Comparing Technologies
Arm Lift Recovery Time: What to Expect Following Your Seattle Procedure

Do you find yourself gravitating toward long-sleeved clothes, even when it’s warm outside? Do you find it challenging to wear form-fitting clothes around your upper body? Do you wish you had a more sculpted physique?
If any of these questions ring true to you, then an arm lift — also known as a Brachioplasty — may be the procedure for you. If you are close to your target weight, eat a healthy diet, follow a regular exercise routine, and are not a frequent smoker, then you are likely eligible for the procedure.
Keep reading to learn more about the arm lift, what recovery is like, and an alternative procedure that can tone and tighten your arm skin with much less downtime.
How Does an Arm Lift Work?
An arm lift surgery aims to remove or tighten loose skin. It often also includes arm fat removal via liposuction.
The surgeon will typically focus on the underarms between the elbow and armpit, with the goal of sculpting a balanced, tight appearance. The size of the incision often depends on the amount of loose skin requiring removal. Depending on the patient's specific needs, the surgeon will remove, tighten, and suture the area's skin.
Although results take some time to develop, the initial post-op stages can be somewhat daunting. After a final recovery of about six months, arm lift results should be dramatic and long-lasting.
What Should You Expect Following Your Arm Lift Procedure?
Following your arm lift procedure, you should expect some pain, scarring, and a lack of independence. The initial stages of recovery after an arm lift last one to two weeks; however, you will require more time to heal fully.
You will have dressings or bandages applied to cover your incisions and may receive compression bandages to reduce inflammation. You may also have small tubes placed in your arms to allow excess fluid to be seamlessly drained.
During this initial post-op time frame, you should not excess pressure on your arms. This means that strenuous activities, such as carrying heavy objects, are forbidden. You should ask a friend or family member for assistance to lower the risk of injury.
After the initial two weeks post-arm lift, your bruising should begin to subside more quickly. Make sure to walk frequently to help your body's circulation, and follow other instructions from your surgeon closely. Final results should develop about six to twelve months after your surgery.
Arm AirSculpt+: Fat Removal and Skin Tightening With Less Downtime
Unlike most Brachioplasty procedures, Arm AirSculpt+ is a minimally invasive procedure that offers fat removal and skin tightening with minimal downtime, tiny entry points, and less overall hassle.
The procedure first removes stubborn, hard-to-lose arm fat with the signature AirSculpt technique. Instead of large incisions cut with scalpels, the whole procedure is done through tiny two-millimeter entryways, meaning you will heal with a barely noticeable, freckle-sized scar. Large, intrusive spots are a thing of the past!
We always use local anesthesia, reducing the risks compared with fully invasive treatments using general anesthesia (including most arm lift techniques). Better yet, the AirSculpt technique helps tighten the skin while removing stubborn fat cell-by-cell with delicate precision.
For patients requiring additional skin tightening but without the hassle of an invasive brachioplasty, the AirSculpt+ procedure can dramatically firm up any area between the chin and ankles through the same minute entry points. This technique uses Renuvion technology to tighten skin with an innovative cold plasma energy. The tightening effects appear almost right away and continue to improve for months!
Where the goal of most brachioplasty procedures is simply to tighten or remove loose arm skin, the purpose of AirSculpt is to address the full area for proportionate results and to balance each arm nicely. Our procedure can be performed from the upper arms down to the elbow. Depending on your preference, this technique can also include fat removal from the armpits. Unlike most invasive methods, the recovery time is only 24 hours!
Pacific Northwest residents looking to learn more about Arm AirSculpt+ can visit our Seattle body sculpting center for a free consultation. Otherwise, check out the more than 30 AirSculpt offices worldwide to get started today.
AIRSCULPT® YOUR DREAM FIGURE