上腕リフト (Brachioplasty)

Brachioplasty (arm lift) addresses excess skin and fat in the upper arms — most commonly seen after significant weight loss or as a result of age-related skin laxity. Diet and exercise can shrink fat but cannot tighten loose skin once elasticity is lost; brachioplasty is the only intervention that durably restores upper-arm contour in these cases.

The traditional procedure makes an incision along the inner upper arm from the armpit to the elbow, removes excess skin and underlying fat (often combined with liposuction for contour refinement), and tightens the deeper fascial layer. For patients with less severe laxity, a "minimal-incision" or "limited brachioplasty" may be performed with an incision confined to the armpit only.

Trade-offs are significant: the procedure delivers reliably tighter arms, but the resulting scar runs along the inner arm and is visible whenever the arms are raised. Modern surgeons place the scar in the bicipital groove (the natural fold between the biceps and triceps) to minimize visibility, but patients should plan for a permanent scar in exchange for the contour improvement.