Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) Before and After Photos
The photos in this gallery show real patients who underwent arm lift surgery with Dr. Jaime Schwartz. Each set of before and after photos documents what brachioplasty can accomplish: excess skin removed, the upper arm reshaped, and a contour that finally matches the work many of these patients put in to get here.
Browse the gallery, then read on for context about what you are seeing and whether an arm lift might make sense for you.
WHAT AN ARM LIFT DOES
An arm lift, known formally as brachioplasty, removes excess skin and fat from the upper arms. The procedure targets the sagging skin that hangs from the underside of the arm, often described as "bat wings," which no amount of exercise can correct once skin elasticity is gone.
That last point matters and is worth repeating, because so many patients blame themselves before they ever reach a consultation. Loose skin on the upper arms is not a fitness failure. Skin stretches to accommodate weight, and once stretched past a certain point, it does not snap back. Significant weight loss, aging, and genetics all reduce elasticity. You can build muscle underneath, and many patients in this gallery did exactly that, but extra skin responds to one thing: surgery to remove it.
During the procedure, Dr. Schwartz removes the excess skin through an incision typically placed along the inner arm, where it is least visible at rest. Liposuction is frequently performed at the same time to remove excess fat and refine the contour. Combining liposuction with skin excision is standard practice among experienced plastic surgeons because it produces a smoother, more sculpted result than skin removal alone.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN THESE PHOTOS
Before and after photos help you visualize results, but knowing what to look for makes them more useful.
Look at the underside of the arm, from armpit to elbow. In the before photos, you will see skin hanging away from the muscle when the arm is raised. In the after photos, that skin is gone and the arm follows a clean line from shoulder to elbow.
Look at the overall shape. A well-performed arm lift does more than remove skin. It restores a toned, proportional appearance to the whole upper arm, so the result looks natural rather than pulled tight.
Look at patients whose starting point resembles yours. This gallery includes female and male patients across a range of ages and body types, including patients who lost a significant amount of weight before surgery. The closer the before photo is to what you see in the mirror, the more realistic a preview the after photo gives you.
One thing photos taken in the months after surgery cannot fully show: scar maturation. Every arm lift leaves a scar, and Dr. Schwartz places and closes incisions to keep scars as discreet as possible. Scars typically fade significantly within 12 to 18 months. Photos taken earlier in that window show scars at their most visible, not their final appearance.
WHO MAKES A GOOD CANDIDATE
The patients in this gallery share a few things in common. They were at or near a stable weight. They had loose, sagging skin on the upper arms that bothered them in clothing, in photos, or during movement. And they were healthy enough for elective plastic surgery.
Patients who underwent major weight loss are among the most common arm lift candidates, and their results tend to be the most dramatic. Aging is the other frequent path here: skin loses elasticity with age regardless of weight history, and many patients in their 50s, 60s, and beyond achieve excellent results.
RECOVERY AND RESULTS
Most patients return to daily activities within one to two weeks. Initial swelling and bruising are normal, and a compression garment worn in the early weeks helps minimize swelling and protect the result while tissues heal. Strenuous exercise, especially anything that loads the arms, waits about six weeks. Swelling can take three to six months to fully resolve, which means the photos you see here represent results that continued improving after the early recovery period.
Results from an arm lift are long-lasting. The skin that was removed does not come back. Maintaining a stable weight protects the result; significant weight fluctuation in either direction can stretch the remaining skin or change the contour.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION WITH DR. SCHWARTZ
Photos answer the first question: what can an arm lift actually do? The next questions are about you, including your anatomy, your goals, and which surgical approach fits both. Those get answered in a consultation.
Dr. Jaime Schwartz is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills with extensive experience in arm lift surgery and body contouring after weight loss. Contact the office to schedule a consultation and find out what brachioplasty can achieve for you.