Have you lost 50 pounds, 100 pounds or more-yet still feel awkward about wearing short sleeves or going sleeveless? Do you wear long sleeves all year 'round to hide all the excess skin hanging from your upper arms?

If loose skin hangs down from your upper arms when you hold your hands out to the side, an arm lift can trim those "bat wings" and make you proud to go sleeveless.

The photos below show an actual patient who had the most dramatic form of arm lift by Dr. Sterry. Her "after" photo shows the results-and scars-three months after surgery. For more examples, visit our photo gallery

What is an arm lift?

“An arm lift or brachioplasty is a cosmetic body contouring operation to remove excess skin hanging from the upper arms—especially after weight loss surgery. There are a number of surgical methods I can use to perform an arm lift. The one that's right for you will depend on your desires—and your willingness to accept a scar.”

How big of a scar does an arm lift involve?

“That depends on how much excess skin needs to be removed. Sometimes I can do an arm lift with a scar only in the armpit, or a short scar down the arm—but often the scar has to extend down the inner arm to the area inside of the elbow. The length of the scar is determined by what you want to accomplish with the surgery.”

How noticeable is an arm lift scar?

“While an arm lift can involve a long scar, it is typically hidden from the rest of the world unless your arm is raised up and rotated outward. One patient recently remarked that the scar will only be seen sometimes, but ‘this flabby skin is showing all the time.’”

Is an arm lift a new plastic surgery procedure?

“No. This operation was introduced many years ago, but lost popularity when liposuction became widely available.”

Wouldn't liposuction be a better choice?

“No. Liposuction alone is typically a bad choice for people with massive weight loss. Why? Because the problem is excess skin, not really excess fat. Liposuction is designed to remove fat, not skin—so it tends to make the problem worse for most weight-loss patients.”

Do you ever do liposuction along with an arm lift?

“Yes. Occasionally, I may incorporate liposuction with an arm lift to help reduce the overall size of the arm—but again, without removing the excess skin, liposuction alone may make the loose skin appear worse. To give your arms a more youthful look, the extra skin needs to be removed.”

Does an arm lift require a hospital stay?

“No. An arm lift is an outpatient procedure. You can go home the day of surgery and spend the night in your own bed.”

What kind of anesthesia is used for an arm lift?

“An arm lift is performed under general anesthetic, so you will be asleep through the entire procedure.”

How is an arm lift performed?

“I make an incision on the inner part of the upper arm along the groove between the biceps and triceps muscles. Then I separate the excess skin from the tissue below around the under side of the arm toward the back. Next, I remove the excess tissue and close the wound in multiple layers using absorbable sutures. No stitches need to be removed, and I never use staples.”

Where are the scars placed?

“I place the scars on the inside of the arm to make them as inconspicuous as possible. Depending on the extent of your arm lift, the scar may be in the armpit only, extend a few inches down your upper arm, or go from the armpit to the elbow.”

What should you expect immediately after surgery?

“Most patients complain about a ‘tight’ feeling around their arms. They become swollen very quickly, and need to keep their arms raised above the level of their heart. I do not like to use compression garments because they can cause some problems of their own.”

How long is the recovery after an arm lift?

“That depends on what you mean by ‘recovery’. Most patients regain full range of motion within about ten days, but if you have a physically demanding job, it may take three weeks or longer.”

What results can you expect from an arm lift?

“An arm lift will give you shapely, sexy arms, so you can feel comfortable wearing short sleeves and even going sleeveless—perhaps for the first time in years.”