Are You a Candidate for Arm Lift Surgery? [Brachioplasty]
Brachioplasty (arm lift surgery) removes excess skin and fat from the upper arms. Usually, people have the procedure after weight loss, but it may also be appropriate for those with loose arm skin and stubborn fat caused by ageing or heredity. While the operation can drastically improve the upper arms, it is not suitable for everyone interested in a brachioplasty procedure.
Who is a Typical Candidate for a Brachioplasty Procedure?
Brachioplasty
Disclaimer: Operation performed by Dr Bernard Beldholm. Adult content, surgery has risks, individual results vary, seek 2nd opinion. Please see the full disclaimer.
The upper arms can develop a saggy appearance for a few different reasons:
- Ageing: Your arm skin has lost elasticity, firmness, or tone due to age.
- Post-bariatric Surgery: You have loose skin after extreme, sudden weight loss.
- Biological or Hereditary Reasons: You store extra fat in your arms that won’t budge even after you’ve reached a healthy weight.
How do I find out if I am a suitable candidate for an arm lift?
If you’re interested in improving the appearance of your arms, here is what you’ll need to do. The first step is scheduling a visit to your general practitioner (GP). They will do a preliminary evaluation and can you to a surgeon specialising in excess skin removal procedures.
Once you receive a GP referral, you can book your initial consultation with Dr Bernard Beldholm. He has been performing arm lift surgeries for over 12 years. He focuses exclusively on helping postpartum women and post-bariatric patients to remove excess skin and resistant fat.
Dr Beldholm understands that living with loose skin and excess fat on the arms is more than just a cosmetic issue for some people. Sagging skin can cause chafing, rashes, or discomfort during exercise. Regardless of your reasons for wanting to improve your arms’ appearance, he can help you decide if a surgical procedure is the path forward.
Your Consultation for Upper Arm Lift Surgery
When you come in for your consultation with Dr Beldholm, he will ask about your appearance-related concerns and desired results. He will examine your upper arms for excess skin and fat. If you do not have any lifestyle factors or health conditions that would make it unsafe to have surgery, he may recommend a body contouring procedure such as an arm lift.
Am I a Good Candidate for Arm Lift Surgery?
Infographic: Who is a typical candidate for brachioplasty procedure?
Here is the criteria Dr Beldholm looks for when determining who is a suitable candidate for upper arm lift surgery.
- Nicotine-free
- Good health in general
- Not pregnant or nursing
- Not significantly overweight
- Understands that aesthetic surgery carries risks
- Willing to partake in a healthy diet and exercise routine after surgery
- No mental health issues such as body dysmorphia or significant cognitive impairments
- Has excess skin and fat in the upper arm region due to weight loss, maturity, or genetics
- Accepts that there will be a scar after the surgery (usually located on the inner aspect of the upper arm region)
- Has realistic expectations about what cosmetic surgery can do (for example, an arm lift won’t improve muscle tone and it won’t prevent body fat from returning)
If you are a good candidate for excessive skin removal, Dr Beldholm will design your surgical plan and let you know the next steps. While he tries to help as many patients as he can, he won’t recommend surgery if you are not a good candidate for safety reasons.
Contraindications to Arm Lift Surgery
The following list includes some of the most common arm lift contraindications.
Smoking
Tobacco use before and after arm lift surgery has been linked to minor and serious complications. If you do indulge in the habit, you will need to quit smoking far in advance. Otherwise, it may be unsafe to have upper arm contouring.
Pregnant or breastfeeding
The medications administered during or after upper arm surgery can make their way into a lactating woman’s breast milk. It is also not safe to undergo general anaesthesia while pregnant as it could harm the baby.
Systemic diseases
A person with cardiovascular disease, uncontrolled diabetes, respiratory problems, blood-clotting disorders, compromised immunity, etc. may not be a good candidate for elective surgical procedures.
Obesity
Being significantly overweight may rule out an arm lift operation. You’ll need to reach and maintain a healthy weight before the procedure.
Book Your Newcastle Arm Lift Consultation with Dr Beldholm
Are you an ideal candidate for arm lift surgery/brachioplasty? The only way to find out is booking a consultation with a specialist surgeon. To learn more about brachioplasty procedures and receive a detailed quote, ask your GP for a referral to Dr Bernard Beldholm, FRACS.
During your initial consultation, you will learn:
- Whether you are a candidate for elective surgery
- What type of brachioplasty is right for you
- Possible risks and complications that can occur
- How much arm lift surgery costs (including pricing for the surgeon, anaesthetist, and hospital fees)
- How to prepare for your arm lift procedure
- What happens during the operation
- How long the recovery time is after having saggy skin removed from the upper arms
- What to expect during the recovery period (for example, you’ll need to avoid strenuous activities for a few weeks and take short walks the first week)
- Tips to prevent sagging skin from returning (i.e. maintaining a healthy lifestyle to prevent weight gain)
- And more.
