“Michelle Obama arms” became shorthand for toned, sculpted upper arms, and interest in surgical arm contouring (brachioplasty) has grown dramatically over the past two decades.

Michelle Obama Arms

It’s hard to say how much of this recent trend is pure star power. In general, upper arm-lifts have increased about 4,000% since 2000, which is no number to scoff at.
To put it in perspective, only 300 people went for the procedure in 2000. Up to 15,000 now, that’s essentially a market coming out of thin air.
The arms are, of course, not the traditional target of plastic surgery, nor are they the first thing you think of when you think supermodel. Breasts, hips, waist, and yes, legs. But arms definitely come in later on that list.
But it makes sense, when you think about it. Slimmer deltoids and upper triceps can have quite an effect on someone’s profile. Just slight slimming can have dramatic contouring implications.

The nuts and bolts of the procedure

So how’s a brachioplasty actually performed? Well, it partially depends on the skin elasticity of the patient.
Unfortunately, the less elastic a patient’s skin, the more pronounced of a sagging effect that might occur if too much fat is removed.
In fact, a lot of a brachioplasty is actually just tucking in of excess skin. However, if possible, brachioplasties can be done in conjunction with liposuction–thereby reducing the arm’s profile both through removal of excess skin and excess fat.
Of course, this would be a surgical procedure, and the standard protocol applies. That means to expect a longer recovery time than a purely noninvasive procedure.
Interested in arm contouring? Contact Washingtonian Plastic Surgery to schedule a consultation with Dr. Navin Singh.