Timing a Brachioplasty (Arm Lift) After Weight Loss
After extreme weight loss, patients with sagging skin on their upper arms should wait 12 months for the skin to retract naturally and maintain a stable weight for six months before scheduling their arm lift (Brachioplasty) surgery.
Brachioplasty before & after
Disclaimer: Operation performed by Dr Bernard Beldholm. Adult content, surgery has risks; individual results vary, seek 2nd opinion. Please see the full disclaimer.
When is the right time for a Brachioplasty after weight loss?
Excess skin and fat can hang from the upper arms after losing 20 or more kilos. Brachioplasty surgery (otherwise known as an arm lift procedure) can solve these issues. The exact timing of brachioplasty post-weight loss differs for everyone. Here is a review of what patients can expect as they start planning their arm lift surgery.
Illustration of brachioplasty surgery
Step 1: Reach a Healthy BMI
BMI ranges
Duration: Several months to years before an arm lift
Obese patients must lose weight before considering an arm lift procedure. Losing weight is a personal journey. It can take months or years to reach your goal based on your physiology, lifestyle habits, and whether you pursue bariatric surgery or take prescribed weight-management medications. Dropping major kilos is one of the top causes of saggy skin, which a specialist surgeon can remove with body contouring procedures such as an arm lift.
Step 2: Maintain A Stable Weight
Scale & measuring tape
Duration: Six months before an arm lift
After reaching a healthy body mass index, patients must keep their weight consistent for at least six months before a body contouring surgery such as an upper arm lift. The reason is simple. Weight fluctuations can undo the results of an arm lift. If a person gains and then loses a lot of weight after the operation, the sagging skin might return. By waiting six months, it proves to both you and your surgeon that you are capable of maintaining a steady weight for the long haul. It is also one of the requirements for getting an MBS item number for your procedure so that you can use your private health fund.
Step 3: Wait for the Skin to Retract Naturally
Layers of the skin
Duration: 12 months before an arm lift
Rapid weight loss often leaves saggy skin behind. The skin may tighten up to a degree on its own. Unfortunately, this won’t happen overnight. Post weight loss patients should wait at least 12 months to allow the skin to firm up naturally before considering an arm lift. Any skin excess that remains can be removed by a qualified surgeon.
Step 4: Ask Your Doctor for a Referral
Doctor giving referral to patient
Duration: 3 months before an arm lift
If you have loose skin on your upper arm 12 months after losing weight and wish to have it removed, your next step is seeing your GP. A doctor will evaluate you and may refer you to a specialist surgeon who offers body contouring procedures such as arm lift surgery. Your specialist surgeon also requires a GP referral. A GP referral is generally valid for 12 months.
Step 5: See a Specialist Surgeon
Dr Beldholm FRACS surgeon consulting with patient
Dr Bernard Beldholm (MED0001186274) M.B.B.S B.Sc (Med) FRACS, is a Registered medical practitioner & Specialist surgeon focusing on Post weight loss body contouring surgery.
Duration: 3 months before an arm lift
If you are considering an arm lift (brachioplasty) procedure to correct excess tissue, you will need to find a specialist surgeon who is experienced in arm lift surgery. There are a few surgeons in Newcastle, Sydney, and nearby areas who specialise in body contouring after weight loss.
Once you find a surgeon, you will need to schedule a consultation. Remember, a GP referral is now required in Australia. If you haven’t already done so, you should see your primary doctor for a referral. Your GP should have also recorded your weight loss.
Dr Bernard Beldholm, a specialist surgeon offering upper arm lift surgery in NSW, explains what to expect during the first consultation.
‘The first visit is when I ask the patient which body areas they want to address. I review their medical history, discuss their cosmetic goals, ask about any problems they experience related to lax skin after massive weight loss, and physically examine them to determine the extent of extra skin and fat in the areas they want to refine.’
‘My goal is to help my patients determine if procedures such as arm lift surgery are appropriate and what kind of results they can expect. We also review the possible risks of surgery so they can make an informed choice,’ Dr Beldholm says.
Step 6: Learn if You Qualify for a Medicare Rebate
Medicare card
Duration: 3+ months before an arm lift
Most Australians pay for arm lift surgery out-of-pocket. However, some massive weight loss patients may qualify for a Medicare rebate.
Dr Beldholm explains when Medicare may chip in to cover some of the costs.
He tells us, ‘Not every arm lift patient is eligible, but some may qualify for a Medicare rebate if they have excess skin removed from the upper arms for functional or medically necessary reasons. That is certainly something we can discuss during our consultation.’
MBS Item Number 30169
MBS item number 30169
The government offers a Medicare rebate to Australians who meet the strict criteria described in the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). The rebate won’t cover the entire cost of brachioplasty, but it can reduce out-of-pocket costs. The MBS Item Number post-weight-loss arm lift patients need to know is 30169.
What does the Medicare rebate cover?
The Medicare rebate for arm lift surgery usually only covers a portion of the surgeon and anaesthetist fees. Patients with a private health fund receive a minimum of 100% of the MBS Schedule Fee as a rebate. Those with Medicare only will pay the hospital fees entirely out-of-pocket.
Disclaimer: Operation performed by Dr Bernard Beldholm. Adult content, surgery has risks; individual results vary, seek 2nd opinion. Please see the full disclaimer.
Not all patients qualify for MBS Item Number 30169
Arm lift candidates must meet all of the following criteria to qualify for this item number.
- The excess skin and subcutaneous fat are directly caused by massive weight loss, which the government defines as losing 5 BMI points or more. This does NOT include weight loss related to pregnancy.
