Brachioplasty

Restore & refine the contours of the body

What is an Arm Lift?

A brachioplasty, or arm lift, is a surgical procedure that reshapes the upper arms by addressing excess, sagging skin and stubborn fat. This “bat wing” appearance can be a result of significant weight loss, aging, or genetic factors, and often cannot be improved through exercise alone.

The procedure removes this loose skin and fat, creating a smoother, more toned, and more youthful arm contour. The goal is to restore proportion to the upper body, allowing you to feel more confident and comfortable in short-sleeved clothing.

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Who is a Good Candidate for an Arm Lift?

A brachioplasty is intended for individuals who have excess and bothersome skin of their upper arms. You may be a good candidate if you:
  • Have significant upper arm skin laxity or sagging.
  • Are a non-smoker in good general health.
  • Have achieved a stable weight, as future weight fluctuations can compromise the results.
  • Understand that the procedure will result in a scar, typically placed on the inner aspect of the arm.
  • Have realistic expectations and a desire to improve the contour of your arms.
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arm lift

What To Expect

I take a comprehensive view to ensure your arm lift harmonizes with your overall anatomy. Together, we’ll craft a plan that balances your lifestyle, expectations, and the nuances of your body.

What I Evaluate During Your Consultation

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During our consultation, I will listen to your concerns and assess your arms in detail. My evaluation will focus on the two main components: excess fat and excess skin. I will determine the degree of skin laxity and the location of any stubborn fat deposits. This allows me to customize the procedure. For some patients, liposuction alone may be sufficient. For most, however, a combination of liposuction and skin excision is needed to achieve the desired tight, toned contour. We will also discuss the incision length and placement required to meet your goals.

What to Expect During Surgery

The procedure is performed under general anesthesia with a board-certified anesthesiologist

The incision pattern and length depend on the amount of excess skin. For most patients, the incision runs from the armpit to the elbow, hidden on the inside of the arm. Through this incision, I will remove excess skin and fat, and I may use liposuction to further refine the arm’s shape. The underlying supportive tissues are tightened, and the skin is re-draped over the new, slimmer contour, resulting in a more proportionate and defined arm.

Recovery & Healing

Following your arm lift, your arms will be wrapped in compression dressings to manage swelling and support the new contours. You may also be required to wear a compression garment. Small drains may be placed for a short time. You will need to limit heavy lifting and strenuous arm movements for 4-6 weeks to allow the incisions to heal properly. Most patients can return to non-strenuous work within 1-2 weeks. Swelling and bruising are normal and will gradually fade. The scars are a permanent part of the procedure, but they will fade and soften significantly over the course of a year. I will provide a comprehensive scar care plan to help optimize their final appearance.

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Turn your dreams into reality

Get in-depth personal consultation where I will review your goals, anatomy, and medical history to formulate a plan that is specific to you.

I am located in a beautiful and classic San Francisco neighborhood called Pacific Heights.

Directions: Apple | Google

Phone: 415-981-3911

hippa
American Board of Plastic Surgery
American_Society
ucsf
UCI School of Medicine
ucla
Berkeley

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

A “Mommy Makeover” is not a single procedure, but rather a combination of body and breast procedures customized to help a patient restore their pre-pregnancy form. Pregnancy and childbirth can cause significant changes, such as weakened abdominal muscles (diastasis recti), stretched skin, and changes in breast volume and shape.

A Mommy Makeover is tailored to your specific goals and may include procedures such as:

  • Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck): To repair separated abdominal muscles and remove excess skin.
  • Breast Augmentation: To restore lost breast volume.
  • Breast Lift (Mastopexy): To correct sagging and reposition the breasts.
  • Liposuction: To contour and remove stubborn fat from the abdomen, flanks, or thighs.


Depending on your anatomy, these procedures can be performed in a single stage, or they may need to be performed in stages for your safety. I will review all of that with your during your consultation.

In general, the best candidates are individuals who are in good overall health, are at or near their stable, ideal body weight, and are non-smokers. These procedures are for sculpting and contouring, not for significant weight loss. Most importantly, ideal candidates have realistic expectations and are committed to maintaining their results with a stable, healthy lifestyle.

All surgical procedures result in scars. As a plastic surgeon, my focus is on meticulous surgical technique to minimize their appearance. I place incisions in the most discreet locations possible—for example, low in the bikini line for an abdominoplasty or in the natural groin crease for a thigh lift.

Scar maturation is a process that takes up to a year or more. We will have a detailed discussion about scar placement during your consultation, and I will provide a comprehensive scar care plan to help you achieve the best possible result.

Your comfort is a top priority. Discomfort is normal after any surgery, but it is typically well-managed with a combination of prescribed pain medication and rest. Most patients report that the discomfort is most significant in the first few days and subsides greatly after that. We will use a multi-modal pain management plan to keep you as comfortable as possible.

Recovery times vary for each procedure and each patient. Here are some general guidelines:

Return to Work: For a desk job, most patients can return within 1-2 weeks for procedures like liposuction or an arm lift, and 2-3 weeks for an abdominoplasty.

Return to Exercise: Light walking is encouraged almost immediately to promote circulation. However, you must avoid strenuous activity, heavy lifting, and vigorous exercise for at least 4-8 weeks. I will provide you with a specific timeline based on your procedure and your healing progress.

