Arm Lift Sydney (Brachioplasty)
An arm lift, also referred to as an upper arm lift or brachioplasty, is a procedure that removes excess skin on the arms, which exercise alone may not address. Excess skin can often remain after losing a large amount of weight or rapidly losing weight, as the skin may not retract in the area. Skin laxity can also result as part of the natural ageing process over time.
What is an arm lift?
Upper arm lift surgery, or brachioplasty, is designed to address loose or excess skin on the upper arms. Patients who undergo the procedure may have excess skin after weight loss, due to the natural ageing process, or other causes of skin laxity.
Sometimes, the procedure may include liposuction to address excess fat pockets, as well as remove excess skin.
Your arm lift consultation at Aesthetic Edge in Sydney
During your arm lift consultation, your medical history and overall health will be reviewed to determine if you’re a good candidate for the procedure. You’ll also have a discussion with your surgeon about what you’re looking to achieve, which will help to determine if an arm lift is a suitable procedure for you.
Part of preparing for a brachioplasty may include adjusting any medications or supplements, quitting smoking, and undergoing pre-operative tests to ensure your suitability for surgery. These preparation steps will be discussed in detail during your consultation, where you’ll have the chance to ask your surgeon any questions you may have.
You’ll need a referral from your GP to schedule your consultation. Please reach out to our team if you have any questions about the process.
Suitable candidates for brachioplasty
Patients may have a variety of personal reasons for choosing to undergo an arm lift. While the procedure is commonly performed for aesthetic reasons, excess skin on the arms – particularly after significant or rapid weight loss – may need to be removed for medically necessary reasons.
Excess skin on the upper arms may cause discomfort, mobility issues, and skin rashes or infections. These reasons may be considered medically necessary and may prompt a patient to undergo the procedure.
Your surgeon will assess your suitability for an upper arm lift during your consultation. In general, suitable candidates will be at a stable weight and not planning to continue losing weight. You should be in good general health, without medical conditions that could complicate the procedure. You may need to have some pre-operative tests completed to further assess your health and suitability for surgery. To be suitable, you’ll need to be a non-smoker or willing to quit before surgery. You will also need to continue to avoid smoking during your recovery.
Suitable candidates should have realistic expectations for the results of an arm lift, which can be determined during a consultation. Your surgeon will outline the results you can expect from the procedure, which will manage expectations and ensure that the procedure aligns with what you want to achieve.
The upper arm lift procedure
Your brachioplasty will be performed under general anaesthesia at your nominated hospital. You will have the chance to discuss how the procedure will be performed during your consultation with your surgeon, before the day of the procedure.
Before the surgery, your surgeon will ask you to stand so that they can carefully mark where the incision will be placed on your upper arms. Depending on your needs, the incision may extend from your underarm down to your elbow.
After making the incision, your surgeon will work to tighten the underlying tissue and remove any excess skin. After completing the adjustments, the incisions will be closed with sutures.
Your procedure may include liposuction, if you want to remove fat pockets as well as excess skin. The option of including liposuction can be discussed during your consultation when creating your procedure plan.
Recovery after an upper arm lift
After your brachioplasty surgery, you’ll typically need to spend at least one night in the hospital to be monitored as you recover. Once you’re feeling more comfortable and able to manage basic activities, like moving to and from the bathroom, you will normally then be able to return home. You’ll need to arrange for someone to pick you up after your surgery, as you won’t be able to drive home.
During the first few days of your recovery, you’ll need to get plenty of rest, limiting your movements to light activities around the house. It’s normal to experience some level of discomfort and pain, which can often be managed with prescribed pain medication. Strenuous activities should be avoided for about one to two weeks, or as your surgeon advises.
You’ll receive personalised instructions, but generally, you’ll need to avoid smoking and alcohol for at least two weeks after surgery. You should also avoid excessive heat exposure, such as steam rooms and saunas. You’ll also have to keep the incision area clean and dry, which will help to avoid infection and other wound-healing complications. You may also be advised to wear compression garments during your recovery to reduce swelling in the area. Staying hydrated and following a healthy diet will be another step that can support your healing process.
In terms of returning to work, most people will need about three weeks off to sufficiently recover after brachioplasty. However, the specific amount of time that you’ll need off work can vary depending on your individual healing process and the nature of your work.
During the first month after your surgery, you’ll have weekly check-ups with your surgeon to monitor your healing process. As you recover, the time between visits will gradually increase and you’ll require less follow-up appointments. Your follow-up appointments will also allow your surgeon to make any changes to your recovery instructions and identify any complications in a timely manner.
While the results of your brachioplasty are often noticeable straight after the procedure, depending on the amount of excess skin removed, it typically takes a few months for the final results to show. Swelling and bruising can take some time to fully subside and can make the results difficult to see clearly. When your results are clearly visible, you should be able to notice the removal of the excess skin and possibly excess fat pockets, depending on the details of your individual procedure.
Costs of an arm lift at Aesthetic Edge in Sydney
The cost of an arm lift varies from patient to patient, based on the steps of the procedure, the results that your surgeon will aim to achieve, the time spent in the operating theatre, and more.
Your total costs include anaesthetist, hospital, and surgeon fees, as well as any necessary medical tests, post-surgery garments, and prescribed medications.
Your costs will also need to consider if liposuction will be included in the procedure, to address excess fat pockets in the upper arms. Sometimes, other surgeries can also be combined with an arm lift, which will also need to be included in the costs.
If an arm lift is performed to address concerns that could be considered medical, such as discomfort, issues with mobility, or skin conditions caused by the excess skin, Medicare may be able to cover some of the procedure’s costs.
For a patient to be eligible for Medicare cover, they must meet Medicare’s requirements and prove the medical need for the procedure. If a patient has private health cover, their provider may also contribute to part of the procedure’s costs, but this will depend on the patient’s personal circumstances.
If you have any questions about the costs of an arm lift or would like an estimate, you are welcome to call our team. However, you’ll need to consult with your surgeon for an accurate, personal estimate.
Possible risks and complications
It’s important to follow your surgeon’s recovery instructions closely during your recovery to reduce the risk of complications.
Some of the risks associated with brachioplasty include bleeding or wound infections, which may occur if the incisions are not kept clean or properly cared for. Slow or poor healing can also be a complication, as well as fluid (seroma) or blood (hematoma), which may require medical treatment.
Other possible complications include numbness or loss of sensation in the treated area, and in rare cases, damage to underlying tissues. Scarring is a natural part of the healing process, but poor scarring can occur if the skin doesn’t heal as expected.
You will need to discuss the potential risks and complications of a brachioplasty in more detail during your consultation with your surgeon.
Arm Lift Sydney (Brachioplasty) FAQs
Generally, recovery takes about three weeks, but the speed of your recovery will depend on a variety of factors, such as the extent of your procedure and the rate of your individual healing.
It’s normal to have limited arm and shoulder movements during the first week of your recovery, but this will subside as the skin stretches in the area and your body heals.