Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) in West Palm Beach, FL
An arm lift removes excess skin from the upper arms to create a firmer, more defined contour.
Meet David Rankin, MD
Dr. David Rankin is a board-certified plastic surgeon with decades of experience performing cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. His procedures have restored natural-looking proportions to thousands of patients across Palm Beach County and beyond. Dr. Rankin currently serves as Chief of Plastic Surgery at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach and is one of Florida’s most renowned plastic surgeons.
Meet Allyson Deziel, MD
Dr. Allyson Deziel is a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in body contouring procedures, including brachioplasty. She’s known for her compassionate patient care and personalized treatment plans that focus on each patient’s goals. Dr. Deziel is a member of the Palm Beach County Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Medical Executive Committee at Jupiter Outpatient Surgery Center.
Before & After Arm Lift Photos
Results from real Aqua Plastic Surgery patients.
Before
After
Before
After
What an Arm Lift Can Improve
Skin on the underside of the arms is naturally thin and prone to stretching as we age. While strengthening the arm muscles can improve tone, it can’t eliminate loose or hanging skin.
An arm lift removes this skin and, if necessary, excess fat to create smoother, more proportionate upper arms.
Patients commonly choose brachioplasty to address one or more of the following:
- Loose or hanging skin on the upper arms that’s especially noticeable when raising the arms
- Stretched skin following significant weight loss
- A loss of firm, youthful arm definition due to natural aging or genetic skin laxity
- Excess fat that causes a heavy appearance
- Skin irritation caused by excess folds
- Difficulty finding clothing that fits comfortably around the upper arms
- Upper arms that appear disproportionate to the rest of the body
- Self-consciousness when wearing sleeveless clothing
After surgery, patients often say they’re able to wear short sleeves and sleeveless clothing with more confidence.
Why Choose Aqua Plastic Surgery for Your Arm Lift
Removing excess skin and fat is only part of an arm lift. Dr. Rankin or Dr. Deziel will build a custom plan designed to produce a smooth contour while keeping incisions as discreet as possible.
Your surgeon will evaluate your skin quality, the amount of excess tissue, your body proportions, and overall goals before recommending an approach. Depending on what that evaluation shows, liposuction alone may be enough. If more is needed, your surgeon will remove excess skin and fat to achieve a better contour.
Patients whose loose arm skin followed significant weight loss are often good candidates for combining procedures, such as a tummy tuck, breast lift, or other body contouring work.
All procedures are performed in our AAAASF-accredited operating suites, which offer added privacy and comfort compared to a hospital setting.
What to Expect with an Arm Lift
The Consultation Process
Every arm lift begins with an in-depth, personal consultation with Dr. Rankin or Dr. Deziel. During this meeting, your surgeon will assess your skin elasticity, determine the amount of excess fat beneath your skin, and discuss your lifestyle and goals.
After your evaluation, your doctor will explain the surgical options available, including whether liposuction alone may be appropriate or whether skin, fat, or both need to be removed. You and your doctor will also discuss whether combining procedures would help you achieve your goals.
About the Procedure
Arm lift surgery is typically performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia. In many cases liposuction is used alongside skin excision to refine the contour, though not every patient needs it.
Incisions will be discreetly placed along your inner arms where they’re least noticeable, and the length of your incisions will depend on how much skin needs to be removed.
Most arm lift procedures take 2 to 3 hours to complete, depending on the extent of the surgery and whether additional procedures are being performed.
Recovery
The First Few Days
Our upper arms are highly mobile, so a structured recovery plan is essential to minimize scarring and encourage proper healing.
You can expect swelling, bruising, and soreness during the first week after surgery, along with some numbness along the inner arm that typically resolves as the nerves recover. Supportive compression sleeves are typically worn to reduce swelling and aid in healing.
Returning to Daily Life
Many patients return to desk work and other light activities within 1 to 2 weeks. Heavy lifting (typically anything over 5 to 10 pounds) and raising your elbows above shoulder height should be strictly avoided for the first 3 to 4 weeks. Vigorous exercise and repetitive arm movements should be avoided for at least the first 4 to 6 weeks while your incisions heal.
Dr. Rankin or Dr. Deziel will provide detailed instructions about restrictions and when you can get back to your normal activities.
Follow-Up Appointments
Your doctor will monitor your recovery with follow-up visits to ensure you’re healing well and answer any questions you have about your recovery.
When You’ll See Your Final Results
Your arms will appear slimmer immediately following surgery, although swelling will temporarily affect the final look. As swelling resolves over the next 3 to 6 months, your new arm contour will become increasingly visible.
Visiting Aqua from West Palm Beach
Aqua Plastic Surgery is located about 20 to 30 minutes north of West Palm Beach in Jupiter. For most patients in the WPB area, the drive is a straight shot up I-95 to Indiantown Road, or along Alternate A1A for a more scenic route through Juno Beach.
Our office is in The Commons at Abacoa, with parking directly outside. For patients having same-day surgery, a loved one can drive you home after the procedure so you can begin your recovery right away.
If you’d prefer to start with a virtual consultation before traveling to Jupiter, our team is happy to accommodate. We can walk you through what to expect and help you decide whether an in-person visit makes sense from the start.
Arm Lift FAQs
Liposuction is a great tool for removing stubborn fat, but its success relies on your skin’s ability to contract afterward. If you have significant skin laxity or stretched tissue following weight loss, liposuction by itself may leave your arms looking deflated. In these cases, an arm lift is likely required, where excess skin is surgically removed and the remaining skin is tightened.
Not necessarily. The primary goal of brachioplasty is to remove excess skin. If excess fat is also present, liposuction can be performed at the same time to improve the overall contour.
Scarring is unavoidable with an arm lift. Dr. Rankin and Dr. Deziel place incisions along the inner arm whenever possible to make them less noticeable. Scars are typically most visible in the first few months and continue to fade for 12 to 18 months as they mature. Most patients find that once healed, their scars are difficult to notice when their arms rest at their sides.
Healthy adults who are bothered by loose skin on their upper arms are generally considered good candidates. To achieve the best long-term results, you should be close to your goal weight and have maintained a stable weight for 12 months before surgery.
The results of an arm lift are considered long-lasting, especially if you maintain a stable weight. While your skin will continue to age naturally, the excess skin removed during surgery won’t return.
Yes. Many patients choose to combine a brachioplasty with complementary procedures to achieve a more comprehensive transformation. Arm lifts are frequently paired with a breast lift, breast reduction, tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), or liposuction of the back and flanks.
The cost of an arm lift depends on the extent of surgery and whether additional procedures are performed at the same time. Dr. Rankin or Dr. Deziel will provide a personalized quote during your consultation.
To help make treatment more accessible, Aqua Plastic Surgery offers financing through CareCredit as well as an in-house option. A member of the Aqua team would be happy to discuss which option works best for you.
Yes. Patients can begin with a virtual consultation before scheduling an in-person visit at our Jupiter office.