Arm Lift

An arm lift, or brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure that reshapes the upper arms by removing excess skin and refining contours for a smoother and more toned appearance. This procedure is ideal for patients looking to restore firmness and achieve more balanced proportions.

Dr. Dallas W. Homas is board-certified in general surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and hand surgery and carries more than 30 years of experience. He leads his practice with the guiding philosophies he gained during his military service. As a commissioned medical officer in the Army, he committed to doing things the right way with excellent teamwork; that means not cutting corners, following procedures, and ensuring the best for his patients through thorough connection, comprehensive education, collaboration, and personalization. These principles have given him his reputation for surgical excellence, precision, and compassionate care. His goal is to provide a welcoming and professional atmosphere where you feel safe and comfortable throughout your treatment journey.

If you are ready to enhance your arm appearance, contact us online or call our office at (210) 460-3646 to explore your treatment options.

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About Arm Lifts

An arm lift removes excess skin and subcutaneous fat from the upper arm, extending from the axilla to the elbow. Dr. Homas may also extend the incision to the inframammary fold (often for women, as this scar can hide under the breasts) or along the torso, like a T-shirt seam (often for men, though extremely beneficial for women with significant excess skin as well). Dr. Homas’ arm lifts are not one-size-fits-all procedures; he tailors them extensively to the patient’s skin laxity severity, present fat, and personal goals. Ultimately, he wants all procedures to be worth it to the patient.

Arm lifts are commonly performed after bariatric surgery, significant weight loss, or aging creates dermal laxity. Many patients will undergo an arm lift after a lower body lift, where Dr. Homas will smooth and refine the upper chest and extremities after correcting the lower abdomen. Furthermore, arm lifts can alleviate skin irritation, hygiene issues, and localized infections in skin folds. This procedure aims to restore arm contour, improve symmetry, and enhance overall upper extremity aesthetics while preserving function and minimizing complications. ⁽¹⁾

Reasons Why You May Want to Receive an Arm Lift

Benefits

By removing excess skin and fat from the arms, an arm lift can deliver a variety of aesthetic and physical benefits, such as:

Candidates

If you want to enhance the appearance of your arms by removing loose skin and excess subcutaneous fat after age-related decline or massive weight loss, this procedure may be ideal for you. You must be a nonsmoker, have a stable body weight, be in relatively good health, and have no undercontrolled comorbidities that may impair wound healing. You should also hold realistic expectations for your results, as final results vary from patient to patient. If you are experiencing minimal skin laxity or persistent adiposity unresponsive to weight reduction, you may be better suited for alternative contouring methods such as liposuction or noninvasive tightening procedures.

Personal Consultation

During your personal consultation, Dr. Homas will begin by evaluating your medical history and performing a physical examination of your arms. He will discuss your overall goals for your arm lift results and assess your skin quality, tissue laxity, and fat distribution to determine the best approach. Once Dr. Homas gathers the information he needs to create a personalized treatment plan, he will explain how the procedure will address your arm laxity, expected improvements, and potential risks.

Dr. Homas believes in thorough, comprehensive patient education in each consultation. He won’t just explain the procedure briefly; he will educate you on the exact incisions and internal adjustments he makes, even showing you operational photos. His goal is to provide more than enough information so you feel confident and comfortable before undergoing treatment. Contact us online or call our office at (210) 460-3646 to schedule your personal consultation.

Preparation

To effectively prepare for your procedure and optimize results, Dr. Homas advises you to follow these general guidelines:

Procedure

At the beginning of your procedure, you will receive general anesthesia to reduce any discomfort. Dr. Homas will follow a carefully planned surgical strategy based on your anatomy and goals. To begin your arm lift, Dr. Homas will first make an incision from the elbow to armpit. If you have significant excess skin on your upper torso and wish to address it, he can extend this incision to your sides, bringing it under the inframammary fold or even down to your waist. After making the incision, Dr. Homas will remove excess skin and tighten underlying tissues as necessary. These precise adjustments create a smoother, firmer shape, free of burdensome skin. At the end of your procedure, he will close incisions, doing so with precision to support clean healing. After dressing the treated areas, he will leave you to rest before you return home.

Recovery

It can take one to two weeks for initial healing to noticeably progress during your arm lift recovery. Within the first three days, you can expect moderate soreness, swelling, and bruising, but keeping your arms elevated on pillows and avoiding excess movement can assist with swelling. You must wear a snug compression sleeve day and night for the first couple of weeks to reduce swelling and support new contours. Dr. Homas will see you for a follow-up appointment 24 hours after your procedure. Here, he will check initial progress, swelling, incision hygiene, and your comfort levels. He will also ensure you understand your recovery instructions.

After the first week, discomfort and swelling will begin to subside, and you may return to work if you have a non-physical job. By the third week, you may participate in physical activity and low-impact cardio, and if advised by Dr. Homas, you can transition out of wearing your compression garment all day. By weeks six and eight, you can slowly start to resume strenuous activities. Swelling will have dissipated significantly, and your incision scars will continue to flatten and fade.

Results

The results from an arm lift will manifest as a smoother, tighter, and more toned arm appearance. Although tighter contours are visible right away, your initial results may be obscured by bruising and swelling, which typically subsides after a couple of weeks. Your final results will reveal themselves after several months and after internal healing clears. The results of an arm lift are generally permanent if you maintain a steady weight and incorporate general fitness and exercise after healing.

Complementary Procedures

Thigh Lift

A thigh lift can refine the inner thighs for patients with significant skin laxity extending beyond the lower body area. It addresses loose skin and stubborn tissue along the inner or outer thighs, creating a slimmer and more sculpted silhouette.

Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure that defines the appearance and definition of your torso and waist. This procedure aims to correct loose and separate abdominal muscles to remove loose or excess skin after weight loss or pregnancy.

Breast Lift and Augmentation

A breast lift can elevate and reshape the breasts by addressing sagging and restoring youthful firmness. It is ideal if you want to improve breast positioning without changing their volume, but the procedure can pair with breast augmentation if you desire a fuller and bigger breast size.

Facelift and Necklift

A facelift can improve the visible signs of aging in the face and neck as the skin loses elasticity and collagen over time, resulting in wrinkles, jowls, and sagging skin. You can combine it with a necklift as well to achieve more comprehensive and cohesive results above and below the jawline.

Cost of Arm Lifts in San Antonio

The total cost of your arm lift will vary depending on the severity of the skin laxity and excess fat present in your arms, the surgical techniques Dr. Homas will perform, and your treatment goals. Dr. Homas will provide you with a detailed cost estimate during your personal consultation. Contact us online or call our office at (210) 460-3646 to learn more.

FAQ

References

1. Nagrath N, Winters R. Brachioplasty. PubMed. 2023. Accessed September 24, 2026. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK585115/
2. Bishara A, Chalhoub R, Chrabieh E, et al. Arm Contouring in Patients With Massive Weight Loss: A Literature Review. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. 2025;13(9):e7126. doi:10.1097/gox.0000000000007126
3. Fayek M, Rizk IN, Hashem AM, El Sharkawy OA. Outcomes of Combined Liposuction/Laser Skin Tightening versus Open Suction-Assisted Brachioplasty in Moderate Arm Ptosis. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2022;149(5):881e-892e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000009058