A Surgical Solution for excess arm skin after weight loss
- Lost weight in your upper body?
- Wondering what can be done to reduce your excess skin on your upper arms?
- Interested in reducing excess arm skin with an arm lift or Brachioplasty surgery?
Learn more about arm skin surgery – known as an arm lift – with our Melbourne Plastic Surgeons, Dr Geoff Barnett or Dr Rebecca Wyten.
At a certain time of life, you may find yourself with wobbly upper arm skin along with your triceps. This is caused by a multitude of reasons including laxity caused by skin ageing or substantial weight loss. This issue is not a major concern to some, but to others (more so in extreme cases) the skin laxity can begin to limit what you can comfortably wear while also impending on a day to day tasks that require constant arm motion such as exercising.
It is in these cases that a Bilateral Brachioplasty may be considered. Commonly known as an Arm Lift, this procedure aims to contour the arm skin via surgical methods that help reduce the size and width of excess skin folds commonly known as ‘bingo wings’. The result of the operations aims to tighten and firm your upper arm appearance giving both a more pleasing appearance while increasing functionality of motion.
Arm Lift / Brachioplasty Guide
Click the image to request a download.
What’s involved with Arm Lift Surgery (Brachioplasty)?
The Brachioplasty is a complex procedure that involves removing sections of skin from the inner arm that runs from the armpit to the elbow. Excess fat and skin is removed from this area; liposuction is very common in conjunction with this procedure in order to contour the arm correctly. Underlying muscles are then tightened and skin then stitched back together. The Brachioplasty is performed as a bilateral procedure, meaning both arms are done in a single operation which means recovery time will be less extensive than a secondary operation.
One operation or two?
- Bilateral Brachioplasty procedures involve at least TWO unique surgeries, fully customised to suit each arm
- These can be done separately BUT most patients choose to have a bilateral procedure, meaning TWO operations at the same time
- These procedures can involve 2 to 4 or more advanced surgical techniques to get a good result, such as skin reduction with liposculpting
What will the results look like given my arms are different sizes?
- Each arm has a different girth, as all bodies are asymmetrical and no two arms are alike
- While some asymmetry can be lessened, the main focus is on reducing arm girth to create a firmer, smoother or tighter appearance of your upper arms
- Do not expect identical symmetry but do expect improvement on girth and skin appearance (reduced skin drooping)
- Healing and scar formation can take several months
- You’ll have to accept that you’ll have a long scar which may fade, but which is visible when your hands or arms are in certain positions
Is arm skin reduction worth it?
- Many patients report they feel much better having firmer arm skin (less self-conscious)
- In patient-to-patient forums, most patients report high satisfaction rates with these procedures
How to find out if Upper Arm Skin Surgery is right for you
Not every person with sagging triceps skin is a good candidate for plastic surgery.
Additionally, which Brachioplasty surgery techniques are best for you depends upon your specific skin condition and concerns.
Typically, the process of arm skin reduction surgery involves:
- A consultation and pre-op session to discuss your surgery requirements, costs, risks and aftercare
- Assessment of your overall health condition, Body Mass Index (Height and Weight) and skin laxity
- Discussion of the arm surgery techniques that will best suit your needs and PROS and CONS of different options
- CLINICAL BEFORE SURGERY PHOTOS will be taken (your AFTER surgery photos will be taken at your follow-up appointments)
- Once you schedule surgery, you’ll be given specific pre-surgery instructions and post-op care guidelines
- During surgery, inner arm area excisions are made to reduce the skin
- These incisions often extend from your elbow area to your armpit area or back and upper torso
- Liposuction and/or strategic incisions may also be employed to further reduce volume or girth, or shape the arms (tightening and contouring)
- Skin is then readjusted and tightly sutured and you’ll be prepared for your recovery period, including how to wear compression garments
- Wound care is also discussed and you’ll have follow up appointments shortly after surgery and then again at various time points
- Remember, you’ll be asked to wear compression garments for several weeks or months, depending on your pre-surgery condition and the amount of skin / dermal tissues removed during surgery
- We provide two compression garments but if you want additional sets, you can purchase these separately
Click here to read the PROCEDURE page for Arm Surgery for more details.
