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, often called “bat wings,” can make the prospect of going sleeveless unappealing. 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 the elbow to the armpit. Here’s what to expect when it comes to brachioplasty scars.

Patient example: extended arm lift after GLP-1 weight loss

This patient lost more than 100 pounds with a GLP-1 medication. An extended arm lift addressed excess upper-arm and underarm skin, while breast reduction and lift with auto-augmentation reshaped her breasts using her own tissue without implants.

View the photographs and full case details. Individual results vary.

What does an arm lift scar look like after one year?

At one year, an arm lift scar may have faded and flattened, but its color, width, and visibility vary. A survey published in Annals of Plastic Surgery compared preferences for digitally simulated scar placements and shapes. It assessed scar preferences, rather than establishing a typical scar width at one year. Some scars remain noticeable and may continue to change as they mature.

Keep in mind that the scar is still maturing at this point and continues to improve for up to two years as collagen remodeling occurs. Overall, brachioplasty scars become progressively thinner and less apparent over time. Factors such as skin type, age, and genetics affect the scar’s long-term appearance.

What is brachioplasty scar revision?

Scar revision is a procedure to improve the appearance of scars from brachioplasty. Timing depends on the treatment, how the incision has healed, and the scar’s symptoms; surgical revision and nonsurgical scar treatments do not necessarily follow the same schedule. 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. Only small, problematic portions of the scar may need revision, rather than its entire length. Discuss scar revision options with your plastic surgeon if you are concerned about the scar’s appearance.

How should you care for scars after 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 to 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 monitor your healing progress.

What does an arm lift scar in the armpit look like?

For a complete brachioplasty procedure, the scar extends into the armpit crease. This allows the surgeon to remove the excess skin and fat near the underarm that commonly form "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 you stand naturally with your arms at your sides, the scar in the armpit is fairly well hidden and not very noticeable. However, it becomes more visible when you lift your arms. The scar tissue under the arm may feel numb or tender for many months after surgery as nerve endings regenerate.

The incision for a full arm lift may extend even farther into the armpit to address laxity in the uppermost portion of the arm.

How can you 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 it has 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 your skin tone to conceal the scar.

What is the best treatment for an 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 smooths texture and blends color for flatter, whiter scars.
• Dermabrasion evens out the surface of rough, uneven scars.
• Radiation therapy may be considered for selected raised scars or keloids, such as when other treatments fail or to reduce recurrence after scar surgery. It carries risks and requires specialist assessment.
• 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, the incisions are sutured and remain extremely delicate for two to three weeks after surgery.
• Scars remain reddish and may be slightly raised for a few months as collagen remodeling begins.
• Moderate activity should be avoided for six weeks after surgery 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 two 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	Incisions are sutured and extremely delicate
Early remodeling	3–6 months	Scars are reddish and 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 mature

Some degree of scarring is unavoidable with brachioplasty. 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 are 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 scarring.

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 for 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 using nicotine at least six weeks before and after surgery, consume 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 four 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?

Scar treatment does not follow a single one-year waiting rule. Timing depends on how the incision has healed, the type of scar, and your symptoms. Ask your surgeon about a scar that is thickening, painful, or restricting movement rather than waiting a full year. Silicone gel or sheets may be considered after the wound is closed; follow your surgeon’s instructions and protect healing scars from the sun.

Depending on your assessment, options may include 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.