Arm Lift (Brachioplastia) en San Antonio

An arm lift, or brachioplasty, removes loose skin and excess fat from the upper arm, reshaping arms that have lost firmness after major weight loss, pregnancy or ageing. Dr. Michael Baumholtz, a double board-certified plastic surgeon in San Antonio, performs arm lifts for patients whose skin no longer responds to exercise.

What Is an Arm Lift?

No amount of training tightens skin that has lost its elasticity. When the skin on the upper arm hangs loose, exercise can build the muscle underneath but cannot remove the skin covering it.

An arm lift removes that excess skin, along with fat where needed, and re-drapes the remaining skin smoothly along the arm. The result is a firmer upper arm in better proportion with the forearm and shoulder.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

You may be a good candidate for an arm lift if you:

• Have loose, hanging skin on your upper arms that does not improve with exercise
• Have lost a significant amount of weight and your skin has not retracted
• Are at or near a stable weight, and expect to stay there
• Are in good general health and do not smoke
• Understand that the procedure trades loose skin for a scar

Patients who are still losing weight are usually advised to reach a stable weight first, since further loss affects the result.

Arm Lift or Arm Liposuction?

The right procedure depends on whether your concern is fat, skin, or both.

Procedimiento	Mejor	Scar
Liposuction sola	Extra fat with good skin elasticity, usually younger patients	Tiny incisions
Arm lift	Loose, hanging skin that will not retract	Along the inner arm
Arm lift with liposuction	Both excess fat and loose skin, common after weight loss	Along the inner arm

At your consultation, Dr. Baumholtz assesses your skin quality by examining how it retracts. That assessment, not a preference for a smaller scar, determines what will actually work.

Arm Lift Scars: An Honest Answer

An arm lift trades loose skin for a scar, and anyone considering the procedure deserves a direct explanation of that trade.

The incision usually runs along the inner side of the upper arm, from the underarm toward the elbow, positioned where it is least visible when the arms are down. How long it needs to be depends on how much skin has to come out. Patients with limited looseness near the armpit may be candidates for a shorter incision confined to the underarm.

Scars are permanent. They are typically raised and pink for the first months, then flatten and fade over a year or more, though the final appearance varies with skin type and genetics. Most patients who have lived with significant loose skin consider the trade worthwhile, but you should make that decision with clear information rather than reassurance.

El procedimiento

An arm lift is performed under [ANAESTHESIA] and takes approximately [DURATION]. Dr. Baumholtz marks the arm before surgery, with you standing, to plan exactly how much skin will be removed. Excess skin and fat are removed, the remaining tissue is tightened, and the incision is closed in layers to support the healing scar.

The procedure is often combined with other body contouring surgery for patients addressing several areas after weight loss.

Arm Lift Recovery Timeline

1. First few days. Swelling, bruising and tightness are expected. Arms are kept elevated, and compression sleeves are worn to control swelling.
2. Week one. Most patients manage daily tasks that do not require raising the arms. Expect to need help with dressing and washing your hair.
3. Weeks two to four. Most return to desk work around [WORK TIMEFRAME]. Driving resumes once you are off prescription pain medication and can steer comfortably.
4. Weeks four to six. Gradual return to light activity. No lifting or overhead work until Dr. Baumholtz clears you.
5. [EXERCISE TIMEFRAME] onward. Most patients resume full exercise, including upper body training, once cleared.
6. Three to twelve months. Swelling fully settles and the scar matures, softening and fading over time.

Compression sleeves are typically worn for [SLEEVE TIMEFRAME], which matters both for comfort and for the final contour.

Results

The difference is visible immediately, under the swelling. The arms sit firmer against the body, sleeves fit differently, and most patients find they stop avoiding short sleeves. Results are long-lasting provided your weight stays stable, though skin continues to age naturally.

Arm Lift After Major Weight Loss

Most arm lift patients come to the procedure after significant weight loss, whether through diet, bariatric surgery or GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide.

Loose arm skin is rarely the only concern. Many patients are also considering a tummy tuck, elevación del muslo o lecho. These are often staged over time rather than performed at once, and Dr. Baumholtz will map out a sequence that suits your health, your recovery capacity and your schedule. See our page on body contouring after weight loss.

Cost of an Arm Lift in San Antonio

Arm lift surgery starts at [PRICE], which varies with the extent of skin removal and whether liposuction is included. Cherry financing is available, with approvals up to $50,000.

Cosmetic procedures are not covered by insurance, and this practice does not bill insurance.

Why Dr. Baumholtz

Dr. Michael Baumholtz is double board-certified in Plastic Surgery and General Surgery, with fellowship training and more than two decades of surgical experience. Post-weight-loss body contouring calls for judgement about how much skin to remove and where the scar will sit, which comes from experience rather than technique alone.

Ver arm lift before and after photos and read what patients say on our recomendaciones page.

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