(501) 224-1044
BRACHIOPLASTY · LITTLE ROCK, AR
Armlift
Sagging skin on the upper arms is one of the few things that does not respond to effort. You can lose the weight and build the muscle and still find the skin will not follow. An arm lift removes the excess skin and fat, tightens the tissue underneath, and gives your arms the toned shape the work underneath them has already earned. Dr. Homayoun Pournik, a fellowship-trained cosmetic surgeon, performs the procedure in Little Rock.
1–2 hrs
Typical procedure time, general anesthesia
~2-3 wks
Off work, especially if your job is strenuous
2-3 mos
Results apparent; up to a year to finalize
What an arm lift addresses
An arm lift, or brachioplasty, is a body contouring procedure that works on three things at once. Patients come in because of genetics, because of weight loss, or because skin elasticity drops with age; and often because of all three.
SKIN
The part exercise cannot fix
Excess skin on the upper arm does not tighten with training. It is removed surgically or it stays. This is the reason most patients are here.
FAT
Deposits that will not shift
Liposuction is performed during the same procedure where fat deposits need eliminating, so the contour is corrected rather than just the skin tightened.
MUSCLE
Structure underneath
The tissues under the skin are tightened and the remaining skin is draped over them, then smoothed to ensure a dimple-free result rather than a merely tighter one.
What changes afterward
Arm lift patients tend to talk about two kinds of benefit; how their arms look, and what having them stops preventing.
WARDROBE
More clothing options
After an arm lift you may no longer feel the need to conceal your upper arms. Tank tops, swimsuits, and sleeveless dresses become comfortable again during the warmer months.
CONFIDENCE
Improved confidence
When your upper arms are more proportional to the rest of your body, you feel more confident showing them off, in personal and professional situations alike.
DEFINITION
Better tone
If you have recently lost weight or you train your arms regularly, an arm lift removes the excess sagging and dimpled skin that has been hiding the muscle tone you already built.
QUALITY OF LIFE
Mobility and comfort
Excess skin and fat on the arms can limit mobility or cause skin conditions like rashes. Removing it addresses both, which for some patients is the whole point.
Are you a candidate?
At your consultation, Dr. Pournik will discuss your goals and concerns and weigh several things before confirming your candidacy. The best patients for this procedure:
- Are in good general health, and free of any medical conditions that would make surgery under anesthesia unsafe.
- Are at a stable weight, because fluctuations afterward will affect your results.
- Are non-smokers. Tobacco seriously impedes the body’s ability to heal.
- Have sufficient skin elasticity.
- Have reasonable expectations about what the surgery can do.
What it will not do
An arm lift gives you toned arms. It does not stop loose skin developing as you age, the natural aging process will cost your arms some firmness over time, and that can mean some sagging returns. Most of the improvement should be relatively permanent, and maintaining a stable, healthy weight is what protects it for years afterward.
What to expect on procedure day
Arm lift surgery takes about one to two hours. You are given general anesthesia, so you are comfortable throughout. Dr. Pournik makes incisions on the undersides of your arms, the size and pattern depend on how much tissue is being removed, and places them strategically to minimize post-operative scarring.
He trims away the excess tissue and performs any liposuction needed to eliminate fat deposits. The tissues under the skin are then tightened, the remaining skin draped over them and smoothed for a dimple-free finish, and the incisions closed with sutures. The area is bandaged, and a compression garment may be used to minimize swelling.
- Arrange for someone to drive you to and from your appointment.
- Arrange for someone to stay with you for several days while you recover at home.
- Be prepared for the possibility of an overnight stay; some patients need one, others go home the same day.
- Quit smoking,taking blood thinners, and drinking alcohol.
Recovery and results
You will see an immediate improvement in the shape and tone of your arms, but the final result takes time. Dr. Pournik provides a comprehensive list of post-operative guidelines covering incision care, bandages, and surgical drains.
