What to look for in your arms
- Sagginess of the skin.
- Fat of the upper arms especially after losing weight.
Solution
Brachioplasty is in operation that removes excess skin and fat from the upper arm leaving a scar running along the inner arm.
Arm Lift or Bingo Wing Reduction (Brachioplasty)
Brachioplasty, Arm Lift or Bingo Wing Removal
Both dieting and old age can add to the excess, loose flaps of skin (sometimes called ‘Bingo Wings’) you may have on your upper arms.
To reduce these, an upper arm reduction or an arm lift is a surgical procedure that removes excess lax skin and reduces the circumference of the upper arms.
A Brachioplasty targets the unwanted, excess arm skin and is usually performed in conjunction with liposuction to improve the overall contours of the arms. It is usually performed under general anaesthetic and takes 90-120 minutes.
What you need to know about a brachioplasty
Mr Fitton will make a long incision between your elbow and armpit. Depending on your condition and situation the incision could be minimal. Be sure to discuss your incision with Mr Fitton. Segments of skin and fat will be removed and the remaining skin and tissue will be lifted resulting in a tight, smooth look.
- Length of surgery: 2 – 3 hours
- Anaesthetic type: General anaesthetic
- Hospital Stay: 1 night
Recovery from a brachioplasty
- Removal of sutures and review of wound 10 – 14 days post operatively
- Support garment to be worn for 4 – 6 weeks post operatively
- Return to work 3 – 6 weeks post operatively
- Return to driving 2 – 3 weeks post operatively
- Return to exercise – 6 weeks post operatively
- You will start to get an appreciation of the end result 12 – 24 weeks post operatively
- Scars will continue to improve 12 – 18 months post operatively2
Post Brachioplasty Care
Dressings will be applied and drains may be put in to your arm to drain any fluid or blood from the wound. Elastic bandages will be applied to support the area and you will be given medication for pain relief.
You will need to wear a tight fitting body garment for the first few weeks to support the area. You should not engage in any strenuous activities until Mr Fitton advises you to do so. Your scars will be permanent but will eventually fade. You should allow 9 – 12 months for your scars to flatten and lighten in colour.
Body contouring is major surgery. You should be prepared for the recovery process.
It’s important to maintain an active lifestyle and eat healthily once you’ve fully healed from your surgery. It’s natural to lose some firmness as you age, however, the results of an arm lift are meant to be permanent. If your weight fluctuates, the results of your arm lift may fade.
Risks / Implications of Brachioplasty Surgery
A brachioplasty takes two to three hours. Afterwards, you will wear a compression garment to help control swelling. You typically can expect to resume light activity within a few days. You will be able to go back to strenuous activity after three or four weeks.
Frequent
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Numbness & Tingling
- Tightness
- Seroma
- Stretched scars
- Sensory changes
Infrequent
- Unsightly scars
- Delayed healing
- Fat necrosis
- Occasional need for revisional surgery
- Asymmetry
- Irregularity
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Haematoma
- Pulmonary embolism
- Lymphoedema
- Recurrence
Alternative Treatment Options
- Nil
- I-Lipo
- Diet / exercise
