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three women laughing in white tank tops and blue jeans

Arm Lift

Arm Lift Surgery in New Westminster, BC | MacDonald Plastic Surgery

An arm lift, or brachioplasty, is a widely used procedure that typically involves using a combination of liposuction and specialized techniques to remove excess fat and loose skin and restore a firm, toned, youthful appearance to the upper arms. This area of the body can be difficult to target with weight loss and exercise alone and, indeed, if you lose weight, it often makes the problem of loose skin worse.

Arm lift surgery is an outpatient surgery, meaning you go home the same day. It requires a general anesthetic, so we have you complete a pre-operative questionnaire to ensure you are ready for surgery. You will be given instructions on what time to arrive and reminded not to eat or drink anything the night before surgery. The surgery is approximately two hours, and you will spend approximately three hours in the recovery room, so plan to spend the day at the hospital. You will be given a prescription for pain medication before leaving the hospital.

Most swelling should subside within the first 4 to 6 weeks, although you may not see the full results for 3 to 6 months following your procedure. The results of an arm lift are long-lasting, provided you don’t lose or gain a lot of weight. However, age and gravity may eventually cause some loss of firmness.

Learn more about arm lift surgery with Dr. Jeannie MacDonald by calling (604) 288-8517 or by filling out our contact form.

What Arm Lift Techniques and Incision Options Does Dr. MacDonald Use?

Dr. MacDonald will customize your arm lift plan based on your anatomy and goals, using fat removal and carefully placed incisions to remove excess skin, refine your upper arm contours, and create a smoother, more toned appearance.

Shorter, more discreetly placed incisions may be sufficient if you have mild to moderate laxity. Longer incisions along the upper arms provide a more natural, long-lasting improvement for those with more pronounced excess skin.

Dr. MacDonald prioritizes incision placement and meticulous closure techniques to help scars fade as smoothly as possible over time. During your consultation, she will explain which approach best matches your anatomy and desired outcome.

Who Is an Ideal Candidate for Arm Lift Surgery?

If you are self-conscious about your upper arms because of loose skin and/or stubborn fat deposits, you may benefit from an arm lift. This procedure is particularly beneficial for women or men who have lost a lot of weight or have lost elasticity due to aging and want to restore the firmness and overall appearance of their upper arms.

Although small amounts of fat can be removed along with excess skin, an arm lift is not intended as a weight reduction technique. For the most favorable result, you should be at or near your target body weight before having surgery.

What Are the Benefits of Arm Lift Surgery?

Arm lifts create aesthetic and functional improvements. Many patients feel more confident wearing sleeveless shirts and dresses to show off the restored definition in their upper arms. Removing excess skin can also reduce chafing, irritation, and the heaviness that sometimes accompanies loose tissue. An arm lift may also be a pivotal part of your transformation if you’ve recently lost a significant amount of weight.

What Can You Expect at Your Consultation?

Your first step will be to have a detailed consultation with Dr. MacDonald where she will listen to your goals and concerns and complete a careful examination. Then, Dr. MacDonald will discuss the treatment options that best address your concerns and particular situation.

Dr. MacDonald and her staff will:

  • Give you detailed information about the surgery and what you can expect before, during, and after the procedure
  • Discuss any concerns or questions that you may have
  • Discuss potential risks of the procedure

What Risks and Considerations Are Associated with Arm Lift Surgery?

As with any surgery, an arm lift carries some risks, including temporary swelling, bruising, numbness, noticeable asymmetry, and scarring.

Though more serious complications are rare, issues such as infection, delayed wound healing, or fluid accumulation can occur. Dr. MacDonald will review all potential risks with you during your consultation, so you feel fully informed and prepared.

What Can I Expect During Arm Lift Recovery?

You will need someone to drive you home from the hospital and stay with you for the first 24 hours. You can shower 48 hours after surgery. All the stitches are dissolving and incision care is simply ointment and gauze. You will have a wrap or binder on from the day of surgery and this is worn full-time until the healing is complete in 2-4 weeks. Dr. MacDonald will see you 5-7 days after surgery to ensure you are healing well.

If you have a very physical job, plan to have 2 weeks of healing time before you return to work. If you have a fairly sedentary job, then you may return to work as early as 1 week after your procedure. You should avoid activities that may increase your blood pressure, like running or lifting weights, until 4-6 weeks after surgery. You are encouraged to be out walking as soon after surgery as possible.

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Combining her unique surgical expertise with her artistic understanding of balance and proportion, Dr. Jeannie MacDonald brings out the most naturally beautiful you. Meet Dr. MacDonald today to learn more.

Vancouver Arm Lift FAQs

Yes. If you have multiple trouble areas, Dr. MacDonald will create a unique surgical plan to address all your concerns. Many patients combine an arm lift with breast surgery, a tummy tuck, or other complementary contouring procedures to achieve more comprehensive results.

You can expect short-lived weakness and fatigue during early healing. Your strength should return as your swelling resolves, and you gradually increase your daily activities.

Liposuction removes fat, while an arm lift removes excess skin and reshapes the remaining tissue. Many patients benefit from combining these procedures for the most effective, longest-lasting improvement.

Physical and mental health, skin quality, and medical history determine candidacy more than age. Many healthy older adults with decent skin elasticity are excellent candidates.

Significant weight gain or loss can affect your appearance, so you should maintain a stable weight to prolong your outcome. You can also do targeted arm exercises, such as triceps kickbacks and biceps curls. The muscle definition you gain from these moves should reveal themselves sooner once Dr. MacDonald removes the unwanted fat and skin.

Most patients describe the discomfort as manageable with prescribed medication. Tightness and swelling are normal during the first few weeks.

Dr. MacDonald takes care to place arm lift incisions in places that you can conceal with clothing. We recommend Scar Kit silicone technology to make these marks flatter, smoother, and closer to your skin’s natural color and texture.

Your improvements should be long‑lasting if you maintain a stable weight and healthy lifestyle. However, natural aging may gradually affect your skin firmness over time.

We encourage you to start taking light walks early in recovery to improve your circulation. Please avoid more strenuous activities, including weightlifting, for 4 to 6 weeks or until Dr. MacDonald clears you.

You’ll be under general anesthesia during this procedure to ensure your comfort and safety. Because this sedation causes grogginess, you will need a trusted adult to drive you home and stay with you for at least the first 24 hours after surgery.

Dr. MacDonald and her team will give you specific instructions to follow, including when to stop eating and drinking the night before your arm lift. You may also need to quit taking medications and supplements that increase your risk of bleeding.