Arm Lift Scars: Placement and Recovery

For many women, the upper arms can be a major source of insecurity. Sagging skin, loss of tone, and excess fat in the upper arms, medically termed “bat wings”, can make the prospect of going sleeveless unappealing. But there is a solution - brachioplasty. This arm lift surgery trims away excess skin and fat to restore a smooth, toned contour to the upper arms.

However, improvement comes at the price of scarring along the inner arm from elbow to armpit. Here’s what to expect when it comes to brachioplasty scars.

How does a 1 year arm lift scar look like?

One year post-op, the scar from a brachioplasty procedure has typically faded to a barely noticeable thin white line. A study in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal found that on average, brachioplasty scars measured just 2.2 mm in width at one year post-op. At the 1 year mark, the scar is often pale, flattened, and about 2-3 mm wide. Some patients may have a pencil-thin, faintly visible scar after 1 year.

But keep in mind, the scar is still maturing at this point and continues to refine and improve up to 2 years as collagen remodeling occurs. Overall, brachioplasty scars become progressively thinner and less apparent over time. But factors like skin type, age, and genetics impact the long-term scar appearance.

What is brachioplasty scar revision?

Scar revision is a procedure to improve the appearance of scars from brachioplasty. It is typically done at least one year after the initial surgery to allow the scar to fully heal. Scar revision techniques include laser resurfacing, dermabrasion, scar excision, cortisone injections, and other methods to reduce visible scarring.

Scar revision can minimize thick, raised scars, and lighten or smooth out darkened or uneven scars. But only small problematic portions of the scar may need revision rather than the entire length. Discuss scar revision options with your plastic surgeon if you are concerned with the scar’s appearance.

How to care for scar from brachioplasty?

Proper care after brachioplasty can help minimize scarring:

• Gentle daily moisturizing for 6-12 months helps scars heal smoothly and fade over time
• Silicone scar sheets worn regularly can flatten and soften the scar
• Avoid direct sun exposure on the fresh scar for at least 12 months
• Massage the scar with lotion using firm pressure to prevent contracture
• Follow your surgeon’s instructions for scar care and check in on the healing progress

What does an arm lift scar under armpit look like?

For a complete brachioplasty procedure, the scar extends into the armpit crease. This allows for excision of excess skin and fat closest to the underarm area that commonly forms "bat wings". The scar curves up from the elbow and into the inner fold of the armpit, following the natural contours of the arm.

When standing naturally with arms at your sides, the scar along the armpit is fairly well hidden and not very noticeable. However, with arms lifted it becomes more visible. The scar tissue under the arm may feel numb or tender for many months after surgery as nerve endings regenerate.

A full arm lift may have the incision extend even further into the armpit to address laxity in the uppermost portion of the arm.

How to hide arm lift scars?

Although brachioplasty scars fade significantly, some patients wish to conceal the remaining evidence of surgery. Here are a few techniques to minimize the visibility of arm lift scars:

• Use makeup products like concealers and foundation matched to your skin tone to camouflage the scar
• Wear clothes with sleeves that cover the upper arm and scar when desired
• Consider tattooing over the scar once fully healed, using ink that matches your complexion
• Use over-the-counter topical scar creams containing ingredients like silicone or vitamin E
• Apply sunscreen regularly to prevent hyperpigmentation if the scar must be exposed
• Try self-adhesive bandages that match skin tone to conceal scar

What is the best treatment for arm tuck scar?

If brachioplasty scars become raised, thickened, or discolored, there are treatments that can improve their appearance:

• Cortisone injections treat scar inflammation and reduce thickness
• Laser resurfacing smoothes texture and blends color for flatter, whiter scars
• Dermabrasion evens out the surface of rough, uneven scars
• Microneedling and radiation therapy can improve scar discoloration
• Discuss options with your doctor to find the best solution for your scar concerns

How long does an arm lift scar take to heal?

Arm lift scars go through several healing phases:

• Initially scars will be sutured and extremely delicate for 2-3 weeks post-surgery
• Scars remain reddish and may be slightly raised for a few months as collagen remodeling begins
• Moderate activity should be avoided for 6 weeks post-op to protect the incisions while they heal
• Scars gradually flatten and fade over the next year as they continue to mature
• Full maturation takes up to 2 years, with scars getting thinner and whiter over time
• Individual factors affect healing - older patients may need more time for scars to improve

Stage	Timeline	Characteristics
Initial healing	2-3 weeks	Scars sutured, extremely delicate
Early remodeling	3-6 months	Scars reddish, may be slightly raised
Maturation	6 months - 1 year	Scars flatten and start to fade in color
Late remodeling	1-2 years	Scars continue to refine an

Some degree of scarring is unavoidable with brachioplasty. But scars do fade significantly over time with proper wound care, sun protection, and scar treatments as needed.

Work closely with your plastic surgeon to understand and optimize the incisions to reduce visible scarring. While the scars may never disappear entirely, the dramatically improved arm contours are often a worthwhile trade-off.

