Good candidates for a brachioplasty procedure are those who experience any one of the following:

• excess skin, often present after massive weight loss and sometimes referred to as “bat wings”
• excess fat in the upper arms
• both excess skin and fat in the upper arms

Depending upon a patient’s individual anatomy and goals, Dr. Roostaeian will recommend an arm surgery plan that’s best.

Arm lift with skin removal

If loose skin and/or excess fat is present in the upper arms, Dr. Jason will perform an arm lift by removing the skin and fat. This produces a fine, thin scar along the inner edge of the arm beginning near the armpit. How far down the scar extends depends upon the amount of excess tissue Dr. Jason needs to remove to acheive the desired outcome.

Arm lift with liposuction

Patients who have good skin tone and only a small amount of excess fat may be elligible for an arm lift with liposuction only. Because no excess skin is being removed, patients have very minimal scarring at the site where the liposuction cannula is inserted.

During your arm lift consultation, Dr. Jason will go over the options that are available to you.

When searching for the best arm lift surgeon to perform your brachioplasty, Dr. Roostaeian advises you to consider several key factors:

1. Credentials and Certifications: Research your prospective arm lift surgeon online – not just on their website, but on industry credentialing sites such as www.surgery.org, which lists board certified plastic surgeons. Do not choose a cosmetic surgeon who is a member of the ABCS – they do not receive the extensive training and oversight that plastic surgeons do. Look for plastic/cosmetic surgeons like Dr. Roostaeian, who are ABPS and ASAPS members.
2. Before and After Photos: The doctor you choose to perform your brachioplasty should be happy to show you an extensive array of standardized before and after photographs. Scrutinize them carefully, making sure the lighting is consistent and the various views are shown with detail. View enough arm lift pictures to determine whether or not the work is of high quality, with an aesthetic that matches your personal goals. Dr. Jason strives to provide patients with the highest quality of standardized arm lift photographs so you can feel confident in your choice. Click here to view Dr. Jason’s gallery of before and after brachioplasty photos. [LINK]
3. Office and Surgery Facility: Before choosing an aesthetic surgeon to perform your arm surgery, closely evaluate the office staff, as well as the surgery facility. All of the staff should be helpful and friendly, and pleased to provide you with detailed information about their operating rooms and equipment. Dr. Jason and his staff are proud to be affiliated with UCLA, world renowned for state-of-the-art surgical facilities and patient care. Click to learn more about our top-ranked hospital.[LINK]
4. Personal Connection: Seeing eye to eye with your arm lift surgeon is just as important as assessing their operating skills. Plastic surgery is a very personal endeavor, and Dr. Jason strongly believes in creating a connection with all of his patients prior to heading into the OR. 

Click to read Dr. Jason’s blog post How to Find the Best Plastic Surgeon.

Arm lift costs vary considerably from patient to patient. The exact cost of your brachioplasty surgery will depend on the complexity of your case, and whether or not you are combining your arm lift with other procedures. You will receive a written quote from Dr. Jason’s office following your consultation.

Yes, Dr. Jason often combines an arm lift with other procedures of the face, breast or body. Liposuction of the arms can often be included with the procedure to achieve the best result. This would be a good opportunity to address other common troubles some spots such as the flanks or abdomen.

To achieve the best possible result in body contouring it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This should be started before surgery so that you can keep it going after surgery. Although you will have to take a break from exercise for a few weeks during your recovery, it important to maintain a well-balanced diet. Many of Dr. Jason’s patients are more motivated by their new body shape following surgery and want to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regimen.

When preparing for an arm lift procedure, follow all instructions issued by Dr. Roostaeian, his office, and the staff at the UCLA Surgery Center. These guidelines include, but are not limited to:

THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO SURGERY

• Avoid smoking cigarettes, wearing a nicotine patch or using nicotine gum three weeks prior and three weeks after surgery. All nicotine products inhibits circulation and slows your healing process.

TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO SURGERY

• Do not take aspirin or any aspirin products. These medications cause bleeding which can lead to
  complications. You may only use Tylenol.
• Do not take Vitamin E (it will cause you to bleed).
• Make arrangements for someone to drive you home after the doctor sees you the day following surgery.
• It is extremely important that we are informed about any medications or supplements that you are currently taking such as diet pills, mega doses of vitamins, prescriptions for depression, etc., Dr. Roostaeian and your anesthesiologist need to know every medication that is in your system.

