Would a mini arm lift improve the appearance of stretch marks? (Photos)

Question

I have stretch marks all over my upper arms from weight gain. I've noticed that if I pull on the skin that they become less noticeable. I'm open to getting a mini arm lift but not a full one. Is a mini arm lift enough to reduce the appearance of my stretch marks?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Morpheus 8 is a non-invasive skin and soft tissue tightening treatment that is consistently amazing in our patients. We use the Morpheus to exact fractional induced RF into the skin or tissue in order to tighten collagen and stimulate contraction of the tissue. For acne scars, it is quite useful to build collagen in patients who have atrophic scars but is not very productive for ice-pick scars which require TCA Cross. For tissue tightening, Morpheus is ideal for the face and neck and we often combine it with CO2 laser or Ultherapy to further enhance results. Chemical peels and skin resurfacing should be done at least 5 to 7 days after, but can be performed earlier, depending on treatment severity. Avoid exfoliating skin treatments before Morpheus and expect a period of 2-4 weeks for skin contraction to set in.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Oliver Chang, MD · Answer

Based off your photos - when you pinch your skin tighter and simulate an arm lift - that is ideally how your arm would look post arm lift. Now, whether the skin excision is short or long will depend on where you have the laxity in skin and if the excision will be evenly tapered at the ends so a nice closure can be performed (usually the longer incisions are more laxity towards the elbow) - so in your case a short scar arm lift could do the trick. Make sure to discuss this with your surgeon and perhaps get a few different opinions to see if that's the best match option.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding whether a mini arm lift can improve the appearance of stretch marks on your upper arms. Stretch marks are a common concern after weight gain and weight loss, and many patients wonder if skin removal procedures like arm lifts can help minimize them.

The key factor here is the location of the stretch marks. A mini arm lift typically addresses a limited amount of skin laxity, usually in the upper inner arm near the armpit. If your stretch marks are confined to this area and the loose skin containing them can be excised, then yes—a mini arm lift could improve their appearance by physically removing some of the affected skin. However, if your stretch marks extend further down toward the elbow or span a broader area, a mini lift may not be sufficient. In those cases, a full arm lift (brachioplasty) might be needed to address more extensive stretch marks and loose skin.

It’s also important to note that arm lifts do not treat the texture or color of remaining stretch marks. So, while removing some of them is possible, those left behind will remain unless addressed with treatments like microneedling, laser therapy, or topical options.

I recommend consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has significant experience in post-weight loss procedures. They can evaluate your skin quality and the distribution of stretch marks to determine whether a mini or full arm lift would be most appropriate.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Jairo Ulerio, MD · Answer

It would greatly improve the appearance of the stretch marks on your arms. A large portion of them would be removed, and you would achieve an excellent result.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

You have hanging skin and would benefit from a full arm lift extending from the axilla down to the elbow.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

An arm lift can remove some of your stretch marks and improve the look of those that remain by improving the contour of your arm.  An in person evaluation is needed but in order to achieve the look demonstrated when you pull your skin you may need to consider a standard incision brachioplasty.  I've included a video I hope you find helpful.

James Knoetgen, III, MD · Answer

A mini arm lift (also called a limited incision brachioplasty) may slightly improve the appearance of stretch marks, but it’s not a reliable or complete solution if your primary concern is stretch marks alone. Here's a breakdown based on your situation:
What a Mini Arm Lift Does
•	Tightens mild to moderate skin laxity in the upper arm, often through an incision hidden in the armpit
•	Removes excess, sagging skin, typically near the upper inner arm
•	May slightly smooth and reposition the skin, which can reduce the visibility of stretch marks in that localized area
Will It Help with Stretch Marks?
Yes, a mini arm lift might reduce the appearance of stretch marks near the top of your arms but only where skin is actually excised or tightened.
However
•	Stretch marks lower on the arm won't be affected, since a mini lift doesn't remove or significantly tighten that area.
•	Stretch marks are in the dermis, not just on loose skin so even with skin removal, they often remain visible, just sometimes stretched or flattened.
Considerations
•	If your skin laxity is only in the upper third of your arms, and the stretch marks are mostly there too, you may benefit.
•	If your stretch marks extend well below the armpit area, a full arm lift may be more effective but that comes with longer scars.
•	Other treatments for stretch marks (microneedling, RF microneedling, fractional lasers, scar camouflage tattooing) might be better primary or complementary options.