Achieve Sleek, Toned Arms with Brachioplasty in NYC

As a plastic surgeon board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, with fellowship training in aesthetic and craniofacial surgery, Dr. Darren Smith understands the precision artistry and skill involved in brachioplasty procedures. Arm contouring is a regular part of his practice.

During a brachioplasty, excess skin and fat is removed from the upper arms through carefully planned incisions. This allows the remaining skin to be tightened for smoother, firmer, and more toned arms. While some visible scarring will result, Dr. Smith utilizes meticulous techniques to minimize this.

The benefits you’ll receive from brachioplasty include:

• A slimmer, more sculpted arm profile
• Smoother skin without looseness or sagging
• Improved ability to wear short sleeves and sleeveless tops
• A boost in confidence and self-assurance
• Long-lasting, natural-looking results

Dr. Smith customizes every brachioplasty to match each patient’s unique goals. He’ll work with you to determine the optimal approach, whether that’s a mini-brachioplasty concentrating on the upper arms or a complete brachioplasty extending down to the elbows.

More questions about arm lift scars

How are arm liposuction scars different from brachioplasty scars?

Arm liposuction leaves a few dot-sized marks at the cannula entry points, usually in the armpit or near the elbow crease, while a brachioplasty leaves a continuous line along the inner or back of the upper arm. Lipo incisions are typically under a centimeter, seal without visible stitches and fade to freckle-like marks within a year; an arm lift scar is measured in inches and needs one to two years to mature.

Both heal through the same stages: red and slightly raised in the first two weeks, sometimes darker and itchy at weeks three to six as nerves recover, then softer, flatter and paler from month two onward. If the arms still look full after liposuction alone, the usual reason is skin that has not retracted, not fat that was missed, and that is the scenario in which the longer brachioplasty scar becomes the better trade.

What determines how visible a brachioplasty scar will be?

Five factors drive scar visibility after an arm lift: your genetics, your age, sun exposure during the first year, whether the incision heals without infection or tension, and the technique used. People who have formed keloids or thick hypertrophic scars from earlier cuts or piercings are at higher risk and should tell Dr. Smith before surgery so the closure and aftercare plan can account for it.

Older skin heals more slowly and often shows scars longer. Ultraviolet light darkens an immature scar permanently, and an infected or reopened incision widens it. Longer incisions from a traditional lift are more visible than those from a limited-incision approach, so technique selection is part of scar planning.

Which arm lift technique leaves the least visible scar?

The limited-incision, or "C" brachioplasty, leaves the least visible scar because the incision is confined to the armpit crease, but it only suits mild to moderate skin excess near the top of the arm. The standard brachioplasty runs from the armpit toward the elbow; when Dr. Smith places that incision on the medial underside of the arm rather than the back, it disappears when the arms hang at the sides. Details of the shorter-scar approach are on our minimal-incision brachioplasty page.

Within any technique, gentle tissue handling and buried absorbable sutures reduce the scar's width. For patients whose problem is mostly fat with mild laxity, VASER liposuction with radiofrequency (BodyTite) tightening can avoid the linear scar, at the cost of a smaller degree of correction.

How can I minimize scarring before and after brachioplasty?

Scar quality is set as much by what you do in the six weeks before surgery as by what happens afterward. Stop smoking and nicotine at least six weeks before and after surgery, eat adequate protein and vitamin C, and stop blood thinners, NSAIDs and supplements that increase bleeding on the schedule our office gives you. Wash with the antibacterial soap provided the night before surgery.

Afterward, keep tension off the incision (no reaching overhead or lifting), wear the compression sleeves for 4 weeks, and hold off on strenuous arm exercise for six to eight weeks. Once the incision has fully sealed, begin silicone gel or sheeting, daily moisturizer and gentle massage; apply SPF 30 or higher to the scar for the entire first year, or keep it covered. Not wearing compression allows swelling and fluid to pull on the closure and can widen the scar.

When should I start scar treatments after an arm lift, and which ones work?

Wait a full year before pursuing any treatment that targets the scar itself, because a brachioplasty scar keeps flattening and fading on its own for 12 to 18 months and treating it early often makes no difference. Silicone gel or sheets and sun protection are the exception and should start as soon as the incision is closed.

After a year, the choice depends on the problem: corticosteroid injections for a raised or thickened segment, laser resurfacing for redness or texture, prescription lightening creams for hyperpigmentation, dermal filler for a depressed portion, microneedling for texture, and surgical revision for a wide or rope-like scar, usually needed only for a short segment rather than the whole length. Over-the-counter topical creams have variable, generally modest results.

When should I be concerned about a brachioplasty scar?

Call our office if a brachioplasty scar becomes increasingly painful, red or swollen, if it widens rather than fades, if it thickens into a raised rope-like cord, if it is pulling and restricting arm movement, or if it darkens well beyond the surrounding skin. The first pattern suggests infection or a separating incision, which needs prompt treatment to prevent a wider scar; the others suggest hypertrophic or keloid scarring, which responds best to steroid injection or silicone started early. Numbness or tenderness along the scar for several months is expected and improves as nerve endings regenerate.