Susan E. Downey, MD

There are two approaches for an arm lift -- one places the scar on the inside of the arm similarly to where  the seam of a jacket sleeve is placed and the second places the scar closer to the back. The first scar is not visible when the arm is down by the side , the second is less visible to the patient but may still be visible from behind the patient even when the arms are down by the side.

One of the major difficulties with arm lifts is that the scar near the elbow takes a long time to settle down  and may remain raised and red for a long time. Patients who have a lot of skin to remove tolerate the scars very well as the improvement in contour makes the scar worthwhile. If you have only a little skin to remove really consider whether the scar will be worth it! 

One suggestion is to ask your surgeon to draw on you where the scar will be placed and then you can evaluate which position of scar you would prefer.