Model Body · Skin tightening surgery
Loose skin along the upper arm doesn’t respond to weights or cardio. An arm lift removes it and tightens what remains, so your arms match the work you’ve put into the rest of your body.
About the procedure
An arm lift (brachioplasty) removes excess skin and fat from the upper arms and tightens the underlying tissue so the arm looks smoother and sits closer to the bone. It is most often chosen after significant weight loss, when the skin has stretched beyond its ability to shrink back, and sometimes for age-related laxity that leaves the back of the arm hanging.
Because the procedure trades loose skin for a scar along the inner arm, Dr. Khan spends real time at consultation on how much skin needs to come out, which incision pattern gives you the right balance of contour and scar, and whether liposuction or skin tightening should be part of the plan.
The Empowered approach
She maps the arm before deciding on the incision. The goal is to remove enough skin for a real change in contour while keeping the closure under reasonable tension, so the scar heals as a thin, flat line rather than a wide one. Layered closure and a structured scar-care plan after surgery support that.
For patients who have lost a large amount of weight, she looks at the arms alongside the chest, abdomen and thighs so the arm lift fits a broader body-contouring sequence rather than being treated on its own.
Dr. Khan performs arm lift surgery awake under local anesthesia at Empowered Plastic Surgery. The treatment area is numbed, you avoid general anesthesia, and you go home the same day.
Whether the awake approach fits depends on the extent of your procedure, whether other areas are being treated at the same time, and your medical history. Dr. Khan reviews this with you at consultation.
How awake surgery works
Who it may suit
Candidacy is confirmed at your consultation, after an examination and a review of your medical history.
What to expect
About an hour with Dr. Khan to examine skin laxity and fat distribution, review incision options and where the scar will sit, and decide whether liposuction or other contouring belongs in the plan.
Pre-operative instructions, lab work as needed, arranging help at home for the first week, and planning time away from lifting and overhead activity.
With the arm numbed, excess skin and fat are removed, the remaining tissue is tightened, and the incision is closed in layers. Most patients go home the same day.
Compression sleeves support the arms while swelling settles, and you keep the arms raised early on. Activity returns in stages at scheduled visits, and established surgical patients have a direct way to reach Dr. Khan after hours.
Recovery
In the first one to two weeks you keep the arms raised, limit movement and avoid lifting, which means help with daily tasks at home. Many patients return to desk work within one to two weeks. Light activity such as typing and short drives follows, with walking and gentle stretching introduced over the next several weeks and full activity, including weight training and swimming, cleared later as Dr. Khan evaluates healing.
Compression garments are usually worn for several weeks. Scars look red and raised at first and typically fade over twelve to eighteen months, with silicone sheets, massage or other scar care recommended to support the process.
Risks and limitations
Every surgery carries risk. These are the ones most relevant to this procedure; Dr. Khan reviews your personal risk profile and the alternatives with you before anything is scheduled.
Before & after
Before-and-after photographs for arm lift are not currently featured on this page. Explore the patient gallery to view available results, or ask to see cases like yours at your consultation.
Every photograph in the gallery is one of Dr. Khan's own patients, shared with consent. Individual results vary.
FAQ
Every answer here is general information. Your own plan, risks and recovery are discussed in person at your consultation.
The scar is permanent, but it is placed along the inner arm so it is largely hidden when your arms are at your sides. A short-scar arm lift keeps the incision in the armpit area; a full brachioplasty runs from near the elbow toward the armpit. Scars look red and raised at first and fade substantially over twelve to eighteen months with good scar care. Most patients find the change in contour worth it.
Liposuction removes fat but leaves the skin where it is, so it works when your skin has good elasticity and fat is the main issue. An arm lift is for loose skin, which liposuction cannot correct. Many patients benefit from both: liposuction to reduce fullness and the lift to remove and tighten the skin. Dr. Khan examines your skin and fat distribution to tell you which applies.
Yes. Dr. Khan performs arm lift surgery awake under local anesthesia, with the treatment area numbed so you avoid general anesthesia and go home the same day. Whether that fits depends on the extent of your procedure and your health history, which she reviews at consultation.
Expect limited arm movement and no lifting for the first one to two weeks, with help needed at home. Light activity like typing returns next, then walking and gentle stretching over the following weeks. Full use, including weight training, overhead work and swimming, is cleared later in recovery once Dr. Khan is satisfied with your healing.
Liposuction is the most common addition. Patients contouring after weight loss often combine an arm lift with a tummy tuck or thigh lift, and some pair it with Renuvion skin tightening for mild residual laxity. Dr. Khan plans the combination or staging around your anatomy and recovery.
Related reading
Request a consultation
Consultation fees are currently waived. Plan on about an hour with Dr. Khan, in person in Sugar Land or virtually, to talk through goals, candidacy and the approach that fits you.
New patients can book a consultation; existing patients can book a treatment, follow-up or post-op visit. Opens PatientNow’s secure booking page in a new tab.
Call (281) 716-3224 · Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM · Sugar Land, Texas · Virtual consultations available