What’s arm lift (Brachioplasty)

Brachioplasty Surgery is a Plastic Surgery procedure to help reduce flabby upper arm
skin, sometimes called ‘bat wings’ or ‘bingo wings.’ It is also known as Upper Arm
Reduction Surgery or “Arm Lift” Surgery.
Bilateral Arm Lift Surgery can be beneficial for women and men who have lost weight
or skin
elasticity and firmness in the upper arm area, which has left unsightly sagging skin or
“wings”.
• A Brachioplasty procedure is the surgical reduction of redundant skin and fatty
tissues from your upper arm area.
• The area treated by an Arm Lift procedure typically extends from below your armpit to
a variable distance towards your elbow.
• Brachioplasty procedures may also involve liposuction prior to reducing excess
(redundant) skin using surgical excisions.
• The incision line is placed strategically to help minimise the visibility of your
Brachioplasty scars when your arms are resting by your sides, however, this may not
be possible for all patients.
• A skilled Brachioplasty Surgeon knows where to place the Arm Lift incision lines for
good results and optimal scar minimisation.
Incision-line scars can take 12 to 18 months to reach maturity but some scars mature
earlier.
• There are healing aids and scar minimisation methods (such as Fraxel lasers, Healite II
Technology and DermaPen), that can help to minimise or flatten your scars after Arm
Lift surgery.

Types of arm lift

  • Standard Brachioplasty:

A standard Bilateral Brachioplasty: includes the surgical reduction of excess hanging skin from both arms. The treated area on each arm involves the skin from the armpit down to the elbow.
It is surgically Reducing substantial loose skin that comes with aging, weight changes, or bariatric surgery.

  • Extended Brachioplasty:

An extended Brachioplasty includes a slightly larger section of the Body in addition to the arm itself. This procedure consists of the upper Side of the chest wall and the underarm region, as well as the arm Itself from the elbow to the armpit. An extended bilateral Brachioplasty is commonly needed for Post-bariatric surgery patients who have achieved significant Weight loss.

This procedure may also be suitable for those who were Once obese or who have substantial fat accumulation in their upper Torso area, which has resulted in skin folds.

  • Limited incision Brachioplasty:

A Limited Incision Brachioplasty has an incision located in the armpit only. This type of Brachioplasty procedure is for patients who have a smaller amount of
hanging skin around their upper arm. A Specialist Plastic Surgeon can assist you to assess whether you are a good candidate for a Limited Incision Brachioplasty OR if a standard or extended Brachioplasty will give you a better result for your upper arm reduction goals.

When to consider an arm lift?

Am I a good candidate for a rm lift surgery?

• Arm Lift Surgery may be a great option to achieve a firmer, contoured upper arm area.
• The procedure may be appropriate for people with excess or visible sagging upper arm skin due to weight loss or ageing,
• Significant weight loss through Bariatric Surgery or lifestyle changes often leaves behind redundant, sagging upper arm skin or skin folds in various parts of the body.
• Exercise will help tone and tighten the underlying muscles, but will not help reduce the sagging skin that has resulted from the weight changes.
• Brachioplasty however is not intended to take the place of exercise regimes or healthy eating. A good candidate must be at a stable weight and should have no underlying
health issues.

Common reasons for Wanting an arm lift

• Being left with excess, loose skin around your upper arm area after losing weight.
• Excess hanging skin from your upper arms as a result of ageing and changes to skin elasticity.
• Reduced self-confidence due to excess skin around your upper arms that is more exposed than other areas of your body and which cannot easily be hidden by clothing.
• Limited clothing choice as many items of clothing, including short sleeve tops, singlets and bathing suits, expose the loose skin around your upper arm area.
• To balance out your physique and overall body shape; for example, you may have slimmed down everywhere else but the excess skin around your upper arms causes you to appear heavier than you actually are or is not in proportion to the rest of your body.
• Large amounts of excess skin around the upper arm area can make certain forms of physical activity difficult or may restrict mobility; it can also lead to recurring skin irritations, chaffing, infections or ‘flapping sounds’ when using your arms.

The surgical procedure

• excess skin is reduced from the inner section of the arms. Incisions run from the armpit area to variable lengths towards the elbow.
• if the excess skin extends past the armpit and onto the chest wall, the incision is extended to incorporate this (an extended Brachioplasty).
• liposuction is often used in combination with Brachioplasty surgery to reduce excess fatty tissue from the under and outer surfaces of the arm. Sometimes liposuction may also precede the arm lift surgery.
• the incision edges are then closed using stitches that are beneath the skin (dissolvable sutures, so that they do not need to be removed).
• scars can take from 12-18 months to mature, but this can vary from patient to patient.
• healite ii technology, fraxel laser treatments or dermapen may be used to assist with healing and minimization of surgical scars.

Maintaining results

It is important to work collaboratively with your surgeon And to keep your expectations realistic at all times every Patient is unique and surgery results can vary from patient to patient. Please keep in mind that your results from brachioplasty Surgery are likely to be impacted by fluctuations in your Weight, skin health or body mass index (bmi). Skin may
Be stretched and become loose again if you gain and/or Lose weight following surgery. To maximise the longevity of your arm lift surgery results, it is important to maintain a healthy, nutritious Lifestyle following your surgery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the postoperative process painful?

Most patients report that the pain is very tolerable. The majority of patients report that they are in good condition a few days after surgery.

What kind of anesthesia is used?

The procedure is usually performed in the operating room when the patient is under general anesthesia. Also, local anesthetics are injected at the site of intervention.

Where is the incision made for the surgery?

The incision site will be selected based on the quantity of the tissue to be removed and its proximity to the inner or lower parts of the arms. The traditional vertical incision extends from the armpit to the elbow. If excessive tissue is limited to the upper arm close to the shoulder, a crescent-shaped minimal incision may be made.

How Long Does A Session Of Arm Lift Surgery Last?

The total length of the surgery is approximately 2 hours.