Combining Brachioplasty and Other Procedures
You’ve decided to go under the knife for an arm lift (brachioplasty) to remove saggy skin and fat. Since you’ll already be in the operating room, you’re probably wondering if you can have other body contouring surgeries done at the same time.
Today, you’ll learn what combinations are possible, whether it’s safe to combine procedures with arm lift surgery, and reasons you might not want to book multiple surgeries on the same day.
Extended Brachioplasty
What are the benefits of combining an arm lift with other procedures?
Why consider combining procedures with arm lift surgery? Here are some of the possible advantages of a single operation.
- A single recovery period
- More comprehensive results
- Lower cost (i.e. cost savings on general anaesthesia & Hospital)
- Potentially taking less time off work and driving to heal
What are some examples of combined procedures?
Combining procedures
Patients looking to remove excess loose skin might be interested in combining an arm lift and other body contouring procedures. Here are a few options Dr Beldholm might discuss with you.
Disclaimer: Every surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Seek a second opinion before proceeding.
Arm Lift and Liposuction
Arm lifts remove the excess skin and subcutaneous fat from the upper arms. Liposuction is frequently performed at the same time for added refinement and fat removal.
*These procedures are often combined into one surgery.
Arm Lift and Breast Lift
Women with saggy arm skin may also have sagging breasts. A breast lift (mastopexy) is a cosmetic breast surgery that elevates saggy breasts by removing loose skin and reshaping the breast mound for a perkier appearance.
*You may need to book these operations separately.
Arm Lift and Breast Reduction
A breast reduction (reduction mammoplasty) is a cosmetic procedure that removes excess tissue to make large breasts smaller and better proportioned. Breast reduction surgery differs from breast lifts in that the latter creates lifted breasts without significant changes in overall size.
*It’s recommended to book these procedures several months apart.
Arm Lift and Breast Augmentation
In addition to remaining skin and stubborn fat on the upper arms, some women also lose breast fullness after dropping several kilos. Breast augmentation can improve the breasts’ size, projection, and shape.
*Your surgeon may recommend spacing these procedures a few months apart.
Arm Lift and Gynaecomastia Surgery
It’s not just women that consider breast surgery. After extreme weight loss, many male bariatric patients develop excessive skin on the upper arm region and chest. An upper arm lift and gynaecomastia surgery (also called a ‘male breast reduction’ or ‘chest reduction’) can tighten, flatten, and tone these areas.
*These procedures may be combined into a single operation or spaced months apart.
Arm Lift and Facial Rejuvenation Procedures
Ageing or massive weight loss can lead to sagging on the arms and face. Facial rejuvenation may be recommended alongside arm lift surgery in these cases. Options may include a facelift (rhytidectomy), neck lift (platysmaplasty), eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), neck liposuction, or dermal fillers.
*These procedures might not able to occur on the same day.
Arm Lift and Tummy Tuck
A common combination is an arm lift and abdominoplasty, an excess skin removal procedure that tightens the abdominal skin.
*These procedures are usually staged as two separate operations.
Arm Lift and Upper Body Lift
Patients with saggy skin on the arms, chest, and back may need a multi-stage procedure to achieve their desired results. Upper body lift surgery (torsoplasty) is a procedure that addresses laxity with a longer incision around the upper body. The loose skin and excess fat is surgically removed. After healing from the operation, Dr Beldholm can remove the excess arm skin and fat with an incision on the inner aspect of the upper arms.
*These procedures usually cannot take place on the same day.
Arm Lift and Lower Body Lift
Patients with loose skin hanging 360 degrees around the waist may be candidates for lower body lift surgery (belt lipectomy). It is an extensive operation that takes several hours to perform. Upper arm surgery may then be planned a few months later.
*These procedures will need to be spaced several months apart.
Arm Lift and Thigh Lift Surgery
After significant weight loss, many patients have redundant skin and excess fat deposits on their arms and legs. In these cases, Dr Beldholm may perform arm surgery and thigh surgery to remove loose skin from each area.
*These procedures will likely need to take place a few months apart.
Arm Lift and Mummy Makeover
After pregnancy, most patients want to rejuvenate areas such as the breasts, abdomen, or mons pubis. A mummy makeover addresses all of these areas in one operation. If pregnancy has also left sagging skin or excess fat on the upper arms, Dr Beldholm may suggest arm surgery or arm liposuction in addition to a mummy makeover.
*Patients may need to schedule the arm lift operation separately.
Are combined arm lift procedures safe?
Any surgical procedure is a serious undertaking that comes with risks. Booking multiple procedures on the same day may increase these risks. However, under the supervision of a highly experienced specialist surgeon, some surgical combinations share a similar risk level as having separate procedures.
Possible risks of combining procedures
Undergoing too many operations at once can be risky. While combining procedures may be an option, there are some risks and disadvantages to consider.
Safety reasons
Complications are more likely to occur in patients that have multiple extensive surgeries combined into one operation. While some complications are minor, others can be serious or life-threatening.
Altering your appearance too much
We’ve all heard horror stories of botched cosmetic surgery or seen celebrities with too much ‘work’ done. While combining procedures can provide a more harmonious, comprehensive aesthetic result, too many operations in one day can be overkill.
Longer Operation Time
Combining multiple surgeries into one operation means staying under general anaesthesia for a longer time. Patients that stay under general anaesthesia for longer than six hours may have a higher risk of complications and mortality.
Excessive pain during the recovery
Having two surgeries at once has the benefit of just one recovery period. However, most surgeons worth their salt will decline performing several major surgeries in one day. One reason is that there can be substantial bruising, pain, and swelling afterward. The recovery time can be especially challenging when too many operations take place at once.
What is the safest way to combine surgeries?
If you’re interested in excess skin removal after massive weight loss or pregnancy, you may need more than one procedure to improve your physique. However, some combined procedures are less safe than others. For example, a body lift is a major surgery and, therefore, should not take place on the same day as an arm lift. Instead, Dr Beldholm will likely suggest spacing each surgery a few months apart. That way, you’ll have ample time to heal before moving on to the next body area. Research shows that surgical complications are greatly reduced by limiting how many operations occur in one day.
Who should not consider combining multiple procedures?
A good candidate for multiple surgeries is in good health overall. They should not smoke or be nursing, pregnant, or morbidly obese. Finally, they must be willing to participate in a healthy lifestyle afterward, whether they’re interested in upper arm surgery, liposuction, a tummy tuck, or thighplasty.
To determine if you are eligible for a combined operation, speak to a surgeon specialising in excess skin removal procedures, such as Dr Bernard Beldholm. He loves helping women and men reshape their bodies after bariatric surgery or pregnancy.
Removing excess skin is one of Dr Beldholm’s areas of expertise. However, not everyone that comes in to see him is a good candidate for aesthetic surgery. For example, those with a serious health condition such as cardiovascular disease or uncontrolled diabetes may not be able to move forward with the operation.
Request your consultation for body contouring in NSW with Dr Bernard Beldholm
To learn more about combining arm lifts, liposuction, or other body shaping procedures, ask your GP for a referral to Dr Bernard Beldholm, FRACS. At your private consultation, Dr Beldholm will ask about your desired results to let you know if combined surgical procedures are possible.
