Inner Arm Lift

The skin on the inner aspect of the arms, being very fine, is heavily "stressed" by movements and in cases of significant or repeated weight fluctuations. This explains why, whether or not associated with fatty hypertrophy, skin sagging is frequently observed in this area.

The procedure aims to reduce fatty infiltration by liposuction, but also to remove excess skin and redrape the remaining skin to retighten it effectively.

These conditions do not warrant Social Security coverage, except for post-bariatric obesity sequelae, which may, under certain conditions, receive health insurance financial participation.

A meticulous clinical examination will define the most appropriate type of procedure for your case (incision choice, advisability of associated liposuction).

Detailed information about the procedure, recovery and expected results will be provided at the first consultation. The location of the residual scar will be clearly explained.

A standard preoperative assessment is carried out. The anaesthetist will be seen if general or "twilight" anaesthesia is chosen.

No medication containing aspirin should be taken in the 10 days prior to the procedure. Skin preparation (antiseptic soap) is usually recommended the evening before and morning of the procedure. Depending on the type of anaesthesia, fasting for 6 hours before the procedure may be required.

Type of anaesthesia: The inner arm lift can be performed under general anaesthesia, under local anaesthesia deepened by tranquillisers administered intravenously ("twilight" anaesthesia), or in some cases under pure local anaesthesia.

Hospitalisation: The procedure can be performed as a day case. However, a short hospital stay may be preferable, with discharge the following day.

Each surgeon adapts their technique to each case. In all cases, fatty infiltration, when excessive, is initially corrected by liposuction. Excess skin is then removed, leaving a scar whose location and length depend on the extent of skin distension and the type of procedure chosen.

The incision may be vertical, longitudinal, running along the inner arm, or horizontal in one of the armpit folds. Both types of incisions may be combined.

This procedure is mainly intended for significant skin laxity with a clearly expressed motivation: beyond the aesthetic concern (difficulty wearing short sleeves due to the wrinkled or sagging arm appearance), the motivation is also often functional (difficulty with mobility or dressing, redness or maceration on the inner arm).

A preliminary liposuction is performed whenever fatty infiltration exists in the area. Excess skin is then removed as needed. The procedure averages one and a half hours.

Given the drawbacks of this type of lift in terms of scarring, an effort is made to propose, whenever possible, a less ambitious but more acceptable procedure from a scar standpoint: this may be a lift with an isolated armpit incision, or a mixed technique combining an armpit crease incision and a short vertical segment of less than 10 cm.

This type of procedure addresses patients with less significant lesions involving primarily the upper third of the arm. The residual scar is usually barely visible, but the morphological result is less dramatic than with a vertical scar lift.

Mixed or combined technique

This is a synthesis of the two preceding methods, offering a compromise in both advantages and drawbacks, particularly regarding scarring. It combines a horizontal armpit crease incision and a short vertical scar of less than 10 cm on the inner arm.

In all cases, at the end of the procedure, a dressing is applied using adhesive elastic bandages or a compression bolero is fitted.

Discharge usually occurs the same day or the day after surgery. Ecchymoses and oedema may appear, regressing within 10 to 20 days. Pain is generally manageable. The healing period may be somewhat uncomfortable due to suture tension: during this period, sudden stretching movements should be avoided.

Work stoppage depends on the nature of professional activity. Sports may be progressively resumed from the 4th postoperative week. The scar is often pink for the first three months, then typically fades progressively over 1 to 2 years. It must be protected from sun and UV for the first three months.

It can only be appreciated from 6 to 12 months after the procedure. Good correction of fatty infiltration and skin laxity is most often observed, notably improving arm morphology.

The goal of this surgery is to bring about an improvement, not to achieve perfection. If your expectations are realistic, the result obtained should give you great satisfaction.

Imperfections mainly concern the scar, which may be too visible, and liposuction results that may show under-correction, slight asymmetry or surface irregularities. These are generally amenable to complementary treatment from the 6th postoperative month.

An inner arm lift remains a genuine surgical procedure. Among possible complications: thromboembolic events, haematoma, infection (favoured by proximity to a natural fold), lymphatic effusion, delayed healing, skin necrosis (more frequent in smokers), and sensitivity changes, which usually resolve within 3 to 6 months.

Overall, risks should not be overestimated, but one should be aware that a surgical procedure always involves a small element of uncertainty.