This procedures is technically known as a brachioplasty or resection of lipocutaneous excess of arms. Cosmetic arm tightening aims to remove excess skin and underlying fat from the arms to remove loose skin. Loose skin tends to develop on the arms throughout the middle age, when some of the muscles bulk in the arms decreases. This procedure is perfect if a pacient has lost weight and there is an excess of skin in the area. Combining this procedure with exercise will improve the outcome.

The procedure is usually done on an outpatient basis in a hospital operating room, or an outpatient surgery center. It is usually done with local anesthesia and sedation. However, if it is done with other body contouring operations general anesthesia may be required. Surgery time is 2 hours after which the patient will return to his accommodations for recovery.

After surgery the arms will ache and feel sore. Narcotic pain medication are prescribed for a day or two analgesia is then continued with acetaminophen when in pain.

Bandages will be placed and after 5 days, your surgeon will remove the bandages and replace the them with an elastic bandage. Bandages will be completely removed 10 days after surgery. Swelling and bruising will be present for 2 weeks with some residual swelling that will improve with time. A long straight or S-shaped scar running down the inside of each arm from under your armpit to above the inner side of your elbow will mature into fine white scars and ultimately bland with the surrounding skin.

An arm lift only removes excess skin and fat and the recovery is quick without many complications. A brachioplasty is one of the few procedures that improves the contour of arms when loose skin and fat are present. The major preoperative consideration for any pacient should be the remnant scars that the surgery will leave.