Do I Need to Lose Weight Before Getting an Armlift?

                  It’s
not unusual for patients who have loose saggy upper arm skin to be overweight.
Ideally we prefer that patients are within 10% of their ideal body weight
before proceeding with surgery.

                  Unfortunately,
many patients who would benefit from this procedure aren’t able to reach this
point. For this reason we view every patient individually and realize that
every patient’s situation is unique.

                  If
you’re over weight and considering brachioplasty surgery, consultation with a
board certified plastic surgeon is appropriate. This surgeon will not only help
you with your loose arm skin, but help you prepare for surgery as well. 

This is not a simple question to answer without more information. Have you lost weight? How much weight have you lost? Have you had gastric bypass?  What is your height?
If you have lost a significant amount of weight, i.e. more than 100 pounds,  are approximately one year out from your gastric bypass, and your weight is stable, I would say "yes", you can proceed with an armlift or more accurately,  an arm reduction.  The procedure arm lift or arm reduction is also called a brachioplasty.  Typically, an arm reduction or brachioplasty is covered by most medical insurance plans. the procedure takes approximately 2 to 3 hours under general anesthesia. The recovery time is approximately one week.
If you have not lost a significant amount of weight, not had gastric bypass, if your weight fluctuates, and if you are less than 5'8", I would say "no"; you should not have an arm lift or arm reduction.  If this is your case, I would suggest losing weight. Once your weight has been stable for three months, then I would suggest seeking a board-certified experienced plastic surgeon specializing in massive weight loss patients with significant experience in arm reductions or brachioplasties. I hope this helps to clarify your situation. Good luck with your weight-loss journey.

Thank you for your question.

Yes, I always recommend that a patient lose as much weight as possible before any type of cosmetic surgery.  This allows for the best result possible.  If you end up doing the procedure and then losing the weight, you will need to have revisionary surgery because most likely you will end up with loose skin again.

Make sure you go to a board certified plastic surgeon who has experience with patients who have had weight loss and who has performed many arm lifting surgeries.  See examples of his/her work and make sure you are comfortable with the experience.

Good Luck!