How long after arm liposuction do you have to wait to do a brachioplasty?

Question

I had arm liposuction a year ago and was not completely happy. I went back again for a touch up and to try and make my arms more even. They look worse now! Now I have loose skin and feel so embarrassed to show my arms! I want to go for a brachioplasty ASAP! How long do I have to wait to do the brachioplasty? Also does my BMI have to be under a certain number to do the brachioplasty?

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question regarding how long after arm liposuction do you have to wait to undergo brachioplasty. Thank you for your arm surgery history. I would strongly suggest you wait till your arms heal completely after arm liposuction before you embark upon an arm lift, arm reduction or brachioplasty. Typically, arms take about eight to twelve weeks to heal after arm liposuction. Therefore, eight weeks after your arm liposuction, I think you could embark upon an arm lift or brachioplasty. If your arms are still swollen or firm at eight weeks, you may need to wait longer. These are just generalizations and an in-person consultation is needed before your brachioplasty is scheduled. In regards to your BMI, it would be ideal if your BMI was under 30.  However, your overall health is much more important than an isolated number like BMI. In general, if you are healthy, with normal labs, chest x-ray, EKG, and your weight is stable, you should be able to undergo a brachioplasty.  Therefore, in conclusion, I would wait at least two months after arm liposuction before you consider undergoing an arm reduction with a formal brachioplasty. Good luck. I hope I have answered your questions regarding how long after arm liposuction you should  wait to have a brachioplasty. Good luck with your arm reduction surgery.  Sincerely, Dr. Katzen

Sacha Obaid, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. For my patients that have had liposuction, I recommend waiting at least 6 months to 1 year, before having additional surgery to the same area. As for BMI requirements, every surgeon has their own guidelines and instructions. I recommend discussing specific post op instructions and future surgical recommendations with your plastic surgeon. Best of luck!

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

It can take 6 months or more for swelling to resolve following liposuction.  To reduce the risks of complications during and after surgery, a BMI close to 30 is recommended.Kenneth Hughes, MD, ABPS Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear odipel,
you should be fully healed prior to any other elective procedure. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Roger Tsai, MD · Answer

Great question! By 6 months the swelling should have subsided and you should be ready to proceed with a brachioplasty. It is best to be at your lowest comfortable weight as this will allow the surgeon to remove the most skin for the best results. But your BMI should be lower than 30 for surgical safety.Best of luck and hope this information helps!

- Dr. Roger Tsai @DrRogerTsai
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

- Dr. Roger Tsai  @DrRogerTsai
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

David Nguyen, MD · Answer

Hi odipel,
I would wait at least 3-6 months after the liposuction before performing a brachioplasty. Some of that depends on how your tissue healed, and your surgeon should be able to tell with an in-person examination. I usually recommend that my patients lose weight below a BMI of 30 if they can prior to getting an arm lift. Blessings on your journey!

Matthew A. DelMauro, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello! Thank you for your question. In general, you should wait at least 6-12 months since the date of your most recent surgery. Waiting this long will give your body time to heal and will allow the swelling to completely resolve. Having a BMI

Robert Drielsma, MBBS, BSc, FRACS · Answer

One of the downsides to liposuction alone is that removing the excess fat can leave you with deflated loose skin that looks unsightly.  Best to wait 6 months or so after liposuction to allow time for the swelling to resolve before planning a brachioplasty procedure.  You should arrange a consultation with a fully qualified plastic surgeon experienced in brachioplast

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.   Specific calculations, including BMI,  are not always helpful when it comes to determining a specific patient's suitability to proceed with surgery.
Having said that, it is always best (or ideal) to achieve long-term stable weight prior to proceeding with tummy tuck surgery. Doing so, will increase the safety of the operation, will likely improve the outcome of the operation, and will decrease chances that additional surgery will become necessary subsequently. 
In my practice, I do not ask specific patients to achieve a specific weight prior to proceeding with tummy tuck surgery. I simply ask patients to achieve a long-term stable weight where he/she feels comfortable and does not expect significant fluctuation postoperatively.
 There are no absolute rules when it comes to when to proceed with arm lifting surgery after liposuction surgery.   Minimally, you will want to wait for resolution of swelling, which may take 3 to 6 months, prior to  proceeding. My best advice: select your plastic surgeon carefully. Make sure that he/she has significant experience achieving the types of outcomes you would be pleased with.  
 
 Best wishes.

Morad Tavallali, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

I often do this surgery in two stages for patients who may get away with just a liposuction of the skin. If the skin doe not retract sufficiently I perform the lift in about 4-6  months after the liposuction. If you plan to show your arms plan on having a crescent arm lift incision in the axilla ( armpit) instead of the scar running down your arm- that scar  will be a conversation piece...

How long after arm liposuction do you have to wait to do a brachioplasty?

Answers (10)

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