The numbers of women with concerns about their "bingo wings" are steadily increasing. Due to ageing and weight gain/loss the skin on the upper arms becomes loose and starts sagging; loss of skin elasticity and reduction of tissue volume.

The swing of the excess skin can often be so uncomfortable that women avoid wearing sleeveless outfits and have problems buying ready-to-wear clothing.

Brachioplasty, also known as arm lift, is a surgical procedure removing excess skin and tissue. Main goal of this treatment is to regain toned and sculpted upper arms aligning perfectly with the body.

Liposuction is also an option for patients with small to moderate amounts of fat and little skin laxity. It is a minimally invasive technique removing unwanted fat deposits through small incisions in the skin. These inconspicuous incisions of a few millimetres are made in the armpit and typically leave no scarring behind.

For patients with significant excess skin the arm lift procedure needs to be carried out under general anaesthetic. To completely remove excess fat and skin an incision in the upper inner arm is made, extending from armpit to elbow. Subsequently, multiple layer closure is performed and a wound dressing is applied. After the surgery, it is required to wear compression garment for a minimum of 6 weeks. This is absolutely necessary to hold the skin in place and allow it to contract resulting in smooth skin appearance and prevention of swellings.

Whether an arm lift surgery should be performed on an outpatient or inpatient basis, this will be discussed with you in person during your consultation.

Recovery period usually takes about three to four weeks. During this period the arms should not be elevated. Most patients can resume work after one week, if the job is not very physical and does not require heavy lifting.

Despite the most inconspicuous location for a brachioplasty scar, you should be aware that when moving around scarring may be visible.

If you are interested in brachioplasty, please contact me for an appointment and I would be very pleased to discuss your options with you and decide what is most appropriate for you.