Firm and toned arms have become a highly desired complement to fashionable sleeveless tops and strapless dresses in recent years. Unfortunately many of our Charlotte patients find that due to weight loss, aging, or even just an inherited trait, sleek and firm upper arms are impossible to attain through diet and exercise alone. While muscle-toning exercises go a long way toward tightening the underlying muscular structures of the arm, these toning exercises cannot correct excess loosened skin or remove unwanted fat deposits.

A brachioplasty, sometimes known as an underarm lift, surgically tightens the underarm area creating a smoother and more toned appearing arm. Brachioplasty can correct a variety of upper arm imperfections including flaps of skin that extend from the armpit to the elbow, bulges or sagging around the upper arm, crepe-like skin that drapes beneath the arm, or upper arm skin that appears flaccid in areas despite generally good muscle tone.

What is a brachioplasty procedure like?

Brachioplasty requires an incision in the arm to remove excess tissue and fat. Depending on the patient’s desired results, one of several brachioplasty variations will be used to address excess fat and tissue.

Limited-incision brachioplasty is used when the excess skin is located near the armpit. If this is the case–using a small incision–Dr. Miles will tuck the excess skin into the armpit area to tighten up the area. This procedure is ideal for loose skin that is not accompanied by excess fatty tissue.

A standard brachioplasty is best used for larger flaps of skin that extend from the armpit to the elbow. This flap of skin is sometimes referred to as a “bat wing”. During the standard brachioplasty the excess skin and flab is trimmed away and removed completely. The result is an overall streamlining of the arm.

Extended brachioplasty lengthens the incision to address fat and skin that resides in the underarm area of the chest wall in addition to the skin of the underarm itself. This procedure is most commonly used for cases of extreme weight loss, such as patients who have undergone bariatric or lap band surgeries.

The extent of scarring related to each of these procedures is dependent on the procedure undertaken and the amount of tissue removed from the body. While the scars will be visible, they are minimal. Brachioplasty patients are typically happy with their results.

Am I a good candidate for brachioplasty?

Ideal candidates for brachioplasty are those who wish to reduce excess skin and its resultant sagging. Patients who maintain a normal weight but have significant droop in their arms–perhaps due to genetics–those who have undergone massive weight loss that has resulted in loose skin, and those with upper arm skin laxity due to aging all benefit from under arm lift procedures.

For patients with good skin tone who only want to reduce the size or improve the shape of their upper arms, a liposuction procedure may produce the desired result without surgery. Brachioplasty patients also may benefit from a complementary liposuction procedure to remove excess or displaced fat during their arm lift procedure.

If you are unhappy with drooping or sagging underarms due to aging, weight loss or body type, set-up an appointment for consultation at our Charlotte offices. We will walk you through the available procedures and help you determine the best course of treatment to help you achieve the sleeker arms you desire.

If you are in Denver, Huntersville, and the Lake Norman area call us today toll free at: (877) 896-5556