- FIRST DAYS
Swelling, bruising, and discomfort are expected. Take all pain medication and antibiotics as prescribed, the antibiotics prevent infection, not just pain. Heating pads, cold packs, and over-the-counter medication help. Keeping your arms elevated reduces inflammation. - WEEK 1
Avoid any physical activity involving the arms for at least a week, to keep the incisions from stretching. Light walking is encouraged; it promotes healing and prevents blood clots. - WEEKS 1 TO 3
Bruising subsides over the course of a few weeks. Most patients take two to three weeks off work, especially if the job is strenuous. Follow-up visits during this period are where bandages and any drainage tubes come out, stitches are removed, and progress is checked. - MONTHS 2 TO 3
Results become apparent as healing continues. - UP TO 1 YEAR
Final results. Scars can be minimized by protecting them from the sun, using topical creams, and laser therapy.
Why choose a board-certified surgeon
Arm lift trades loose skin for a scar that runs along the inner arm, and how visible that trade feels depends almost entirely on where the incision sits and how carefully tension is managed. Deciding how much skin to remove, and whether liposuction alone would do enough, is the judgment that shapes the result.
Risks include wound healing problems along the incision, changes in sensation, swelling that takes months to settle, and scarring that varies by skin quality. Dr. Pournik reviews your specific risks at consultation so you can decide with full information.
WHAT SETS DR. POURNIK APART?
- Board certified by the American Board of Surgery
- High-volume fellowship experience in arm and thigh lift
- Careful management of tension, scarring, and contour
- Post-weight-loss body contouring focus, where skin laxity drives the plan
Combining with other procedures
Arm lift patients are often addressing more than their arms. After major weight loss, the skin does not follow anywhere, which is why arm lift, thigh lift, tummy tuck, and liposuction are frequently planned together as a single staged program rather than four separate decisions. Dr. Pournik’s fellowship was built on exactly this work.
- Thigh Lift
- Tummy Tuck
- Liposuction
- Mommy Makeover
WHY CHOOSE DR. POURNIK
Homayoun Pournik, MD
- Fellowship-Trained Cosmetic Surgeon
Arm lift surgery is a problem of tension. How much skin can come out, how the remaining skin will sit under that tension, and where the scar can be placed so it holds without widening; those judgments are what separate a good result from a tight one.
Dr. Pournik’s fellowship training covers arm lift and thigh lift specifically, with high volume across both; roughly 1,800 cosmetic procedures in a single year at one of the country’s highest-volume body contouring centers. Before that, twelve years in transplant surgery: around 300 organ transplants, hundreds of robotic hernia repairs and complex reconstructions, and the first robotic kidney transplant performed in either California or North Carolina.
If your arms are the result of major weight loss, that is the work his training was built for. He also believes in staging complex cases; the primary procedure first, evaluate the result, then return for refinements if needed. “Staging gives you success.”
BOARD CERTIFICATIONS & AFFILIATIONS
REAL PATIENTS
Before & After
CONTACT US
Improve the look of your upper arms
Whether your arms are sagging from aging or from recent weight loss, a consultation is where you find out what is achievable. Dr. Pournik will assess your skin elasticity, discuss your goals, and tell you honestly what an arm lift can and cannot deliver.
Frequently asked questions
About one to two hours, under general anesthesia.
On the undersides of your arms. The size and pattern depend on how much tissue is being removed, and they are placed strategically to minimize post-operative scarring.
Some patients do, others go home the same day. Either way, arrange for someone to drive you and to stay with you for several days while you recover at home.
Most patients take two to three weeks off, especially if their job is strenuous. Avoid any physical activity involving the arms for at least a week to keep the incisions from stretching, though light walking is encouraged from the start.
You will notice an immediate improvement in shape and tone, but results become apparent around two to three months in, and it can take up to a year to see the final outcome.
Any surgery produces scars, but you can reduce their appearance by protecting them from the sun, using topical creams, considering laser therapy, and following your post-care instructions closely.
Usually not; brachioplasty is considered cosmetic. The exception may be patients whose upper arms limit their mobility or cause persistent skin conditions.
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