--- title: "Arm Lift" --- An arm lift, or brachioplasty, removes loose, redundant skin and fat from the upper arm, from the armpit toward the elbow, tightening the remaining skin to firm the arm's contour. It treats skin laxity from major weight loss or aging that exercise cannot correct, because the problem is skin rather than muscle. The incision is scaled to the laxity, from a short scar near the armpit to a full inner-arm incision, often with liposuction. ## What it does An arm lift firms the upper arm by removing what exercise cannot. - Removes hanging skin. Excises the loose, redundant skin of the upper arm that has lost its elasticity. - Refines with liposuction. Removes a fatty component of the arm at the same time when it is present. - Reshapes the contour. Tightens the remaining skin for a firmer, more toned upper-arm line. Exercise builds the muscle underneath but cannot shrink loose skin, which is why an arm lift, not the gym, is the answer for true skin laxity. ## How it works An arm lift is usually an outpatient procedure under anesthesia. The surgeon makes an incision along the inner or back of the upper arm, its length scaled to how much skin must be removed, excises the excess skin and any fatty tissue, and tightens the remaining skin before closing. Liposuction is often added when fat is part of the picture. Most people return to desk work within a week or two, wear a compression garment, and avoid heavy lifting for several weeks. The trade at the center of the operation is the scar: more skin to remove means a longer incision, which is exactly what the consultation weighs. ## Which arm lift, and why it is a real choice The incision length is a genuine trade against how much correction you need. ApproachWhat it involvesBest forShort-scar (mini)A small scar near the armpitMild laxity, mostly upper armFull brachioplastyIncision from armpit toward elbowSignificant hanging skinWith liposuctionAdds fat removalLoose skin plus a fatty armLiposuction onlyNo skin excisionGood skin tone, fat only The more skin that needs removing, the longer the scar, so the honest choice is the least incision that will actually correct your laxity. A board-certified surgeon assesses your skin and fat and recommends accordingly. ## What an arm lift works with This is what the consultation assesses, because skin and fat call for different tools. What you haveWhat it meansThe planHanging skin, good tone lostTrue skin laxityAn arm lift, scar scaled to itLoose skin plus fullnessSkin and fatArm lift with liposuctionFirm skin, just fatty armsFat, not skinLiposuction aloneSkin laxity elsewhere tooPost-weight-loss patternPlan alongside other liftsMinor upper-arm loosenessLimited laxityA short-scar approach The value is not the list. It is that a board-certified surgeon distinguishes loose skin from fat and matches the operation, so you are not left with a long scar you did not need or a result that falls short. ## Why Santa Barbara Face & Body The arm-lift decision is really about the scar, and doing it well means removing enough skin to firm the arm while keeping the incision as short and well-placed as the laxity allows. Dr. Polynice is a Mayo-trained, board-certified plastic surgeon focused on breast and body surgery, and he scales the incision to your skin rather than defaulting to the longest one, and adds liposuction only when fat is part of the picture. A firmer arm with the least scar that achieves it is the standard here. ## What to expect Dr. Polynice examines your upper arms, distinguishes loose skin from fat, and gauges how much skin needs to come out. He explains the incision length your laxity calls for and where the scar will sit, whether liposuction should be added, and what recovery and the compression garment involve. He is candid that the scar is the trade for a firmer arm. You leave with a plan scaled to your arms and honest about the scar. ## What it costs An arm lift is quoted by the plan, not by a shelf price, because it depends on how much skin is removed, the incision length, and whether liposuction is included. You will have that number in writing at your consultation, before anything is scheduled. > Arm Lift (Brachioplasty), American Society of Plastic Surgeons (United States). An arm lift reduces excess sagging skin and removes localized fat of the upper arm, tightening and reshaping the supporting tissue; the incision length and pattern depend on the amount and location of skin to be removed, and it is commonly sought after significant weight loss. — [Arm Lift](https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/arm-lift) ## Arm Lift in Santa Barbara, CA When loose skin along the upper arms won't respond to exercise, an arm lift can restore a firmer, more comfortable contour — and the confidence to wear what you like. Here in Santa Barbara, Dr. Polynice plans each procedure around your frame, placing incisions thoughtfully so the result looks natural and settles well over time. If sagging skin has been holding you back, a consultation is the simplest way to understand your options. Fill out the form below or call us at [(805) 764-9074](tel:+18057649074). We'd love to meet you. ```ld+json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Service", "@id": "https://santabarbarafaceandbody.com/treatments/arm-lift/#service", "name": "Arm Lift", "url": "https://santabarbarafaceandbody.com/treatments/arm-lift/", "description": "An arm lift, or brachioplasty, removes the loose, hanging skin on the upper arms, often called \"bat wings,\" that appears after weight loss or with age and does not respond to exercise. 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At Santa Barbara Face & Body in Santa Barbara, California, a board-certified plastic surgeon scales the incision to the loose skin, from a short armpit scar to a full inner-arm one." }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://santabarbarafaceandbody.com/treatments/arm-lift/#webpage" }, "url": "https://santabarbarafaceandbody.com/treatments/arm-lift/" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can't I just tone my arms with exercise instead?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Only if the problem is muscle or fat; exercise cannot tighten skin that has lost its elasticity, which is what causes the hanging \"bat wing\" look after weight loss or with age. When the issue is loose skin, an arm lift is the effective option, and a surgeon can tell you at a glance whether your concern is skin, fat, or both." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How noticeable is the scar?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "An arm lift trades loose skin for a scar along the inner or back of the upper arm, and its length is scaled to how much skin is removed, from a short scar near the armpit to a longer inner-arm incision. It is permanent and fades over time. For most people with significant hanging skin, the firmer contour is worth it, and your surgeon will show you where it will sit." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Will I need liposuction too?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It depends on whether your arm has a fatty component as well as loose skin. When both are present, liposuction is combined with the skin excision to refine the contour; when it is loose skin alone, excision is enough; and when it is only fat with good skin tone, liposuction by itself may do. Your surgeon assesses this." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How long is recovery?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Most people return to desk work within one to two weeks, wear a compression garment, and avoid heavy lifting and strenuous arm use for several weeks while the incision heals. Swelling settles over the following weeks. Your surgeon will give you a timeline based on how extensive your arm lift is." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Should I wait until my weight is stable?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Usually yes, because further weight loss can leave new laxity and further gain can affect the result, so operating once your weight has settled gives a more lasting outcome. If you are mid-journey on a weight-loss plan, a surgeon will often advise waiting until you have plateaued. It is worth discussing your timeline." } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "@id": "https://santabarbarafaceandbody.com/treatments/arm-lift/#citation-02af0c96", "name": "Arm Lift", "url": "https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/arm-lift" } ] } ```