Body Contouring (Arm Lift & Thigh Lift)

VG Plastic Surgery in Glendale offers upper arm lift (brachioplasty) and thigh lift procedures for patients dealing with excess skin and tissue laxity following weight loss, pregnancy, or ageing. Brachioplasty removes excess skin from the inner upper arm through an incision concealed along the inner arm, with optional liposuction. Thigh lift removes inner thigh skin excess through an incision in the groin crease. Drains are placed and removed at 7–10 days. Compression garments are worn for 3–4 weeks post-operatively.

Body contouring lift procedures at VG Plastic Surgery in Glendale, California address the skin and soft tissue redundancy that cannot be resolved through exercise or continued weight loss — a common concern among patients who have experienced significant weight reduction, whether through lifestyle changes or bariatric surgery, as well as among those experiencing age-related skin laxity. Upper arm lift (brachioplasty) targets the loose, sagging skin of the inner upper arm that creates the bat-wing appearance. Dr. Vladimir Grigoryants places the brachioplasty incision along the medial (inner) surface of the upper arm, running from the axilla toward the elbow — a position that places the scar within the natural shadow of the arm and keeps it hidden when the arms rest at the sides. Through this access, the redundant skin and subcutaneous tissue are resected and the wound is closed in layers with absorbable sutures to minimise tension on the skin edge. In cases where the excess is primarily fatty rather than cutaneous, liposuction of the upper arms alone may be sufficient without excision; when both skin and fat excess are present, liposuction is performed simultaneously with the lift to optimise contouring and feather the transition to the forearm and lateral chest. Drains are placed and removed at 7–10 days. Compression garment wear for 3–4 weeks supports healing and manages residual swelling. Inner thigh lift surgery addresses the medial thigh skin redundancy — particularly the upper inner thigh, which is commonly affected after significant weight loss — through an incision placed within the natural crease of the groin, where it is concealed by underwear and swimwear. The skin and tissue excess is resected and the wound is closed with sutures anchored to Colles' fascia (the deep fascial layer of the perineum) to prevent inferior scar migration. Drains are placed at the time of surgery. Thigh lift is frequently combined with abdominoplasty and arm lift within a comprehensive post-bariatric body contouring plan, with procedural staging guided by patient health status and anticipated recovery tolerance. The Glendale practice attracts patients from across Southern California — including Los Angeles, Burbank, Pasadena, and the San Fernando Valley — as well as from out of state and internationally for these procedures.