Before & After Gallery Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)

Suitable candidates for this procedure include individuals who:

• Have excess skin along the upper arms typically after significant weight loss
• Where excess skin on the upper arms causes mobility issues, pain, discomfort or skin issues, which may make the procedure medically necessary
• Have been at a stable weight for at least six months
• Are in good general health

You can expect some limited shoulder and arm movement in the first few days after surgery, but this will subside as the skin stretches.

Avoid any heavy lifting or strenuous activities for the first six weeks.

• This procedure generally requires a minimum two-night hospital stay and is performed at Westmead Private Hospital or Norwest Private Hospital.
• You are placed in an arm compression garment immediately after surgery, to help with swelling.
• You will be able to shower with assistance in hospital.
• You will need to wear your garment for at least six weeks post-surgery.
• When you are discharged from hospital you will go straight to your first post-operative appointment where dressings will be removed and your first LED light therapy treatment will commence.
• Medical tape will remain on scars for the first week after surgery.
• Typically, stitches are dissolvable and will not need to be removed, however if a stitch becomes irritated, it can be removed in clinic.
• Your arm, and in particular hands, may be quite swollen after surgery.
• Expect to see a significant reduction in the initial swelling within a few weeks post-surgery.
• There may be a slight difference in the swelling from one side to another.
• You can typically resume driving after three weeks.
• You can generally return to light work duties within three weeks of surgery.
• Consider the first four-six weeks after surgery as recovery and post four weeks, consider all activities as rehabilitation.
• After six weeks you are typically free to go back to work and lifestyle as per normal but of course, listen to your body and ease into certain exercise such as heavy weights training.
• No heavy lifting for six weeks.

• Generally speaking, scars after Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) surgery can take up to two years to mature, although they will typically start to fade after a few months post-surgery.
• In most parts of the body, a matured scar appears as a white, fine line. However, the opposite applies with an Arm Lift (Brachioplasty).
• Instead of becoming thinner over time, these scars often become thick and wide, and sometimes raised or keloid (thick, raised scarring extending outside of the original site).
• To help prevent thickened or widened stars, all patients are given a comprehensive post-operative care program to help optimise scar outcomes.
• Our tailored HeaLED Post-Surgery Care Plan involves the use of light therapy and medical-grade skin care products, designed to expedite the healing process and optimise scar outcomes.
• Microneedling is offered as an adjunct treatment to assist in scar management.

Breast ptosis (sag) is a common concern for patients after significant weight loss, who often opt to combine their Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) with a Breast Lift (Mastopexy).

The benefit of combining these procedures is that the scar from the Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) continues to join the scar from the Breast lift, allowing the area to be addressed in a single procedure.

For appropriate patients, an Arm Lift (Brachioplasty) may be combined with a Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) procedure.