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.

If you are intending to lose weight it is recommended to achieve that goal prior to considering an arm lift. Weight loss that occurs after surgery could impact your results leading to the need for a revision. If you are asking if you are a candidate at your current weight, more information is needed including a physical exam and review of your medical history. Visit with a board certified plastic surgeon near you for a consultation to learn more.

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!

Brachioplasty (armlift) is a procedure designed to remove flabby and sagging skin from the upper arms, which can also help stop underarm skin rashes and irritation.  Before undergoing an arm lift or any kind of body procedure, it is best to lose any weight possible before the procedure, hopefully approaching your target weight.  This will allow the surgeon to remove as much loose skin as possible and give a great result.  Be sure to find a board certified plastic surgeon with a lot of experience with the arms and follow their instructions. 

 

 

Hello,

 

Get to a weight you feel you can maintain after surgery before having it. The results of surgery can change with weight variations afterward.

 

Best Regards,

 

John Di Saia MD

Although you could have an arm lift performed now, for a variety of reasons it would be best to lose as much of the weight that you may be planning to lose prior to surgery. If you had significant weight loss subsequent to an arm lift, you would redevelop laxity that may benefit from a second (and sooner) arm lift. Your anesthesia risks and risks for healing problems would also be less if you had a substantial weight loss prior to your surgery.