Arm lift techniques, compared.
The right technique depends on one thing above all: how much loose skin you have, and where. Here is how the main brachioplasty approaches differ — and who each one suits.
Standard Brachioplasty
An inner-arm incision from armpit to (or toward) the elbow removes substantial loose skin and fat. The reference procedure for true skin excess.
Mini / Limited-Incision
For mild laxity high on the arm. The incision stays within the armpit, leaving a scar that is very hard to see.
Extended Arm Lift
Extends onto the chest wall to treat skin that continues past the armpit — common after very large weight loss.
Liposuction-Only
When the issue is fat with elastic skin, liposuction reshapes the arm with tiny, scar-free access points.
Lipo + Skin Excision
Liposuction debulks and refines while excision removes the loose skin — a common, powerful combination.
Combination Contouring
Arm lift staged or combined with breast/body work for patients reshaping multiple areas in one trip.
How Dr. Erdal chooses
During your assessment, the surgeon evaluates skin quality and elasticity, how much fat versus skin is contributing to the shape, the location of the laxity, and your scar priorities. The goal is always the same: the best possible contour for the least possible scar. For some patients that means a hidden armpit incision; for others — particularly after massive weight loss — a longer scar is a fair trade for an arm that finally looks proportionate. There is no "best" technique in the abstract, only the best technique for your arm.
Not sure which applies to you? Send a few photos of your arms (relaxed and raised) on WhatsApp. Dr. Erdal will tell you honestly which technique fits — including if liposuction alone, or no surgery at all, is the better call.
Frequently Asked Questions
The mini (limited-incision) arm lift produces the smallest scar, hidden in the armpit. However, it only suits patients with mild laxity confined to the upper arm. Trying to treat significant loose skin with a short scar usually gives a disappointing contour, so the technique must match the anatomy.
Liposuction removes fat, not skin. If your skin still has good elasticity, removing the underlying fat can let the skin retract and improve the contour without an arm-lift scar. If the skin is already loose and inelastic, liposuction alone will not tighten it and may even worsen sagging — which is why an honest in-person assessment matters.
An extended arm lift continues the incision past the armpit onto the side of the chest. It's used when loose skin extends beyond the arm itself, most often after very large weight loss. It addresses an area a standard arm lift cannot reach.
Ready to discuss your arm lift?
Send a few photos on WhatsApp and Dr. Erdal will personally review whether brachioplasty is right for you — usually within 24 hours, in English.