Brachioplasty is a procedure used to reduce natural excess skin and/or fat deposits in the upper arms. Also known as Arm Lift surgery, Brachioplasty aims to contour the shape of the upper arm and give the skin a smoother and tighter appearance, as per your individual aesthetic needs.
Brachioplasty (Arm Lift)
Brachioplasty (Arm Lift) Quick Summary
Brachioplasty (Arm Lift) addresses the area from the upper arm under the armpit down to the elbow. During Brachioplasty (Arm Lift), natural excess skin and/or fat deposits are surgically removed while the underlying supportive tissue is smoothed and tightened. This can redefine the shape of the arms and reduces localized fat deposits in the process. Dr Verma has the training and expertise to perform bespoke Brachioplasty that is tailored specifically to your individual aesthetic needs.
Where is it done? Your Brachioplasty (Arm Lift) surgery will be performed at the brand-new Honeysuckle Day Hospital in Newcastle, a fully licensed and accredited day hospital which is purposely equipped to care for cosmetic surgical procedures.
Length of surgery: Brachioplasty (Arm Lift) usually takes two to three hours. These times depend on many factors, such as the complexity of the surgery.
Type of anaesthesia: General Anaesthesia, or Twilight Sedation coupled with Local Anaesthesia.
Day surgery or inpatient stay? Day Surgery
Approximate cost: Varies according to type, complexity, and length of the procedure. You will receive a detailed quote with a cost of the procedure after your consultation with Dr. Verma, tailored to you.
Next Steps: Not sure if Brachioplasty is right for you? Maybe you feel more than one type of cosmetic surgery may be required? Or are you interested in non-surgical ways to meet your aesthetic needs?
We advise booking a consultation with Dr. Verma. With his expertise and commitment to achieving the best results, together you can create a personalized treatment plan involving both surgical and non-surgical cosmetic treatments individually tailored to the look you would like to achieve.
Call (02) 4001 0511 to talk to our friendly staff and book a consultation with Dr. Verma.
Brachioplasty (Arm Lift) Surgery Consultation
Do I qualify for Brachioplasty (Arm Lift)?
If you have natural excess skin or fat deposits on your upper arms, Brachioplasty might be a suitable aesthetic treatment option. Additionally, you need to be in good general physical and mental health to undergo surgery, ideally be a non-smoker, or amenable to quitting pre-operatively.
Who is a good candidate for Brachioplasty (Arm Lift)?
The ideal candidate for Brachioplasty (Arm Lift) is someone who has excess skin, but minimal fat deposits. This is often the natural result of weight loss, as skin elasticity is reduced with fat deposit loss. The advancing in years process also causes a natural loss of skin elasticity and skin on the upper arms.
As weight changes will influence the natural shape of your body, Brachioplasty (Arm Lift) is best undertaken when you have reached your goal weight, and it has been stabilised for at least 3 months.
Cosmetic surgery performed by Dr. Verma is done with the latest, evidence-based techniques to address your individual aesthetic needs, and being committed to adhering to pre- and post-operative instructions is of great importance to achieving safe and healthy outcomes.
What to expect during the consultation?
No two bodies are the same. Dr. Verma will take a full medical history and examine your arms. He will then suggest the best option(s) for you, which are tailored to your specific aesthetic needs, and provide you with bespoke information about the procedures and the process, so that you can make an informed decision.
Please note that, during your consultation and with your consent, Dr. Verma will be taking photographs of your arms. Clinical photography is vital in the cosmetic surgery experience and allows Dr. Verma to document and share your progress with you, pre- and post-operatively. Sometimes, with your additional consent, these photographs will be uploaded onto our website. The images are de-identified, with birthmarks, tattoos and any other identifying features removed. Images are not altered in any other way, ensuring a true representation of the likely results. Whilst individual results may vary, such ‘Before-After’ images help other potential patients, like yourself, to decide whether this is the right procedure for them.
Generally, the consultation is your opportunity to ask Dr. Verma any questions or clarify any concerns you may have regarding your Brachioplasty.
What is the cost of Brachioplasty? What is included?
Cost of brachioplasty depends on the length and complexity of the surgery, which is individual to each person. After the consultation, once you have decided you are interested in Brachioplasty, you will receive a quote for the cost of the surgery. This price includes Dr. Verma’s fees (Proceduralist fees), and the cost of follow-up visits up to 3 months post-surgery. It does not include hospital and anaesthetist costs, but an estimate of such costs can be provided on request. There will never be any pressure or rush for you to decide. You will have information about payment details and costs in your quote, and ample time to ask questions before making an informed decision.
