Brachioplasty (Arm Lift)

The journey to physical wellness doesn’t always deliver the desired aesthetic results. Despite dedicated fitness routines and healthy eating habits, the upper arms can remain a persistent challenge area where loose, hanging skin resists our best efforts. This common concern often affects comfort and confidence and leads many people to avoid sleeveless clothing.

At Robey Plastic Surgery in Carmel, Dr. Ashley Robey offers sophisticated arm contouring solutions tailored to your personal anatomy and aesthetic vision. Brachioplasty, commonly known as an arm lift, redefines your upper arms by addressing what diet and exercise cannot – excess skin that has lost elasticity due to aging, weight fluctuations or genetics. With her quadruple board certification and artistic approach, Dr. Robey sculpts arms that look natural, proportionate and youthful, allowing you to showcase your arms with renewed confidence.

What Is Brachioplasty?

Brachioplasty is a surgical procedure primarily designed to remove excess skin from the upper arms for a more toned and proportionate appearance. The procedure reshapes the under portion of the upper arm, from the armpit region to the elbow, addressing concerns like sagging skin and tissue laxity.

This procedure is ideal for individuals who have lost significant weight, experienced natural aging changes or have genetic predispositions to excess arm tissue. While exercise can strengthen and tone arm muscles, it cannot address significant skin laxity or remove stubborn fat deposits that are resistant to lifestyle modifications.

Surgical Arm Lift Options

Dr. Robey offers several arm contouring approaches to address your concerns:

Traditional Brachioplasty

Traditional arm lift surgery removes excess skin and fat through an incision that typically runs from the armpit to the elbow on the inside or back of the upper arm. This arm contouring approach is ideal for patients with significant skin laxity and excess tissue who desire dramatic improvements in arm contour. Dr. Robey strategically places incisions to minimize visible scarring while achieving optimal results.

Limited-Incision Brachioplasty

For patients with moderate skin laxity concentrated near the armpit area, a limited-incision brachioplasty may be appropriate. This technique involves shorter incisions, typically confined to the armpit or extending just a short distance down the arm. While this approach offers less dramatic results than a traditional brachioplasty, it provides meaningful improvement with less visible scarring.

Extended Brachioplasties

Some patients appreciate that the skin laxity in the arms continues to extend onto the chest wall (in the bra roll area) or down onto the forearm. Dr. Robey can tailor your surgical procedure to best address your areas of concern. This could involve extending an incision from the armpit down toward the bottom of the breast (sometimes making a contiguous scar with breast/chest contouring procedures) or extending the area of excision further down along the forearm.

Liposuction of the Arms

If your primary concern is excess fat rather than loose skin, liposuction alone may be sufficient to achieve your desired results. This minimally invasive approach removes stubborn fat deposits through tiny incisions, with minimal scarring and recovery time. Ideal candidates have good skin elasticity that will contract smoothly around the new arm contour after fat removal.

For patients with both excess skin and fat deposits, Dr. Robey often combines brachioplasty with liposuction for comprehensive arm reshaping.

What Other Minimally Invasive or Nonsurgical Options are available?

For patients who may not require traditional surgery or wish to enhance their brachioplasty results, Dr. Robey offers advanced nonsurgical and minimally invasive treatments that address arm concerns with little to no downtime.

BodyTite for Arms

For patients with mild to moderate arm skin laxity and fat deposits, Dr. Robey offers BodyTite, an advanced radiofrequency technology that complements traditional liposuction. This innovative treatment delivers controlled thermal energy beneath the skin, causing tissue contraction for enhanced skin tightening without the need for extensive surgery. When combined with liposuction for fat removal, BodyTite can achieve up to 40% skin contraction — significantly more than traditional liposuction alone.

Body Morpheus

For patients seeking additional skin quality improvement, Dr. Robey offers Body Morpheus, an advanced treatment that combines microneedling with radiofrequency energy. This technology remodels collagen and tightens skin at multiple depths, enhancing the arm’s overall tissue quality and firmness.

Body Morpheus works particularly well as a complementary treatment to liposuction or as a follow-up to brachioplasty to further refine results and improve skin texture. The minimally invasive nature of Body Morpheus makes it an excellent option for maintaining and enhancing your arm contouring results.

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Ideal Candidates for Arm Contouring

The best candidates for arm contouring procedures:

Have significant upper arm skin laxity and/or excess fat that doesn’t respond to diet and exercise
Are at a stable weight and not planning substantial weight loss after the procedure
Are non-smokers or willing to quit before and after arm lift surgery
Have realistic expectations about procedure outcomes and resulting scars
Are in good overall health without medical conditions that impair healing

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Your Brachioplasty Journey

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01 - Initial Consultation

Your arm lift journey begins with a comprehensive consultation with Dr. Robey at her Carmel office. She’ll discuss your goals, evaluate your areas of concern, assess your skin elasticity and arm tissue quality, and review your medical history. Together, you’ll develop a personalized treatment plan that may include brachioplasty alone or combined with other procedures like liposuction or BodyTite for optimal results.

02 - Preparation

Dr. Robey provides detailed pre-operative instructions, including medication guidelines, eating and drinking restrictions, and what to wear on surgery day. You’ll need to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and assist during your initial recovery. Your prescriptions will be sent in prior to surgery so you can pick them up before your recovery period begins.