- The excess skin interferes with the patient’s daily life.
- The patient has a skin condition (such as intertrigo) caused by the excess skin.
- The skin condition hasn’t improved after at least three months of conventional medical treatment.
- The patient has maintained their goal weight for six months or longer.
- The patient is a citizen or private resident of Australia.
You must have proof of all the above
Dr Beldholm explains, ‘My office helps patients submit the necessary paperwork and medical documentation if they appear to qualify for the Medicare rebate. The only catch is the very strict criteria limiting who is eligible. If I have a patient that simply wants an arm lift to look better and they don’t have issues like chronic pain or rashes from excess upper arm skin, they won’t qualify for this rebate and will end up paying for everything out-of-pocket. In Australia, an arm lift costs 7000 to 15000 AUD on average.’
Step 7: Schedule Your Arm Lift Surgery
Duration: 1-3 months before an arm lift
Many arm lift patients look forward to having the surgical procedure as soon as possible. Timing the surgery is key. Since the recovery period is two to three weeks, patients should first request time off work and make arrangements for assistance at home. There is no heavy lifting or driving allowed during the early healing process.
Step 8: Have Brachioplasty Surgery
Dr Beldholm in Maitland Private Hospital
Duration: 1 day
The typical arm lift surgery duration lasts a few hours under general anesthesia. During the operation, the surgeon will remove excess skin and fat from the upper arms with an incision. (Note that a massive weight loss patient may also need saggy skin removed from the lateral chest, which could mean a longer arm lift incision.) Arm lifts are sometimes performed with liposuction of the upper arm to remove excess fat deposits and sculpt the underlying tissues.
Step 9: Recover from Surgery
Duration: 2 to 3 weeks for the initial recovery
Patients may spend one or more nights in the hospital. Once discharged, someone trustworthy will need to drive them home and look after them for 24 hours. The initial arm lift recovery period is two to three weeks, during which there can be discomfort, swelling, and bruising. Most patients find it takes three months for swelling to settle, revealing smoother, tighter upper arms. The surgical results can last many years if the patient maintains a consistent weight.
Brachioplasty before & after image
Disclaimer: Operation performed by Dr Bernard Beldholm. Adult content, surgery has risks; individual results vary, seek 2nd opinion. Please see the full disclaimer.
Arm Lift FAQs
What causes loose skin on the upper arms?
Loose upper arm skin is typically the result of losing weight. Some patients develop sagging skin on the upper arms due to ageing, which affects skin elasticity.
Is an arm lift cosmetic surgery?
Arm lifts are usually considered aesthetic surgery. However, a small number of patients have an arm lift for medical reasons. An example would be a post-bariatric patient with chronic skin infections or rashes secondary to loose skin after significant weight loss.
Will private health insurance cover arm lift surgery?
Australians with private health insurance may have some or all of the hospital charges covered, but it depends on the policy and level of cover. The surgeon fee and anaesthesist fee typically aren’t covered. A waiting period may apply when starting or switching to a new health plan. Check with your health insurance carrier for details on what your plan will and won’t cover as each policy differs.
Is it better to have a body lift before or after arm lift surgery?
Sagging skin can develop in multiple body areas after extreme weight loss. Some patients undergo more than one body contouring procedure to address different zones. One such procedure is a lower body lift (also known as a belt lipectomy), which removes excess tissue 360 degrees around the waist. Since lower body lifts don’t involve the upper arms, it is up to the patient and surgeon as to whether they want to have arm reduction surgery before or after other body contouring services.
Do arm lifts remove fat or will I need liposuction?
A qualified surgeon can tell you whether arm lift surgery or upper arm liposuction is suitable. In some cases, both are performed at the same time. Removing excess loose skin during an arm lift will remove some of the subcutaneous fat. Deeper arm fat and fat in other areas (such as the lateral chest wall) may necessitate liposuction.
Are arm lift scars worth tighter, firmer arms?
That is a question only the patient can answer. The scars from arm lift surgery can be significant and highly visible as they heal. Be sure to discuss the arm lift incision placement with your surgeon before agreeing to have the surgery. All that said, after battling saggy skin after losing extreme weight, many arm lift patients are willing to live with a scar. Arm lift scars can be minimised with laser therapy, revision surgery, and prescription ointments, but they are unlikely to disappear fully.
Can a compression garment tighten saggy skin or reduce arm fat?
Arm lift patients usually wear compression sleeves for a few weeks after the surgical procedure to reduce swelling. A compression garment won’t tighten loose skin on the upper arm on its own.
What kind of arm lift do post-bariatric patients need?
It depends on the amount of loose skin and fat. A mini arm lift is only for patients with mild skin laxity. Post-bariatric patients are rarely candidates for a mini arm lift. A traditional arm lift (also called a full arm lift) removes more skin and fat with a longer incision. An extended arm lift removes excess skin from the upper arm and lateral chest wall. Your surgeon should explain the surgical techniques and let you know what results to expect.
What happens if I gain weight after an arm lift?
Patients must keep their weight steady after an arm lift. Gaining kilos and then losing weight in the future could result in extra skin on the upper arm area all over again. The skin excess can be removed with a secondary brachioplasty if needed. However, most arm lift patients only do it once in a lifetime due to the cost and recovery time.
Why are my arms swollen after upper arm lift surgery (brachioplasty)?
Swelling is a common response to surgery. After arm lift surgery, swelling can be significant at first. To reduce swelling, surgeons usually ask their patients to wear a compression garment on the upper arm area. If your swelling or pain is extreme, contact your surgeon, especially if you have pre-existing medical conditions.
