Engage with Dr. Culver :
Engage with Dr. Culver :
Maybe you reach for a cardigan on warm days, even when you would rather go sleeveless. Loose skin on the upper arms is common after weight loss or simply with time. It is not a sign you haven’t worked hard enough: exercise builds muscle, but it cannot restore skin elasticity.
An arm lift can. Known clinically as brachioplasty, arm lift surgery removes extra skin and excess fat to reshape the arm. Dr. Abby Culver, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Dallas, Texas, plans every arm lift around your anatomy and your goals.
Dr. Culver brings academic training and a careful, unhurried style to every arm lift and body contouring procedure she performs. Her priorities are simple: your safety first, then results that look natural on you.
As a female plastic surgeon, Dr. Culver knows that deciding to treat your arms is personal. She listens first, talks honestly about scars and recovery, and builds an individualized surgical plan that fits you.
Brachioplasty is the medical name for an arm lift. It is a body contouring procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the upper arm, between the armpit and the elbow, to leave a smoother and more proportionate shape.
Many patients describe flabby arms that never responded to weight training. Massive weight loss, weight loss surgery, or the natural aging process left loose skin, sometimes with stretch marks. During the arm lift procedure, Dr. Culver removes the extra tissue and redrapes the remaining skin smoothly over the muscle underneath.
Every pair of arms is different. Your degree of skin laxity guides the arm lift incision, and fat guides the rest of the plan. Dr. Culver examines your upper arm and axilla (underarm), then recommends the approach with the shortest scar that still gives a natural contour.
The standard arm lift, often called a full arm lift or longitudinal brachioplasty, is the approach most patients need. The incision runs along the inner arm from the armpit toward the elbow, where it stays mostly out of view when your arms rest at your sides. Dr. Culver removes moderate to significant excess skin and fat, then tightens the tissue underneath with internal sutures.
If you have lost a large amount of weight, loose skin often continues past the armpit and down the side of your chest. Extended brachioplasty follows that skin onto the lateral chest wall, so Dr. Culver can smooth your arm and upper torso in one operation.
A mini arm lift, also called a minimal incision arm lift or short scar arm lift, is a lighter option. The incision stays within the armpit crease, so the scar is well hidden. This mini brachioplasty works best when the loose skin sits close to the underarm; it cannot reach skin near the elbow.
Patients often say the biggest change after arm lift surgery is how free they feel getting dressed.
Every patient heals differently, and arm lift results depend on your anatomy, skin quality, and how closely you follow your aftercare.
You may be a good candidate for an arm lift in Dallas if you are healthy and bothered by loose skin on your upper arms. An arm lift is not a way to lose weight, so it helps to reach your target weight first. That way, future weight gain or loss is less likely to change your results.
Many of Dr. Culver’s arm lift patients have lost weight after bariatric surgery or with GLP-1 medications. At your visit, she reviews your health, body mass index (BMI), and skin quality before recommending surgery.
Dr. Culver performs every arm lift operation in an accredited surgical facility. Here is what to expect.
Most patients go back to work at a desk within one to two weeks. Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activity for four to six weeks, and go easy on overhead reaching, since tension can widen a scar. Swelling and bruising settle over several weeks. As new collagen matures, your scar keeps fading for up to a year; sunscreen and silicone sheeting help.
This is one of the most common questions Dr. Culver hears. Liposuction removes stubborn fat deposits through tiny incisions, but it cannot tighten loose or hanging skin. If skin is your main concern, particularly after weight loss or with age, an arm lift is what removes it.
Some patients benefit from both. Liposuction reduces arm circumference and the bra roll, and brachioplasty then removes the skin left behind. Skin tightening devices help only mild laxity. Dr. Culver looks at your skin quality and where you carry fat before recommending one or both. You can read more about liposuction and how it may fit your arm contouring goals.
Your arm lift consultation is a private, relaxed conversation. Dr. Culver examines your arms and asks what bothers you most. She explains which arm lift techniques suit your body and shows you where each incision would be. You will leave with honest answers and an individualized surgical plan built around your goals and your timeline.
Arm lift recovery usually starts with one to two weeks of taking it easy, and most patients are back to their normal routines by then. Full recovery, including strenuous exercise and heavy lifting, generally takes four to six weeks. Your scars continue to mature for 6 to 12 months.
Every surgery carries some risk. With an arm lift, that includes wide or raised scars, rare keloid scars, infection, bleeding, fluid collection (seroma), temporary numbness, slight asymmetry between the arms, and delayed wound healing. Blood clots and anesthesia reactions are rare but serious. Dr. Culver reviews your personal risk factors with you at your consultation, and our guide to arm lift benefits, risks, and recovery goes into more depth.
Yes, every arm lift leaves a scar, and Dr. Culver will always be upfront about that. She places the incision on the inner arm or inside the armpit, where it is least noticeable. Arm lift scars typically soften, flatten, and fade over several months to a year, and protecting them from the sun helps. After massive weight loss the incision may be longer, but careful planning keeps it as discreet as possible.
Arm lift cost in Dallas depends on the technique, the extent of your surgery, anesthesia, and facility fees. Because arm lift surgery is considered cosmetic, insurance rarely covers it. Dr. Culver’s team will give you a clear, itemized quote after your consultation, and financing options are available.
Yes. Many patients include arm lifts in a broader body contouring plan, especially after massive weight loss. Common pairings include a tummy tuck, liposuction, breast surgery, and a thigh lift. Dr. Culver will help you decide what to combine and when, so each recovery stays safe and manageable.
For many patients, an arm lift is one part of a larger body contouring journey. They are not always done at once. Together, they help your body look balanced.
A tummy tuck removes loose abdominal skin and tightens the core muscles. It pairs well with an arm lift after weight loss.
Liposuction targets stubborn fat in the flanks, thighs, back, or arms, reducing volume before or during skin removal.
A breast lift raises and reshapes the breasts by removing excess skin. After significant weight loss, many patients choose one alongside an arm lift to restore their upper body contour.
A thigh lift removes sagging skin and excess tissue from the inner or outer thighs, giving the legs a smoother shape that complements your arm lift results.