DAY BEFORE/DAY OF ARM LIFT SURGERY

• Shampoo your hair and body with an antiseptic soap the night before surgery. We prefer you to use Hibiclens (sold at most drug stores) to wash your hair, face, and body (avoid the eyes) the night before and/or morning of surgery.
• Do not eat or drink anything (not even water) after midnight. The morning of surgery you may take your regular medications such as blood pressure, heart, thyroid, etc. with a small sip of water.
• Leave all your jewelry at home, including any body (pierced) jewelry. Do not wear contact lenses- not even extended wear. Remove all makeup. Do not apply lotion or creams. Bring a robe, gown (one that will slip easily over your head or one that buttons up the front) and slippers.
• DO NOT “WORKOUT” THE DAY BEFORE OR THE MORNING OF SURGERY. This will dehydrate your body and you will not be able to replenish it with water.

Following your brachioplasty procedure with Dr. Roostaeian, your arms will feel tight and swollen for about 2 weeks. You will wear a special garment to help with this swelling. You will be up and about within the same day; start showering in two days; stitches are dissolvable; bruising mostly gone by 1 week; back to work if not strenuous after 1 week; avoid any exercise or significant increase in your heart rate for 2 weeks. Can restart gentle exercise routine at 6 weeks and return to full activity by 3 months. Scars will continue to lighten and mature over 6 months to a year.

Dr. Roostaeian will perform your procedure is performed at UCLA’s state of the art outpatient surgery center that provides an unparallel level of safety. US News has ranked the UCLA Medical Center among the top 5 hospitals in the country for more than 20 years.  Following your procedure, you will be taken to the recovery suite where you will stay and be cared for and monitored  by UCLA’s excellent nurses. You can take a shower after 2 days but baths, swimming, or soaking of your incisions should be avoided for 4 weeks.

Most patients require prescription narcotics for at least a few days after surgery. You can drive if you’re not taking prescription narcotics and most feel up for it 1-2 weeks after surgery. You can return to work within 1-2 weeks as long as it doesn’t require any significant physical activity or lifting.

The majority of the swelling will likely subside within a week while some mild swelling may persist for a few more weeks. Within one week after surgery you will visit Dr. Jason as a follow up so he can check on your healing and answer any questions.

After your brachioplasty with Dr. Jason, most of the swelling and bruising will be gone by 1-2 weeks. You can return to activities, even exercise,  that do not stress the incisions after 3 weeks. A compression garment is recommended for 6 weeks. You can return to full activity by 12 weeks.

For the first 2 weeks following arm lift surgery with Dr. Roostaeian, you want to avoid straining (lifting anything more than 5 lbs), or getting your heart rate/blood pressure up as this can lead to bleeding. After 2-3 weeks you should avoid mechanical forces that will put stress on the areas treated. This means you should avoid high impact activities that lead to excessive movement or stress on any of the incisions.  Listen to what your body is telling you at all times, for instance stop the workout if you experience any new discomfort. Remember, getting plenty of rest and reducing your overall activity will give you time to heal and speed up your recovery.

As always, consult with Dr. Jason if you have any questions about your post-arm lift healing process.

Dr. Jason Roostaeian is extremely meticulous about the placement of his arm lift incisions. He typically places the scar along the inner side of the arm. The length of the scar depends upon the amount of tissue removed. The scar fades over time, remaining quite inconspicuous in most people.

Visit Dr. Jason’s brachioplasty photo gallery to see examples of arm lift scars.  [LINK]

While everyone heals at a different pace, there are general guidelines to help determine how much work or school you’ll miss after an arm lift. To promote proper healing, Dr. Roostaeian recommends taking at least 1 week off after arm surgery. Most patients are able to work from home or do homework after a few days of rest. Most patients with non-strenous jobs can return to work after about one week. If your work requires significant physical activity (lifting more than 5 pounds) you want to wait at least 2-3 weeks to prevent any increases in your blood pressure that can lead to bleeding while your’re still in the early stages of healing.

It is very rare to need to repeat an arm lift procedure if there are no dramatic changes in your weight. Therefore, Dr. Jason’s patients who maintain a healthy lifestyle will continue to enjoy the result of their procedure for many years to come.