Patients preparing for an arm lift in Chicago, IL often want to know, step by step, what the surgery day itself involves. Dr. Amir Dorafshar, MD, FACS, walks every patient through the following general sequence during pre-operative planning.
Before the Incision
Arm lift, or brachioplasty, surgery begins with anesthesia, either general anesthesia or IV sedation depending on the extent of correction needed, a decision guided by American Society of Plastic Surgeons and finalized with the patient beforehand. Before the first incision, Dr. Dorafshar marks the planned incision lines with the patient’s arms in a raised position, which helps ensure the final scar sits along the inner or back portion of the upper arm where it is least visible once the arm returns to a natural resting position.
During the Procedure
Once marked, the surgeon makes an incision running from the underarm toward the elbow, with length depending on how much excess skin needs to be removed. Excess skin is excised, and in many cases, liposuction is performed at the same time to refine the surrounding fat and smooth the transition between treated and untreated tissue. The remaining skin is then re-draped and closed in layers to distribute tension evenly along the incision.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons explains that fluctuations in weight, aging, and heredity all contribute to the loose, sagging skin an arm lift addresses, which is why surgical excision, rather than exercise, is required once skin has lost significant elasticity. Surgery typically takes one to two hours depending on the extent of skin removal and whether liposuction is included.
Most patients go home the same day, though some stay overnight depending on health history and the extent of the procedure. A technique review published by the National Institutes of Health notes that surgeons continue refining incision patterns to improve aesthetic outcomes and minimize visible scarring, reflecting how this procedure has evolved over time.
Patients with good skin elasticity and only localized fat, but minimal sagging, may be better suited to liposuction alone rather than a full brachioplasty, a distinction Dr. Dorafshar evaluates during the physical exam by gently assessing skin recoil and the degree of tissue laxity along the underside of the arm. Arm contouring is also frequently incorporated into a broader full body lift plan for patients recovering from major weight loss, since the same loose-skin pattern that affects the trunk and thighs often extends to the upper arms as well.
For more on candidacy and outcomes, see our Chicago-specific guide to arm lift, or brachioplasty, in Chicago and our article understanding the benefits of an arm lift.
Evolve Your Life performs arm lift surgery from its Gold Coast Chicago office at 60 East Delaware Place, near the Magnificent Mile, as well as Peoria and Oak Brook, IL locations. If you would like a clearer picture of your own procedure day, schedule an arm lift consultation with Dr. Dorafshar, who is glad to walk through each step of the surgery in more detail based on your specific anatomy.
