‘Bingo wings’ – loose, sagging skin on your upper arms – can be an unwelcome part of the ageing process. Drooping skin on your arms can also be a side effect of weight loss. If you’re looking to tighten up this area and get rid of excess skin, arm lift surgery could help.
1 - 3 hours
6 weeks
first 6 weeks
Also known as brachioplasty, arm lift surgery can reduce excess skin and fat while tightening and smoothing existing tissue to result in firmer arms.
By eliminating ‘bingo wings’, an arm lift could help you feel more confident in yourself, particularly when wearing short sleeves or form-fitting clothes.
If you’re self-conscious about having excess skin and/or fat on your upper arms, an arm lift could offer you several benefits, including:
Before your surgery, you’ll be given general anaesthetic, meaning that you’ll be asleep throughout the procedure.
To begin with, your surgeon will make an incision between your elbow and armpit. They’ll then remove segments of excess skin and fat before lifting and tightening the remaining tissue. If necessary, liposuction might also be used to get rid of excess fat.
To finish the procedure, your incisions will be closed and dressings applied to protect the wounds.
You might be considering an arm lift if you’re self-conscious about excess skin and/or fat on your upper arms. While an arm lift can get rid of this excess tissue, it’s important to remember that it’s not a weight loss procedure, so you should be at or near your goal weight when you have this surgery. You should also be prepared to maintain a stable weight after having an arm lift, as gaining/losing weight can affect your results.
As with any cosmetic procedure, you should be in generally good health, a non-smoker and have realistic expectations of the results.
After your fat transfer, you’ll spend one night in hospital before going home to recover.
After your arm lift operation, you should take at least 2 weeks off work, depending on how physical your job is. Your arms will have swelling and bruising for the first few days, but this will begin to fade as you recover.
You can start to exercise again after 4-6 weeks and should continue to wear your compression garment for the length of time recommended by your surgeon. Your final results will become visible around 3 months after your surgery.
It can take up to 6 months to see your final results, and you may need to wear a compression garment for a few months following your procedure to get the most out of your results.
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After your arm lift surgery, you should avoid any activities that involve stretching your arms above your head or lifting anything heavy. You should take care not to strain your arms or stretch them too much when doing daily tasks. After around 2 weeks, you should be back to work but should continue to be gentle with your arms.
You’ll need to wait 4-6 weeks before exercising with your arms again.
As with all cosmetic surgery that involves incisions, an arm lift will leave you with scarring along your upper arms. This is usually concealed under the tricep, and will fade over time. You can also help to improve the appearance of your scars by keeping them out of the sun and using Vitamin E cream on them once the wounds are fully healed.
Your surgeon will advise you to maintain a stable weight after your brachioplasty, as changes in weight can affect your results. Gaining weight after an arm lift can re-stretch the skin, while losing weight afterwards can cause excess skin to return.
If you suffer from sagging and/or excess skin on your upper arms, an arm lift can reduce this to leave you with more toned and youthful arms. Liposuction can remove stubborn pockets of fat that won’t budge despite diet and regular exercise. The two techniques can often be combined to achieve optimum results.
You may have surgical drains to help the healing process of your arm lift. Drains prevent excess fluid from building up under your skin, which can cause problems with healing. Drains are typically left in for 7-14 days following surgery, but this will depend on your surgeon.
Your compression garment should be worn for at least 6 weeks following an arm lift, as this will help your arms to heal, reduce swelling and help your arms retain their new shape. Your surgeon will let you know when you can stop wearing your compression garment.
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