Arm Lift Surgery in Arlington, TX

Conveniently located to serve Arlington, TX

Remove loose upper-arm skin and improve contour after aging or weight loss with brachioplasty tailored to your anatomy.

 

What is an arm lift?

Patients looking for effective arm contouring can benefit from an arm lift in Arlington. Also called Brachioplasty, this surgical procedure:

• Reduces excess sagging skin that droops downward
• Tightens and smoothes the underlying supportive tissue that defines the shape of the upper arm
• Reduces localized pockets of fat in the upper arm region

Fluctuations in weight, growing older and heredity can cause your upper arms to have a drooping, sagging appearance. This is a condition that cannot be corrected through exercise.

Arm lift surgery may be right for you if the underside of your upper arms is sagging or appear loose and full due to excess skin and fat. This condition is often called “bat wings” or “bingo wings,” and it can be a source of embarrassment and frustration.

Who is a good candidate for arm lift surgery?

In general, arm lift candidates include:

• Adults with significant upper arm skin laxity
• Adults of any age whose weight is relatively stable and who are not significantly overweight
• Healthy individuals without medical conditions that impair healing or increase the risk of surgery
• Nonsmokers
• Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic expectations

Arm Lift vs. Liposuction

An arm lift removes loose skin, while liposuction reduces excess fat. If your upper arms feel full but your skin remains firm, liposuction alone may provide the improvement you want. When skin hangs below the arm, removing fat alone will not correct that looseness.

Some patients benefit from combining the two procedures. Liposuction can reduce fullness, while brachioplasty removes the remaining excess skin to create a smoother contour. Dr. Tran considers your skin elasticity, fat distribution, and the changes you want before recommending either approach.

What should I expect during a consultation for arm lift surgery?

During your arm lift surgery consultation be prepared to discuss:

• Your surgical goals
• Medical conditions, drug allergies, and medical treatments
• Current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use
• Previous surgeries

Your arm lift surgeon will also:

• Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
• Take photographs
• Discuss your options
• Discuss likely outcomes of arm lift surgery and any risks or potential complications

Be sure to ask questions. To help, we have prepared a checklist of questions to ask Dr. Tran that you can take with you to your consultation.

It’s very important to understand all aspects of your arm lift procedure. It’s natural to feel some anxiety, whether it’s excitement about your anticipated new look or a bit of preoperative stress. Don’t be shy about discussing these feelings with your plastic surgeon.

What questions should I ask my plastic surgeon about arm lift surgery?

Use this checklist as a guide during your arm lift surgery consultation:

• Do you have hospital privileges to perform this procedure? If so, at which hospitals?
• Is the office-based surgical facility accredited by a nationally- or state-recognized accrediting agency, or is it state-licensed or Medicare-certified?
• Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
• What will be expected of me to get the best results?
• Where and how will you perform my procedure?
• What surgical technique is recommended for me?
• How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery?
• What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure?
• How are complications handled?
• How can I expect my arms to look over time?
• What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of my arm lift?
• Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at for this procedure and what results are reasonable for me?

What are the risks of arm lift surgery?

The decision to have plastic surgery is extremely personal, and you’ll have to decide if the benefits, risks, and potential complications of this arm-sculpting procedure are acceptable.

You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedure.

Arm lift surgery risks include:

• Anesthesia risks
• Bleeding
• Infection
• Poor wound healing
• Unsightly scarring
• Fluid accumulation (seroma)
• Damage to deeper structures such as nerves, blood vessels, and muscles
• Fatty tissue under the skin might die (fat necrosis)
• Numbness or other changes in skin sensation
• Pain, which may persist
• Sutures may not absorb, but spontaneously surface through the skin, causing irritation, drainage, and redness
• Possible need for revisional surgery

These risks and others will be fully discussed before your consent. You must address all your questions directly with your plastic surgeon.

How should I prepare for arm lift surgery?

In preparing for arm lift surgery, you may be asked to:

• Get lab testing or a medical evaluation
• Take certain medications or adjust your current medications
• Stop smoking
• Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements as they can increase bleeding

Arm lift surgery may be performed in an accredited office-based surgical facility, ambulatory surgical center, or a hospital. Be sure to arrange for someone to drive you to and from surgery, and to stay with you for at least the first night following surgery.

What are the steps of an arm lift procedure?

An arm lift procedure includes the following steps:

Step 1 – Anesthesia

Medications are administered for your comfort during arm lift surgery. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.