Brachioplasty (Arm Lift) Procedure
How is Brachioplasty (Arm Lift) performed? Are there different techniques?
There are two different procedures and techniques for Brachioplasty (Arm Lift). Dr. Verma will discuss these with you to help determine which is the best option for your individual aesthetic needs at your consultation. These are:
- Full Brachioplasty. This is the traditional method where an incision is made from the upper armpit to the elbow. The natural fat deposit tissue is then contoured, and excess skin is removed. The remaining skin is pulled taut and sutured in place. Due to the larger length of the incision, this technique leaves a bigger scar, but it is most suitable for patients who have larger amounts of tissue to be removed.
- Limited Incision Brachioplasty. In this method, a smaller incision is made in the armpit, and from there, excess tissue is removed. This is better suited to patients who have a smaller amount of excess tissue of the arm.
Where will the incisions/scars be?
You will have a scar on each arm running from the armpit to the elbow. Dr. Verma will limit the scar length and will work to position the scar in an inconspicuous location. These generally fade to form faint white scars, although the degree of fading varies depending on how your skin tends to heal and form scars.
What type of Anaesthesia will be used?
Depending upon the amount of natural excess skin and fat deposits to be removed, the type of anaesthesia used will be either general anaesthesia or twilight sedation. Dr. Verma will be able to advise which anaesthesia will be best suited to your needs at the time of your consultation. If appropriate, Dr Verma will also utilise additional local anaesthesia, which is injected into the site of surgery during the operation; giving you better pain relief upon waking.
What are the side effects of Brachioplasty (Arm Lift)?
Temporary bruising and swelling, numbness, soreness, and tiredness are normal in brachioplasty patients. Symptoms typically self-resolve, and Dr Verma will discuss these with you in detail during your consultation.
What are the risks and complications of Brachioplasty (Arm Lift)?
With any surgical procedure, there are risks involved, and most problems are easily treated and settle with time.
General risks of any surgery include excessive bleeding, reaction to any of the medications (including anaesthesia), infection, poor healing or excessive scarring. Risks and complications directly associated with Brachioplasty can include:
- Prominently visible scars including keloid and hypertrophic scars. These scars are red, raised and thickened and can form over the top of healed incisions. They are unsightly and can be irritating causing itchiness, but they are not health threatening
- Numbness around the surgical site – this is usually temporary will improve over time
- Skin that does not heal requiring a skin graft
- Constrained movements due to tightened skin
- Formation of seroma (collection of fluid) around the operation site
The occurrence of such complications depends mainly on factors such as whether you smoke, your general health status, how your body heals, as well as your post-operative recovery. Dr. Verma will discuss all risks and complications with you during your consultation, as well as techniques and medications which can minimise these risks.
Recovery after Brachioplasty (Arm Lift)
Care of your arms and surgical sites
You will be provided with detailed instructions by Finesse Cosmetic Surgery with regards to practical care of your sutures, wounds etc. Any sutures are usually removed in 10-14 days. After your brachioplasty, you will need to wear a ‘post-op garment’. This is a snug fabric garment which aims to reduces swelling and bruising after surgery, helping to minimize pain and achieve better outcomes.
Additionally, after your surgery, you will have dressings and bandages applied to your wounds. You will also be wrapped in a compression garment designed to minimize swelling and provide support to your surgical site during healing. It may sometimes be necessary to provide a thin tube under the skin to drain away excess blood or fluid that can collect at the site.
Downtime
We usually recommend that you take 1-2 weeks off work after your operation, but if you have a job that involves lifting or manual handling you may need a longer break. Dr. Verma will discuss this with you at your consultation. You will also need to introduce some temporary lifestyle modifications until you are fully recovered. This will usually include avoiding heavy lifting and repetitive bending of the arms, avoiding strenuous exercise or sports, and avoiding swimming. Finesse Cosmetic Surgery will ensure that you have any required documentation and medical certificates needed, as appropriate.
When will you see results?
After your bandages are removed, your results will be visible immediately, but will become more noticeable when the swelling and bruising from your operation subsides; which may take up to 6 weeks.
What will be your follow up schedule?
Dr. Verma will see you one week post the operation and then organise subsequent follow-ups according to how you recover. All follow-up visits cost up to three months after the operation are included in the cost of the surgery. Revision surgery for any complications carries an extra charge.
Similar to your consultation visit (see above), Dr. Verma will be taking photographs of your arms in order to document its healing during follow up visits.
How long do the effects of Brachioplasty (Arm Lift) last for?
Brachioplasty (Arm Lift) is a permanent procedure but is dependent upon stabilized weight. Any significant weight gain or weight loss after your surgery may affect your results.