03 - Day of Surgery

Arm lift surgery is typically performed as an outpatient procedure with the patient under general anesthesia. The surgery usually takes two to three hours, depending on the extent of treatment. Dr. Robey will make carefully planned incisions, remove excess skin and fat, and reshape the remaining tissue to create smooth, natural-looking arm contours.

If you’re having combination procedures like liposuction or BodyTite, these will be performed during the same surgical session. After surgery, your incisions will be closed with dissolvable sutures, and your upper arms will be wrapped in compression garments to minimize swelling and support healing tissues.

04 - Recovery Timeline

First Two Days: Rest with elevated arms; manage discomfort with prescribed medication
First Week: Limited arm movement with gradual introduction of light activities
Two to Three Weeks: Return to non-strenuous work and daily activities
Four to Six Weeks: Gradual return to more vigorous activities
Eight+ Weeks: Full return to all activities, including weight lifting and high-impact exercises

Most patients report feeling comfortable enough to return to office work in seven to 10 days. You’ll wear a compression garment for four to six weeks to support healing tissues and minimize swelling. Dr. Robey and her team remain available throughout your recovery to address any questions or concerns.

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Before&After

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Brachioplasty Results

While you’ll notice an immediate improvement in arm contour after surgery, your final results will develop gradually as swelling subsides. Most patients see significant improvement within six weeks, with final results appearing around six to nine months post-procedure. Scars will continue to fade and improve for up to a year or more.

With proper maintenance, including a stable weight and healthy lifestyle, brachioplasty results can be long lasting. The procedure permanently removes excess skin and reshapes arm contours, though natural aging will continue over time.

Understanding Scarring Considerations

Brachioplasty typically results in a scar that runs from the armpit to the elbow on the inside or back of the upper arm. While this scar is significant, Dr. Robey employs meticulous surgical techniques to create the finest possible scar. She places incisions strategically to be as inconspicuous as possible, often hidden from frontal view.

During your consultation, Dr. Robey will discuss expected scarring based on your unique situation and the recommended technique. She will also provide comprehensive scar care instructions to optimize healing and minimize the appearance of scars over time.

For patients concerned about scarring, Dr. Robey may recommend alternative approaches like BodyTite or liposuction alone if appropriate for your situation. These options result in minimal scarring but may provide less dramatic improvement for patients with significant skin laxity.

Combining Procedures for Comprehensive Body Contouring

Many patients choose to combine arm contouring with other procedures for more comprehensive results. Common combinations include:

Brachioplasty with breast lift or augmentation for upper body rejuvenation
Arm contouring with a post-weight loss procedure like tummy tuck surgery
Liposuction of arms with liposuction of other areas for balanced body contouring

Dr. Robey will discuss the benefits and considerations of combining procedures during your consultation, creating a customized plan that addresses your aesthetic concerns while prioritizing your safety and well-being.

Why Choose Dr. Robey for Your Brachioplasty in Indianapolis

Dr. Ashley Robey brings exceptional credentials and a patient-centered approach to every procedure. She is a quadruple board-certified plastic surgeon with specialized training in body contouring and has been named one of Indy’s Top Plastic Surgeons for several years.

Dr. Robey has received numerous patient choice and compassionate doctor awards throughout her career and is one of only a few doctors worldwide with her unique combination of prestigious credentials. With over 20 years of medical experience, she maintains an unwavering commitment to achieving natural-looking results for her patients, combining technical expertise with an artistic eye for aesthetics and proportion.

Located in the Village of West Clay in Carmel, Dr. Robey’s practice welcomes patients from throughout the Indianapolis metropolitan area. Her state-of-the-art facility provides a comfortable, private setting for your body contouring journey.

Real
Results

“Today I had my 9 week post-op appt with Dr Robey & I am beyond happy with the results of my brachioplasty! This has truly been life changing for me! I was only 1 week post-op when I scheduled my next surgery with her for later this year! Dr. Robey & her staff are wonderful!

Mandi M

“I love Dr. Robey … i have nothing but good experiences at all of the procedures I have had with her and staff. The facility is very professional and trendy, staff is super friendly and helpful. Dr. Robey is not only very skilled but takes time to chat which put me at great ease. I will have future procedures with her and always look forward to all new things they offer and keep me informed on.”

Lia T

“What a wonderful office. Everyone made me feel welcome and was eager to accommodate any need that I might have. Dr. Robey is a true professional assuring me that my health was her top priority. Without hesitation, I would recommend Dr. Robey to my friends and family. My thanks to all.”

J. Widdifield

Wave Hello Freely and Say Goodbye to Flapping Arms

Don’t let sagging arms prevent you from feeling comfortable and confident in your appearance. Schedule your personalized consultation with Dr. Robey today to explore how brachioplasty and advanced arm contouring technologies can help you achieve the toned, proportionate arms you desire.

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Ever wondered what actually happens behind the scenes of plastic surgery and aesthetics? Dr. Ashley Robey is here to spill the tea! From the latest beauty treatments to the science of aging gracefully, she breaks it all down—no fluff, no filters, just real talk. Whether you’re thinking about a little enhancement, a major transformation, or just want to stay in the know, this is the podcast for you.

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Your body, your confidence, your choice. Let Dr. Robey and her team help you achieve the look you desire with compassionate, expert care. Schedule your personalized consultation today and discover how we can support your renewed confidence and beauty journey.