The passage of time isn’t always kind to the body, especially the upper arms. As we age — and particularly after weight gain followed by weight loss — the supporting muscles and tissues can begin to loosen and lose firmness. The result can be saggy skin fully on display when you wear a sleeveless shirt or sundress on a hot Houston summer day.
Fortunately, an arm lift with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Eric Ruff can tighten your upper arms so you can feel truly thrilled to wear short sleeves once again. Dr. Ruff has advanced training in aesthetic and body contouring procedures, and combines surgical precision with a strong focus on natural-looking results at West Houston Plastic Surgery.
Am I a Good Candidate for an Arm Lift?
The upper arms are especially prone to sagging because gravity and weight changes stretch the skin over time. Once the skin has been stretched, it usually doesn’t tighten back on its own. Genetics can also play a role, making some people more likely to develop loose skin in this area.
You may be a good candidate if you have excess, hanging skin on the underside of your upper arms that moves when you lift or shift your arms. Many patients seek this procedure after weight loss or because they feel self-conscious wearing sleeveless clothing.
Candidates should be at or near a stable, healthy weight. An arm lift is not a weight-loss procedure, and future weight fluctuations can affect your results. It’s also important to understand that the surgery requires a longer incision along the inner arm. The scar fades over time but will remain visible.
How Will Dr. Ruff Evaluate Me for an Arm Lift?
Dr. Ruff treats every consultation, whatever the procedure, as a complete give-and-take exchange of information between the two of you. You’ll open, explaining what’s bothering you about your upper arms and what you hope to achieve with an arm lift. You’ll explain your medical history. Did you gain and lose weight previously?
Then it’s Dr. Ruff’s turn. First, he’ll examine your upper arms, ascertaining the amount of loose, sagging skin. He’ll check for pockets of fat that are contributing to the sagging. He’ll see if you could be a candidate for a minimal-incision arm lift, rather than a full arm lift. This would only be the case if you don’t have extensive sagging skin.
Then he’ll explain what he thinks would work well for your goals and situation. He’ll explain the procedure, its risks, and what you can expect during recovery. He’ll give you an idea of what your contoured, slimmer upper arms will look like after your surgery and recovery.
Throughout the process, he will encourage any and all questions from you.
How Is an Arm Lift Performed?
This procedure involves a lengthy incision; this is unavoidable. Dr. Ruff usually makes an incision that runs on the underside of the upper arm, running from the underarm to the elbow. Through this incision, he is able to remove excess fat pockets with liposuction. He then repositions and tightens the underlying tissue and trims away excess skin.
As mentioned above, Dr. Ruff may be able to avoid the need for the lengthy incision with a minimal-incision technique. In this method, he makes a few small incisions near the underarm, in lieu of one long incision on each arm. This method, while creating much less scarring, doesn’t allow the same degree of overall tightening. For most patients, especially if they’ve spent lots of time poolside in the Houston sun, a traditional arm lift is the only option to achieve the slimmer upper arms they seek.
What Are the Risks Involved with an Arm Lift?
This is a surgical procedure, so it involves the same risks as with any surgery: excessive bleeding, poor wound healing, potential infection, and the like. Due to the lengthy incision required, it’s important to follow Dr. Ruff’s recovery instructions to the letter and to not place any stress on your incisions. This will ensure the incisions heal smoothly and cleanly.
Otherwise, this is a low-risk procedure. The upper arms involve large muscles and limited nerve exposure, so tightening the area up is a relatively straightforward procedure. Our patients from across the Houston area are very satisfied with their results from these procedures.
The goal of Dr. Ruff and his surgical team is to make your surgical experience as easy and as comfortable as possible.
Pre-Operative
If you smoke, you will be asked to stop well before surgery, as smoking can delay healing. Certain medications and supplements that increase bleeding risk — including aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, and some herbal products — should be discontinued as directed by Dr. Ruff.
It’s important to be at or near a stable weight before your arm lift, since future weight changes can affect your results. Plan to wear loose, front-opening clothing on the day of surgery, as lifting your arms may be limited at first.
Arm lift surgery is typically performed on an outpatient basis. You will need someone to drive you home and stay with you for at least the first night.
Day of Surgery
Our practice performs all aesthetic surgery procedures at our Accredited Ambulatory Surgical Facility (AAAASF) under IV sedation & local anesthesia, without the need for general anesthesia (painless during and minimal pain afterwards). This provides added safety and faster recovery. Most patients are able to go home within an hour after the two-to-three-hour procedure with minimal discomfort.
