Arm and thigh lift

Arm and thigh lifts are operations that remove loose excess tissue through an arm lift (brachioplasty) or thigh lift. You may notice sagging skin in your upper arms or inner thighs after weight loss or with age. We listen to which area concerns you and explain the scope of surgery according to the skin there. A lift is also an option when liposuction (suction-based fat removal) has not provided adequate skin firmness.

An arm lift works on the upper arm skin between the armpit and elbow. A thigh lift targets excess skin on the thigh, the area between the hip and knee. The location of sagging determines the boundaries of tissue removal.

Skin hanging from the inner arm may become more apparent when the arm moves away from the body. In the inner thigh, there may be folding near the groin or laxity extending along the thigh. Skin gathering inside clothing and these changes in body contour are among the reasons for considering lift surgery in the relevant area.

Excess skin and fat tissue

The amount of subcutaneous fat and the degree of skin laxity may contribute differently to a full-looking arm or thigh. Liposuction reduces localized excess fat, while lift surgery removes excess skin. The choice depends on the amount of fat tissue and how loose the skin is.

Skin elasticity affects how much the skin can contract when fat tissue decreases. Sagging skin folds may remain in the arms or thighs after weight loss.

Skin, subcutaneous fat, and muscle mass each contribute to the outline of the upper arm and thigh. Lift surgery does not aim to change muscle volume. A thin skin fold and a thick fold containing substantial fat may create different surgical needs in terms of the extent of tissue removal.

Planning surgery during the examination

When selecting a technique, we look at where the skin is excessive and in which direction. A fold near the armpit and sagging extending toward the elbow may require different incision plans. We aim to place the incision in less visible areas and keep it as short as the tissue removal allows. During the examination, you can see where the incision would lie and how far it would extend, and ask about the options.

Upper arm laxity may remain near the armpit or extend toward the elbow. Excess thigh skin may be concentrated near the groin or spread along the thigh. Excess skin concentrated in one location and laxity spread over a broad area may require different extents of tissue removal.

The examination assesses the direction of excess skin, fold thickness, and differences between the right and left sides. Skin adjacent to the armpit in the arm and the groin crease in the thigh is included. Moving the skin by hand shows how much area a procedure through the crease could address. If excess skin continues along the arm or thigh, the incision plan may extend accordingly.

If the arm or thigh has previously had liposuction, information about where fat was removed helps the new examination. Previous surgical incision locations are also considered in the new lift markings. You can share details of the earlier procedure and ask how the changes you now notice relate to fat or excess skin.

Suitability after weight loss

A stable weight is one of the suitability criteria for lift surgery after weight loss. If weight is still changing, the amount of tissue and excess skin in the arms and thighs may also change.

Excess skin may remain in the arms and thighs after weight loss through bariatric surgery, operations on the stomach and intestines for weight loss, or GLP-1 agonist weight-loss injections. We also plan lift surgery for these areas. Sharing how you lost weight and where sagging is concentrated helps us explain the options for your arms or thighs.

Excess arm or thigh skin that can be removed, along with general health and nutritional status suitable for surgery, are the main criteria for a lift decision. The plan may be postponed with uncontrolled systemic illness or an active skin infection. Cosmetic lift surgery is not performed during pregnancy. For localized fat deposits with preserved skin firmness, fat removal is considered separately.

Arm lift and incision options

For limited excess skin near the armpit, the incision may be designed within the crease. This procedure addresses upper arm skin next to the armpit. If the excess continues toward the elbow, the strip of skin to be removed may also need to extend in that direction. The incision boundary is drawn according to where the sagging ends.

When excess inner arm skin extends over a long area, the incision may run along the inner surface or the back of the inner upper arm. The strip of skin to be removed is designed according to the extent of sagging between the armpit and just above the elbow. Bringing the skin edges together reduces the excess skin envelope around the arm. The location and direction of the incision are shown separately in the surgical plan.

After substantial weight loss, excess upper arm skin may extend beyond the armpit onto the side of the rib cage. In this situation, the relationship between the arm lift plan and the skin at the side of the torso is also examined. Where the excess arm and side-torso skin meet affects whether the incision design remains confined to the arm or extends into the neighboring area.

Inner thigh and thigh lift

An inner thigh lift addresses excess skin on the facing inner surfaces of the thighs. If the excess is in the upper portion near the groin, the incision may be planned along the groin crease. This approach works on the upper thigh skin. How far inner thigh laxity extends toward the knee is recorded as a separate finding.

A vertical incision along the inner surface may be used when excess skin extends down the thigh. Some techniques include both a horizontal groin incision and a vertical incision in the same plan. The horizontal incision addresses upper thigh sagging, while vertical skin removal addresses the broad skin envelope around the thigh.