Step 2 – The incision

Incision length and pattern during arm lift surgery depend on the amount and location of excess skin to be removed, as well as the best judgment of your plastic surgeon.

Incisions are generally placed on the inside of the arm or the back of the arm, depending on the surgeon’s preference, and may extend from the underarm (axilla) to just above the elbow. Excess fat may be directly excised or treated with liposuction.

Depending on your specific condition, incisions may be more limited. Then, underlying supportive tissue is tightened and reshaped with internal sutures. Finally, the skin is smoothed over the new contour of your arm.

Inner Arm Incision

Back of Arm Incision

Minimal Incision

Step 3 – Closing the Incisions

Your incisions will be closed either with absorbable sutures or stitches that will be removed within one to two weeks following your arm lift.

Step 4 – See the Results

The smoother, tighter contours that result from Brachioplasty are apparent almost immediately following your procedure, although there will likely be swelling and bruising. Get more information about arm lift surgery results.

What should I expect during my arm lift recovery?

During your recovery from arm lift surgery, dressings or bandages may be applied to your incisions, and your arms may be wrapped in an elastic bandage or a compression garment to minimize swelling following surgery.

A small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood or fluid.

You will be given specific instructions on how to care for the surgical site and drains, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing, specific concerns to look for, and when to follow up with your plastic surgeon.

Be sure to ask your arm lift surgeon specific questions about what you can expect during your recovery period:

• Where will I be taken after my surgery is complete?
• What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery?
• Will I have dressings/bandages after surgery? When will they be removed?
• Are stitches removed? When?
• When can I resume normal activity and exercise?
• When do I return for follow-up care?

What results should I expect after arm lift surgery?

The smoother, tighter contours that result from arm lift surgery are apparent almost immediately following your procedure. Initial results will be obscured by swelling and bruising, and a scar will remain where the incision was made.

Although good results are expected from your procedure, there is no guarantee. In some situations, it may not be possible to achieve optimal results with a single surgical procedure and another surgery may be necessary.

The results of arm lift surgery will be long-lasting, provided that you maintain a stable weight and general fitness. As your body ages, it is natural to lose some firmness, but most of your improvement should be relatively permanent.

Following your physician’s instructions is essential to the success of your surgery.

Protect your incisions from excessive force, rubbing, and stretching while they heal. Follow Dr. Tran’s instructions for arm movement and activity.

Arm Lift Cost in Arlington

Arm lift cost in Arlington depends on how much skin needs to be removed, the incision length, and whether liposuction is included. Combining an arm lift with another procedure can also affect the total cost.
After your surgical plan is established, we provide a personalized estimate. Financing options are available for eligible patients.

Why Choose Anthony Atran MD?

Your arm lift is performed by a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Anthony Tran’s experience includes cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, including body contouring after weight loss.
He earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch and completed plastic surgery fellowship training at the University of Illinois Hospitals and the Center for Craniofacial Anomalies in Chicago. His approach emphasizes honest recommendations about what surgery can reasonably achieve.

Our Arlington office also has Spanish- and Vietnamese-speaking staff to help patients communicate comfortably throughout their care.

Arm Lift FAQs

Discuss Your Arm Lift With Dr. Tran

Feel more confident about your options—Dr. Tran can help you decide whether the expected change fits your goals and whether you are ready for surgery. Request your consultation with Anthony Atran MD or call 817-467-5081 to arrange an appointment.

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Words to know

Arm Lift

A surgical procedure, also known as Brachioplasty, to correct the sagging of the upper arms.

Axilla

The underarm area.

Brachioplasty

A surgical procedure, also known as an arm lift, to correct the sagging of upper arms.

General Anesthesia

Drugs and/or gases are used during an operation to relieve pain and alter consciousness.

Hematoma

Blood pooling beneath the skin.

Intravenous Sedation

Sedatives are administered by injection into a vein to help you relax.

Liposuction

Also called lipoplasty or suction lipectomy, this procedure vacuums out fat from beneath the skin’s surface to reduce fullness.

Local Anesthesia

A drug injected directly into the site of an incision during an operation to relieve pain.

Skin Laxity

Degree of loose skin.

Sutures

Stitches are used by surgeons to hold skin and tissue together.

A woman in her 30s, 1-month postop brachioplasty and liposuction of the arms. Scar minimizing technique employed. The goal is a natural-looking appearance of the arm.