the arm to make scarring more discreet. There are treatments available to reduce the appearance of scarring; ask our staff what treatments might be available to you.

Will I need more than one arm lift?

One arm lift appointment for both arms should be sufficient to help you achieve your aesthetic goals. However, future weight fluctuations and the processes of aging can cause the skin to sag again.

What if I experience changes to my arms after the procedure from aging or weight changes?

If you experience changes to the appearance of your arms after experiencing weight fluctuations or the effects of aging, Dr. Koneru may be able to perform another arm lift to rejuvenate the arms once again.

References

  1. Chaudhary M, Khan A, Gupta M. Skin Ageing: Pathophysiology and Current Market Treatment Approaches. Current Alzheimer Research. 2019;16(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.2174/1567205016666190809161115
  2. American Society of Plastic Surgeons ® Endorsed Partner. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/news/statistics/2023/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2023.pdf
  3. Egrari S. Brachioplasty: A Personal Approach. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2016;36(2):193-203. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjv146