Serving Los Alamitos and welcoming patients from Long Beach, Seal Beach, Orange County, Cypress, Cerritos, Lakewood, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, the greater Los Angeles area, and beyond.
1) What Is an Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)?
An arm lift removes hanging skin and reshapes the upper arms after weight loss, aging, or genetics leave soft tissue that exercise cannot tighten. Many patients call this “bat wings.” Surgery creates a smoother, firmer upper-arm contour from the armpit toward the elbow.
Dr. Raman Mehrzad plans each brachioplasty around the amount of skin excess and whether liposuction should refine residual fat first. Incision length is customized so the scar is as discreet as possible while still delivering a meaningful improvement.
Patients from Los Alamitos, Long Beach, Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Cypress, Cerritos, Lakewood, and across Orange County and Los Angeles seek arm lift surgery when clothing sleeves and raised-arm photos no longer feel comfortable.
2) Who Is a Good Candidate?
- You have loose upper-arm skin that does not respond to strength training
- You are at a stable weight and in good general health
- You are a non-smoker or can stop smoking before and after surgery
- You can accept a scar along the inner arm or in the armpit crease depending on technique
- You have realistic expectations about swelling and scar maturation
- You want arms that look more proportional in short sleeves and fitted clothing
3) How the Procedure Works
- Consultation: Skin excess, fat volume, and scar trade-offs are reviewed with arms raised and at rest.
- Anesthesia: General anesthesia for comfort during excision and any liposuction.
- Optional liposuction: Fat may be reduced to improve contour before skin removal.
- Excision: Excess skin is removed through an incision in the armpit, along the inner arm, or a combination pattern.
- Layered closure: Soft tissue is closed carefully to support a smoother cylindrical arm shape.
- Compression: Sleeves or wraps help control swelling during early recovery.
4) Recovery Timeline
Week 1: Swelling and tightness are expected. Keep arms elevated when resting and avoid heavy lifting.
Week 2: Many patients return to desk work. Bruising fades. Continue compression and incision care.
Month 1: Daily activity feels easier. Light exercise may resume when cleared. Begin scar care once healed.
Month 3: Arm contour looks more refined. Scars soften and lighten over the following months with sun protection.
5) Risks and What to Expect
- A visible scar on the inner arm or within the armpit
- Temporary swelling, bruising, and numbness
- Delayed healing or widened scars in areas of tension
- Asymmetry or contour irregularity
- Rare infection, fluid collection, or need for revision
Serving patients from Los Alamitos, Long Beach, Seal Beach, Orange County, Cypress, Cerritos, Lakewood, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, and the greater Los Angeles area.
6) Before and After Gallery
See before and after images on this page for arm lift results from patients in Los Alamitos and Orange County. Your scar pattern depends on how much skin must be removed to reach your goals.
7) Frequently Asked Questions
Can liposuction alone fix loose upper-arm skin?
Only if skin elasticity is excellent. Most patients with true hanging skin need excision for a lasting smoother look.
Where is the arm lift scar placed?
Limited excess may allow a shorter scar in the armpit. Greater excess usually requires an incision along the inner arm that is less visible with the arms at your sides.
When can I lift weights after an arm lift?
Upper-body training usually waits until cleared, often around four to six weeks, so healing tissues are not strained.