Why Arm Lift Surgery Is Done

Why Arm Lift Surgery is Done

The most common reason for having an arm lift is to correct soft tissue and skin laxity of the arms. Factors that contribute to soft tissue laxity of the arms include:

1. Age- Typically, with age, the fatty tissue of the upper arm may diminish in volume and result in loose, sagging skin of the arm. Similar to the face, the skin develops wrinkles.   This is mainly a “skin excess problem” that requires skin removal. 
2. Sun damage and smoking- On their own, sun-damage or smoking rarely result in arm tissue laxity.  However, they both can adversely influence skin quality and thus exacerbate the changes that are noted with ageing.
3. Weight Gain- This generally results in heaviness of both the upper arm and the forearm.  The arm inflates as the fatty layer of the arm expands in between the muscles and skin.   Overtime, most of the arm skin stretches and develops internal dermal damage.  These are appreciated as stretch marks especially over the inner aspect of the arm.  The stretched out skin, bearing the excess fat, hangs as bat-wings from the under-surface of the arm. This is mainly a “damaged skin and excess fat problem” that requires both skin and soft tissue removal. 
4. Significant weight loss or Bariatric surgery- During many cylces of weight gain and loss, the skin develops dermal-breakage and thus stretch marks.  Also, the connective tissue mesh that hold the skin to the underlying arm muscles, becomes loose and stretched.  Following the weight loss, the damaged skin and connective tissue mesh are both unable to undergo contraction.  Thus, the stretched-out skin, bearing some excess fat, will sag on the under-surface, leading to ptosis (sagging), or the bat-wing appearance. This is mainly a “damaged skin and excess fat problem” that requires both skin and arm tissue removal. 
5. Previous Liposuction- Aggressive liposuction in someone who does not have optimal skin quality can result in excess loose skin that hangs from the under-surface of the arm.  This is mainly a “skin laxity problem” that requires removal of the excess skin.