Brachioplasty (Upper Arm Lift)

With aging, weight loss, or a combination of the two, the skin of the upper arm often becomes loose and flabby.  Patients are often self-conscious about raising their arms or wearing short sleeves.  An upper arm lift, or brachioplasty, is a procedure that removes excess skin and fat so that the upper arm is more smooth and contoured.  The procedure involves making an incision along the inner aspect of the upper arm from near the elbow to the armpit.  The excess skin is trimmed and the incision closed so that the scars are hidden when the arms are down.  The procedure is often combined with liposuction.  Alternatively, liposuction may be used alone if no skin removal is required.

If a patient has some excess but not enough to warrant a brachioplasty, he or she may be a candidate for the Titan procedure.  The Titan is a laser procedure designed to heat the deepest layer of the skin which causes skin tightening.  It will not be as dramatic as surgery but is a nice alternative for someone with more modest laxity.