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.

I encourage my patients to lose excess weight before any body contouring surgery, including arm lift.  Studies from tummy tuck patients, for example, show significantly increased complications rates when the patient's body weight is above 200 lbs.  Also, as you lose weight, there is usually more skin laxity seen in the trouble area - then the surgeon can do a better job of properly tailoring that loose skin, and giving you a nicer looking final result.

 

All the best,

You should be close to your ideal weight before entertaining most body contouring procedures, including arm lifts. Weight stability will help your results last longer. In order to remove the ideal amount of loose skin, you should lose the weight first. If you proceed to lose weight after the arm lift, then you may end up with additional skin looseness which could then require revisions.

I always ask my patients if they are planning on losing weight and how much weight they plan on.  This is important to some extent.  Some patients lose more weight from one part of their body than others.

In general we like the weight to be stable before doing any body contouring surgery.  However, some patients are so bothered by the problem that they have, that doing the surgery is reasonable as long as he or she knows that there may be a need for a touch up when the weight loss happens.

Good luck.