Arm Lift Recovery
Recovery after an arm lift varies from person to person, but some swelling, bruising, and discomfort are expected in the first several days. Keeping your arms elevated on pillows can help reduce swelling, and Dr. Ruff may recommend intermittent cold compresses. You should avoid aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, and smoking, as these can increase bleeding or slow the healing process.
Once dressings and drains are removed, swelling and bruising along the upper arms may be more noticeable. Mild unevenness during the early healing phase is normal and improves as swelling goes down. Swelling is typically most pronounced within the first 24 to 48 hours, while most bruising fades within two weeks. Some temporary numbness or tightness may occur and generally resolves over the following weeks to months. A small amount of residual swelling can last several weeks.
Sutures are usually removed within about a week, depending on how you’re healing. During the early recovery period, you’ll need to avoid heavy lifting, strenuous exercise, and repetitive arm movements to reduce the risk of bleeding or increased swelling. Dr. Ruff will give you detailed post-operative instructions and guide you on when it’s safe to return to your normal activities.
As healing continues, your results will gradually become more visible. Incision lines will fade over time, though they will not disappear completely. Protecting your scars from sun exposure and maintaining a stable weight will help preserve your outcome.
Results of Your Arm Lift
The results of your arm lift may be subtle or dramatic, depending on your appearance prior to the surgery as well as the specific goals that you and your plastic surgeon have established. Since the healing process is gradual, you should expect to wait several weeks for an accurate picture of your “new look.” Additional minor changes or settling may occur over several months following your arm lift surgery.
Why Choose West Houston Plastic Surgery for Your Arm Lift?
Dr. Eric Ruff is a Houston-born, board-certified plastic surgeon who completed an integrated plastic surgery residency at The University of Texas Medical Branch, one of the most competitive training pathways in the country. During his six years of surgical training, he worked at leading institutions, including MD Anderson Cancer Center and Shriners Hospital for Children. He has received multiple academic honors, such as election to Alpha Omega Alpha and recognition as Outstanding Resident in Plastic Surgery. Dr. Ruff has also published in national journals, authored textbook chapters, and presented his work at regional and national meetings.
Dr. Ruff works alongside Alfonso Barrera, M.D., F.A.C.S., a highly respected plastic surgeon who has been in private practice in Houston since 1985. Dr. Barrera is board certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, and he has served as Past President of both the Texas Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Houston Society of Plastic Surgeons. Together, they operate in their fully accredited on-site surgical facility. Patients benefit from their decades of combined experience and advanced surgical training.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most patients return to work within seven to 14 days, depending on the type of job they have. If your work is sedentary and does not require lifting or repetitive arm movement, you may feel ready to return sooner. Jobs that involve physical labor, lifting, or overhead activity may require additional time off. Dr. Ruff will evaluate your healing and let you know when it is appropriate to resume your regular schedule.
Light walking is encouraged soon after surgery to promote circulation. However, strenuous exercise, weightlifting, and upper-body strength training should be avoided for several weeks. Most patients can gradually resume lower-body workouts first, followed by upper-body exercises once cleared. Dr. Ruff will provide guidance based on your recovery progress to ensure you don’t place stress on the incisions too soon.
Yes, an arm lift is often combined with other body contouring procedures, especially after significant weight loss. Liposuction is frequently performed at the same time to enhance contour and remove excess fat. In some cases, patients choose to combine brachioplasty with procedures such as a tummy tuck or lower body lift. Combining surgeries can reduce overall recovery time, but it also requires careful planning to ensure safety. Dr. Ruff will discuss whether a combined approach is appropriate for you.
An arm lift may improve the appearance of stretch marks if they are located on the excess skin that is removed during surgery. However, stretch marks on skin that remains will not be directly treated. While the overall contour of the arm improves significantly, the procedure is designed to remove loose skin and reshape the arm, not specifically to eliminate stretch marks.
Arm Lift Photo Gallery
Ready to Feel Confident in Sleeveless Styles Again?
An arm lift can refine your upper arms, helping your clothing fit better and restoring a smoother contour that reflects how you feel inside.
If you’re considering an arm lift in Houston, call (713) 468-5200 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Ruff and learn whether this procedure is right for you.
