Arm Lift
An arm lift is the surgical correction of sagging on the upper arms caused by weight loss, ageing or reduced skin elasticity. The operation is performed under general anaesthetic.
Who Is It For?
This operation is most often performed for people whose arm skin has become loose after substantial weight loss, following bariatric surgery or dieting. In some people, the structure of the skin itself causes sagging at an earlier age. The most reliable assessment of whether it suits you can only be made after an examination.
Are Non-Surgical Methods an Option?
A range of non-invasive tightening treatments exists, and certain devices can improve loose arm skin to a degree. They should not, however, be expected to match the result of surgery. They are considered for people who cannot undergo surgery for health reasons, or who do not want a scar on the arm.
Before Surgery
An arm lift is carried out under general anaesthetic. As before any surgical procedure, blood thinners must be stopped, herbal supplements avoided, and smoking given up.
Recovery
Swelling of the arms afterwards is entirely normal. A bolero-style compression garment is recommended for 2–3 weeks after surgery to keep it under control. Supporting the arms on pillows while lying down prevents swelling from increasing. The hands may swell too. The arms begin to take their final shape at 6–8 weeks at the earliest.
The procedure leaves a scar running from the elbow to the armpit. Depending on how much tissue is removed, it may also extend downward from the armpit.
You can start gentle walks as soon as you feel ready. By the end of the first month you can resume almost all physical activity apart from heavy lifting, and from the sixth week you can return to full exercise. Listen to your body at every stage and avoid anything that causes discomfort, regardless of how much time has passed.
Returning to sex follows the same timeline as returning to physical activity.
Smoking is one of the most damaging influences on healing. Impaired circulation leads to wound-healing problems, infection and poorer scar quality. Ideally you should not smoke for three weeks before and three weeks after surgery.
If nothing about your recovery requires monitoring, there is no obstacle to travelling after surgery.
Risks and Complications
As with any surgery, alongside the risks of anaesthesia there is a risk of bleeding (haematoma), infection or fluid collection (seroma). Excessive swelling or strenuous arm movement can cause the sutures and the wound to open, which in turn affects scar quality. Even when healing is uneventful, scars may heal darker than your skin tone or become raised. Asymmetry, contour irregularities, chronic swelling and temporary — rarely permanent — loss of sensation in the arm are among the other complications.