Arm Lift for Sagging Skin on Forearms?

Dear Donabella,The arm lift or brachioplasty removes excess skin and fat from the upper arm.  The upper arm is described as the area from the armpit to the elbow. By definition, the arm lift or brachioplasty does not remove skin and fat from the forearm.  A forearm lift or reduction removes skin and fat from the forearms.  Typically, the incision extends from the elbow towards the wrist.  The severity of the forearms determines how long the arm and forearm incision is.  If the forearm has only a mild amount of skin and fat around the elbow, then the scar is shorter. If there is excess arm skin and fat to the wrist, the incision and resulting scar will extend to the wrist.I have performed this procedure many times.  I always combine the arm lift or brachioplasty with the forearm lift on the same day of surgery.

It's unusual for patients to require surgery to address excess forearm skin. When this situation arises, a standard upper arm brachioplasty will have very little impact upon the forearm. Under these circumstances, a forearm lift is often necessary. This procedure removes excess, saggy skin through an inner forearm incision. The procedure involves trade-offs between excess saggy skin and noticeable scarring.If you're considering this type of surgery, it's important to consult a board certified plastic surgeon with experience in the area. This surgeon should be able to formulate a treatment plan that addresses your anatomic findings and achieves your aesthetic goals.

A specialized arm lift may be an effective treatment for sagging skin on the forearms.  This procedure is best for patients who are likely to heal with thin scars.

Arm lift is not a procedure that removes skin or fat from the forearm.  There is no such procedure described.  In one or two weight loss patients, I have however removed skin from the inner forearm on special occasions.  This is done as a separate procedure from the arm lift.

Thank you for the question.

Extending the usual arm lifting scar distally will help treat “sagging skin on the forearms”.  The upside is improvement in contour,  the downside is the presence  of a scar (which may be problematic).

I hope this helps.