Sagging on the inner thigh and laxity extending toward the buttocks on the outer side are different areas. Excess skin around the outer thighs and buttocks may fall within the scope of a lower body lift. An incision plan prepared for the inner thigh does not cover every outer thigh change. Tissue continuity between the waist, buttocks, and thighs is assessed separately.

Excess inner thigh skin may continue from the groin toward the knee. Whether skin gathered above the knee is a continuation of thigh sagging or a separate localized fold affects the incision plan. A thigh lift covers the area between the hip and knee. Calf skin below the knee is not automatically included in its working area.

Arm width may relate to muscle mass, a thick fat layer, or sagging skin. Exercise affects muscle structure, while lift surgery addresses the excess skin envelope. When a change in arm circumference is requested, the tissue involved is explained. The same distinction applies to a thigh with developed muscles and one that has lost volume but retains a broad skin envelope.

Liposuction and plasma skin tightening

If localized excess fat accompanies sagging skin in the arm or thigh, liposuction may be added to the surgical plan. Areas for fat removal are selected with attention to their relationship to the strip of skin being removed. Fullness around the arm and fat distribution on the inner and outer thighs may require different fat removal areas.

For mild laxity in the inner arm or inner thigh, we can also explain skin tightening with J-Plasma and argon plasma. Depending on the skin, it may be possible to use this treatment in the same plan as liposuction. When excess skin is substantial, we identify the tissue to be removed in lift surgery.

In plasma treatment, we aim for tightening by delivering controlled heat to the connective tissue beneath the skin. In both procedures, high-frequency electrical energy (radiofrequency) turns gas into plasma. J-Plasma uses helium gas, while argon plasma uses argon gas. This treatment, in which we reach beneath the skin with a cannula, does not include the skin removal performed in lift surgery.

Planning with other lift procedures

After weight loss, arm and thigh sagging may be accompanied by skin folds on the abdomen or back. Whether these regions are addressed together or in separate operations depends on the total surgical scope and general health. The area around the armpit between an arm lift and a back lift, and the groin area between a thigh lift and a tummy tuck, are where neighboring incision plans are coordinated.

General anesthesia is used for arm and thigh lift surgery. Surgical preparation specifies whether the arms, thighs, or other areas will be treated together. If liposuction is added to the skin removal areas, it is included in the anesthesia plan. Existing illnesses and current treatments are reviewed together with the surgical scope to assess suitability for anesthesia.

Tissue removal and sutures

During surgery, we remove excess tissue from the marked area and bring the skin edges together. We use a subcuticular suture technique that runs within the skin, along with absorbable sutures. The direction of an incision extending along the arm or thigh follows the tissue removal area shown before surgery.

Removing a strip of skin along the arm reduces the skin envelope around the upper arm. Skin removal limited to the armpit gathers excess skin in the upper arm toward that crease. In the thigh, tissue removal along the groin and along the inner surface also works in different directions. The markings define both incision placement and the direction in which the remaining skin edges will be brought together.

The term subcuticular describes how the suture runs within the skin. Skin edges need to be joined both in a limited armpit incision and in an incision extending along the upper arm or thigh. The name of the suture method does not determine where or how much skin will be removed. That scope is based on tissue measurements taken before surgery.

What should you pay attention to after a thigh lift?

Our care recommendations and timeframes in this section apply only to a thigh lift. We explain care after an arm lift as part of your own surgical plan.

Nutrition, weight, and smoking

We recommend drinking 2-3 liters of water a day to prevent edema and following a protein-based diet. We ask you to avoid gaining weight after surgery and, if possible, maintain your ideal weight through your diet.

If possible, we recommend reducing or even quitting smoking one month before surgery. We also advise against smoking after surgery to help wound healing proceed without problems and reduce the possibility of bleeding. In nonsmokers, the surgical process and outcomes involve 30-50% less risk and are trouble-free compared with smokers.

Corset use, dressings, and showering

We recommend wearing your corset for 4-6 weeks from the day of surgery. You can remove it briefly for activities such as showering and personal care.

After surgery, the incision in your thigh area is covered with waterproof tapes and a dressing. Our nurse changes your dressing and provides your care the next morning. We ask you to leave the brown tapes on the wound for a total of 15 days. As these tapes are waterproof, you can shower with them in place 24 hours after your drains are removed.

We use dissolvable stitches in the small liposuction incisions and the incision in the lifted area. These areas do not need additional dressings.

Massage, exercise, and swimming

We consider lymphatic drainage massage necessary for an easier and faster recovery. You can start immediately after your drains are removed and have a total of 8-10 sessions. Early edema, swelling, and localized firmness decrease over time, and your tissues regain their natural consistency within 3-6 months.

You can start walking from the 2nd week after surgery and other activities after the 4th week. You can swim in the sea or a pool from the 4th week.

You can message our clinic coordinator on WhatsApp with any questions.

These timeframes may vary depending on the person and the extent of surgery. Dr. Hakan Bulam will clarify them for you at your follow-up appointments.