No, it is not. Liposuction is a fat reduction and body sculpting procedure, not a weight loss method. It is designed for removing localized, stubborn fat deposits that are resistant to diet and exercise. The best results are seen in patients who are already at a stable, healthy weight.

Body contouring procedures provide long-lasting results. However, they do not stop the natural aging process or the effects of future weight fluctuations.

For Liposuction: The fat cells that are removed are gone permanently. If you gain a moderate amount of weight, it will likely be distributed more evenly over your body. Significant weight gain, however, can cause the remaining fat cells in the treated and non-treated areas to enlarge, which will compromise your results.

For Skin-Tightening Lifts: Significant weight gain can stretch the skin that has been tightened, potentially leading to new laxity.

Maintaining a stable weight and healthy lifestyle is the best way to protect your surgical investment and enjoy your results for many years to come.

Yes, and they very often are. Combining procedures, such as an abdominoplasty with liposuction (as in a Mommy Makeover), can be both safe and efficient. It allows me to create a more harmonious, comprehensive result and allows you to have a single surgical event and one consolidated recovery period. During your consultation, we will discuss which procedures, if any, are appropriate to combine in your specific case.

Your Body Contouring Options

These are the other core body procedures I do, alone or in combination to achieve a comprehensive and balanced body contour.

An abdominoplasty, or “tummy tuck,” is a procedure designed to create a smoother, firmer, and more toned abdominal profile.

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Liposuction is a versatile and refined surgical procedure used to sculpt the body by removing localized, stubborn fat deposits.

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A thighplasty, or thigh lift, is designed to address loose, sagging skin and excess fat in the thigh area.

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Fat grafting to the buttocks, often known as a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), is a dual-benefit procedure that uses your body’s own fat to enhance the size and shape of the buttocks.

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Dr. Audrey Nguyen

My Approach

I am committed to the highest standards of patient care and plastic surgery. I believe in developing a strong relationship with my patients in order to best serve their needs and desires.

Furthemore, I am committed to the art and science of plastic surgery and believe that the best results come from a combination of technique, knowledge of patient anatomy, and artistry. My goal is to achieve excellence with a natural aesthetic and elegance while matching the patients’ desires to what is surgically possible so that they can radiate from the inside out. I look forward to meeting you.

Patient Testimonials
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Dear Dr. Nguyen, I wholeheartedly want to thank you for making possible my facelift surgery. You were with me every step of the way. I am so very very happy with my results; lovely and natural appearance. Just what I wanted! I appreciate that you considered my health and well-being above all else and together we made this happen. Lastly, each morning when I wake up, I look in the mirror and “smile.” I am so pleased!
Facelift
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Dear Dr. Nguyen, I am so grateful I chose you as my breast augmentation surgeon. My results are not only natural, but feel authentic to me! Beyond what I hoped for.

I feel happier and more like myself than ever before. I only wish I had found you sooner! THANK YOU!!
Breast Augmentation
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Words cannot explain our gratitude for all your thoughtfulness and care. You will always be in our hearts.
Male Abdominoplasty, Gynecomastia Excision & Reconstruction
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I have had a facelift , neck lift and scar removal performed by Dr. Nguyen. I have had the face and neck procedure done before, but with my last surgery I had less discomfort. The outcome of her surgery was superior to the previous surgery.

Dr. Nguyen is very professional with her patient consultation. I highly recommend her for any surgical procedure.
Facelift, Neck Lift & Scar Removal
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Dr. Nguyen, Thanks isn’t enough for the exceptional care you’ve given me. Thank you and my sincerest gratitude for making me feel like myself again.
Abdominoplasty
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Dr. Nguyen was incredible during my entire process with my BA procedure. She helped me select the size that felt perfect and natural for me and was incredibly attentive with all of my questions and concerns both during and after my procedure.

I am thrilled with my results 7 months post-op and highly recommend Dr. Nguyen.
Breast Augmentation
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Thank you for not only helping me achieve the natural look I was looking for but also remaining so kind and genuine throughout the whole process. You don’t know how much it means to find a doctor that is not only knowledgeable but also truly cares about their patients. My breasts look and feel amazing, you are truly an artist, and I can’t thank you enough.
Breast Augmentation
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Thank you for realizing a life-long dream I’ve had for over 25 years, and doing it with such compassion, skill, and attention to detail. Every aspect of my experience was exceptional–from thoroughly answering my questions and offering assurance during consult and pre-op to ensuring my comfort and expertly transforming my body during surgery, to taking the time to support me in the healing process and post-op visits. I felt so respected and at ease through this experience! And the results. Oh, the results!!!
Breast Augmentation
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Dr. Nguyen is wonderful in every way. Her manner is calm, gentle, confident, reassuring, and thorough. She answered all of my many questions in a thorough and documented way. The measures she took to prepare me for the most smooth, painless, and successful surgery all worked great–I had barely any pos-top discomfort and went on a date a week after my surgery. The results have been outstanding, and Dr. Nguyen provides great post-op care as well!
Breast Augmentation
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I highly recommend Dr. Nguyen! From my first consultation through surgery and post-surgery, she consistently made me feel like the most important patient she was working with. I never felt rushed in our meetings, she always encouraged questions and her expertise and passion for this work shined in all of her answers. Choosing a surgeon and choosing to have surgery can be scary, but there was a calm that came over me every time I met with her. I'm so happy with her natural results and her attention to detail.
Katherine G.Mommy Makeover