An arm lift, or brachioplasty, removes excess, hanging skin and fat from the upper arm to firm and reshape it, treating laxity from weight loss or aging. 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.
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.
| Approach | What it involves | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Short-scar (mini) | A small scar near the armpit | Mild laxity, mostly upper arm |
| Full brachioplasty | Incision from armpit toward elbow | Significant hanging skin |
| With liposuction | Adds fat removal | Loose skin plus a fatty arm |
| Liposuction only | No skin excision | Good 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 have | What it means | The plan |
|---|---|---|
| Hanging skin, good tone lost | True skin laxity | An arm lift, scar scaled to it |
| Loose skin plus fullness | Skin and fat | Arm lift with liposuction |
| Firm skin, just fatty arms | Fat, not skin | Liposuction alone |
| Skin laxity elsewhere too | Post-weight-loss pattern | Plan alongside other lifts |
| Minor upper-arm looseness | Limited laxity | A 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.
- Have loose, hanging upper-arm skin from weight loss or aging
- Understand the issue is skin, which exercise cannot fix
- Are at a stable weight and in good general health
- Accept a scar on the arm in exchange for a firmer contour
- Have firm skin and only excess fat, where liposuction alone fits
- Are still losing weight, where waiting gives a better result
- Are very concerned about scarring, worth an honest discussion
- Smoke or have conditions that affect healing
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.
- What it is
- Brachioplasty, removing loose upper-arm skin
- What it treats
- Hanging "bat wing" skin from weight loss or aging
- Incision
- From a short armpit scar to a full inner-arm one
- Recovery
- Outpatient, desk work in one to two weeks
- Performed by
- Dr. Alain Polynice, board-certified plastic surgeon
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. We’d love to meet you.