Arm Skin Surgery Scars (Brachioplasty Scars)
An example of a fresh arm lift scar is shown below. This will tend to fade in time.
- Notice the dramatic change in girth and ‘wobble reduction’.
- Clinic image (All Rights Reserved by Coco Ruby Plastic Surgery)
Example of arm girth reduction and skin reduction surgery (Photos)
How long is the Recovery period after Brachioplasty (Arm Skin Surgery)?
- Recovery varies from person to person and how your surgery is performed (bilateral vs one arm only, liposuction or skin excision only).
- You will, however, need a few weeks away from work and other activities involving arm use.
- Allow several weeks of no-driving and no heavy lifting for several months until your incision lines are fully healed.
- Compression garments must be worn as instructed, and allow about 12 to 16 weeks for most of the healing to occur.
- As your incision lines heal, your Surgeon will give you direct advice on when you can resume certain activities.
- For more on arm reduction surgery, get a downloadable PDF booklet that explains the process in more detail.
Download Our Excess Skin Reduction Guide
Benefits of Arm Reduction & Skin Reduction Plastic Surgery
- Smaller arm girth allows for more freedom of movement
- Less sweat/more comfort (reduced skin-to-skin contact and less skin volume)
- Easier to wear sleeved shirts or tops
- Reduction in flapping sounds when moving your arms
- Typically easier to exercise your upper body and arms (after fully recovering from surgery)
- More confidence wearing sleeveless clothing or swimwear
- Reduced skin infections caused by skin laxity or drooping arm skin (upper arms)
- Easier to see results of upper arm strengths training (tricep and bicep strengthening)
That noted all surgery has risks and results can vary significantly from patient to patient.
Costs of Arm Skin Reduction Surgery (Bilateral Brachioplasty)
The average price of Arm lift Surgery varies according to what you need adjusted in terms of excess skin and fat reduction.
Average prices for bilateral brachioplasty surgery in Melbourne range from $17,000 to $23,000 when performed by an expert Plastic Surgeon who operates in Hospital settings.
Upper Arm Reduction Surgery Recovery and Risks
Risks to Consider when exploring Arm Lift (Bilateral Brachioplasty) Surgery
Like all surgical procedures, Brachioplasty, whether on its own or in combination with Liposculpture or Liposuction, does have some risk. Risks are covered in our Arm Lift/Brachioplasty procedure pages.
10 Surgery risks in general include:
- General Anaesthesia Risks
- Bleeding (Haematoma)
- Infection or Poor Scarring
- Delayed Wound Healing
- Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Fluid build-up (Seroma)
- Scar formation
- Numbness or other sensation changes after surgery
- Asymmetry or uneven girth (no two sides are ever identical, before OR after surgery)
- Other risks
All successful surgery outcomes are the result of realistic expectations of the patient, realistic surgical goals and the knowledge of possible risks and complications.
Nothing is ever guaranteed in science and medicine. Risks are minimised through careful patient screening and planning, high standards of surgical training, meticulous surgical technique and vigilant post-operative care.
Contact our Clinic to find out if you are a good candidate for upper arm reshaping surgery OR other body reshaping and body lift procedures in Melbourne or Berwick.
Combined Body Contouring after Weight Loss or Pregnancy
Dr Rebecca Wyten and Dr Geoff Barnett are our Clinic’s top Arm Skin Reduction Surgery experts for wobbly arm skin.
Dr Barnett also performs various body contouring and breast surgery for women after pregnancy and weight loss. Some patients want to sequence Upper Arm Surgery with other body reshaping, body contouring & body lift procedures.
The most popular surgeries chosen after having Upper Arm (Brachioplasty) Surgery include Tummy Tuck/Abdominoplasty, Belt Lipectomy, Thigh skin reduction/Thigh Lift Body Contouring, Breast Reduction, Breast Lift Surgery or a Breast Lift with Augmentation using fat transfer or implants.
