Description

Extended Brachioplasty With Arm Liposuction After Gastric Bypass: 66-Year-Old Woman

Before Treatment

This 66-year-old woman came to board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. John Larson in Newport Beach, California, bothered by heavy, loose upper arms and forearms. Years earlier she had a gastric bypass and lost a significant amount of weight. Later she had body contouring with another surgeon, including an arm lift in 2008 and a second excision of excess upper-arm skin in 2009. More than 15 years on, the skin and tissue of her arms had loosened again, and the excess now extended past the elbows into her forearms.

This is common after massive weight loss. The skin loses much of its elasticity, and a standard arm lift that stops at the elbow often can’t address the full length of the arm. Treating both the remaining fat and the loose skin from the underarm down into the forearm takes a combined approach.

Her main concerns:

• Loose, hanging skin of both upper arms
• Excess skin and tissue extending past the elbows into the forearms
• Fullness of the upper arms and forearms
• Recurrence of laxity years after a prior arm lift
• Difficulty finding clothing that fits her arms comfortably

Her Surgical Journey

In May 2026, Dr. Larson performed power-assisted liposuction of both arms combined with an extended brachioplasty. The arm lift extended past the elbow into the forearms, so that the full length of the arm was addressed in a single operation.

• Arm liposuction with extended brachioplasty (May 2026). Power-assisted liposuction of both upper arms and forearms to reduce excess fat, followed by an extended arm lift that removed loose skin from the underarm through the upper arm and into the forearm, for a slimmer, smoother contour along the entire arm.

In October 2026, she returned for breast surgery: implant removal and replacement with a breast lift (not pictured).

How She’s Doing Now

She is doing very well. Her photos were taken about five months after her arm surgery. Her arm contours will continue to refine, and her scars will keep fading, over the coming months.

• Slimmer, smoother arms from the underarm to the forearm
• Removal of the loose, hanging skin of the upper arms
• Tighter contour through the elbows and forearms
• More proportionate arms relative to her body
• Easier fit in sleeves and clothing

Her surgery addressed the full length of both arms, correcting the excess skin and tissue that a previous arm lift alone could no longer control. She plans to have her lower body addressed in future operations.

Common Questions About This Case

What is an extended brachioplasty?
 A standard brachioplasty (arm lift) removes loose skin from the upper arm, between the underarm and the elbow. An extended brachioplasty continues past the elbow into the forearm. It suits patients whose loose skin runs the full length of the arm, which is common after major weight loss.

Can you have an arm lift if you’ve already had one before?
 Yes. This patient had an arm lift in 2008 and a second skin excision in 2009 with another surgeon. Over time, her skin loosened again and the excess extended into her forearms. A revision that combined liposuction with an extended brachioplasty addressed both the remaining fat and the loose skin.

Why combine liposuction with an arm lift?
 Liposuction reduces the fat that gives the arms their bulk, and the lift removes the loose skin left behind. Together, they create a slimmer and tighter contour than either procedure alone. This patient had power-assisted liposuction of the upper arms and forearms at the same operation as her extended arm lift.

Is arm-lift surgery an option after gastric bypass?
 Yes. Loose skin on the arms is one of the most common concerns after bariatric surgery. Once weight has been stable, an arm lift can remove the excess skin. This patient had her gastric bypass in 2006 and has maintained her weight loss for many years.

How long does it take to see results after an extended brachioplasty?
 This patient’s photos were taken about five months after surgery. Swelling continues to resolve and scars continue to mature for up to a year, so her results will keep improving.

Surgery performed by John Larson, MD, board-certified plastic surgeon, Larson Plastic Surgery & Medical Aesthetics, Newport Beach, CA. Individual results vary.

66-year-old after gastric bypass, about 5 months after arm liposuction with an extended brachioplasty into the forearms. Slimmer, smoother arms from the underarm to the forearm, even after a previous arm lift years ago!