Hi, I’m Dr. Sanjay Parashar; a plastic surgeon with over 25 years’ experience. I have performed well over 12,000+ surgeries overall, which include over 500+ Brachioplasty surgeries.
Surgeries related to the upper arm are more specialized, and you will need a specialist plastic surgeon to ensure that this procedure is done with utmost care and you get the best possible result to suit your body profile.
Here I will provide you all the information you need to make an informed decision regarding Brachioplasty, and to prepare yourself for it. If after this, you still have more questions, I’d be delighted to answer them in an in-person consultation. Read on…
Brachioplasty – Also known as Arm Lift Surgery, or Arm Liposuction
With age, the upper arms can get flabby, making a person appear much older than the reality. Sometimes, significant weight loss can also cause upper arm skin sagging. And around coffee tables, you will hear this being referred to as ‘bat wings’.
Shapely arms are a hallmark of famous women, especially those in the spotlight. Brachioplasty, also colloquially known as Arm Lift surgery or Arm Liposuction, is an easy method to get the right shape of your upper arm to match your body type.
There are thousands of Brachioplasty procedures conducted every year in the US alone. Most women come in asking for arms like Michelle Obama or Jennifer Aniston. Though most of the procedures are to reverse the effects of ageing, some are also done to counter skin sagging after major weight loss.
With the development of medical procedures, surgical and non-surgical, most of these age-effects can be fought back and your look enhanced. During your consultation with me, you will see various images of my patients who have transformed their looks with Brachioplasty.
There are the 3 stages that are important for you to go through before achieving the desired results:
About Brachioplasty – What you need to know before your initial consultation
Initial Consultation – My questions to you, Explaining the Brachioplasty procedure, Answering your residual questions
The Next Steps – The journey to get you the desired arm shape
Stage 1: About Brachioplasty - What you need to know before your initial consultation
There’s a certain degree of information you should have regarding Brachioplasty even before your initial consultation with me. This information will help you be better prepared and have a more meaningful consultation session.
Brachioplasty is also known as Arm Lift surgery, or Arm Liposuction. The main objective here is to address the aspects of aging arms, and to eliminate the drooping skin that develops over time, or post massive weight reduction. The final result is to make your arms more aesthetically appealing.
Under the expertise of a skilled plastic surgeon, the excess skin that is sagging is excised along with the excess fat, and the arms regain a younger, smoother, and tauter appearance. It is a procedure that requires a skilled and experienced plastic surgeon working with a trained support team to give good results.
Brachioplasty is done under general anaesthesia or local IV sedation. It takes about an hour or two to complete and is usually done as an outpatient procedure, with the patient going back home the same day.
When a person has undergone significant weight loss, the excess skin around the arms hangs in an unappealing way. This causes issues with hygiene in that area, and can lead to infections. Besides this discomfort, it could also result in a generally poor self-esteem. To correct this, Brachioplasty is recommended.
It is also a preferred procedure to correct excess drooping skin due to aging.
An Arm Lift is a safe and highly popular procedure, has a short recovery time, and can provide very good results.
During our initial consultation, I will be in a better position to guide more. Connect with me today to schedule an appointment.
If you are an adult – male or female, are in generally good health, with realistic goals of what can be achieved through Brachioplasty, you can potentially be a good candidate for it.
If the excess flabby skin around your arms is an eye-sore to you, and you have a stable weight, then you sound like the right candidate for Brachioplasty. If your weight fluctuates, it is not recommended that you undergo the arm lift surgery until you reach a stable weight condition.
During our initial consultation, I will evaluate the seriousness of your condition and the need for you to undertake this procedure.
Brachioplasty results are visible immediately after the surgery, and are generally long-lasting. The important aspect is for the patient to maintain their weight, as weight fluctuations can result in loosing the newly acquired shape and contours. Needless to mention, with age, some of the firmness will be lost, but overall the shape will be well maintained.
Brachioplasty is usually done as an outpatient procedure, and the patient goes back home the same day accompanied with a friend or relative.
The swelling and bruising may take a few days to recede, and the stiches are usually opened within a week’s time. By this time, the arms look younger, more shapely and better contoured.
Following the surgeon’s recommended post-recovery plan will help you recover faster. Compression bandages, prescription pain killers, and other basic analgesics will be scheduled by the medical team for your quick recovery.
Importantly, the skill of your Brachioplasty surgeon also affects your recovery period. When we meet, I will share actual cases of my patients and what enabled their quick recovery.
Every surgery carries some risks, but at this stage of my experience and expertise, I have been successful in eliminating the following risks:
Life threatening risks such as Thromboembolism, etc.
Infections of any kind
Excessive Bleeding
Seromas
Some of the risks that I have been able to reduce significantly are:
Scars of the port
Skin unevenness
Lumpiness
Skin laxity
Contour deformities
Over correction
Under correction
There are some risks that are unpredictable and out of my control:
Improper skin retraction
Recurrence of fat
Brachioplasty cost varies based on the following factors:
The amount of skin and fat that must be excised.
Hospital/ Clinic used for the surgery
Skill & expertise of the Brachioplasty surgeon
Since Brachioplasty is usually done as a cosmetic procedure, and rarely for medical reasons, insurance does not always cover the cost. It is therefore important that you are fully aware of the total costs of the procedure, from initial consultation to follow-ups, so you can make an informed decision.
Another significant aspect to take into consideration, besides just the costs, is your comfort factor with the Brachioplasty surgeon, and your faith in the surgeon’s expertise. Pay a bit more – but be sure, and be comfortable with your surgeon.
To know the cost applicable for your specific case, please book a consultation.
The choice of your arm lift surgeon is a decision to be made with due care. While cost is a relevant consideration, there are other more important factors that should determine your decision:
Qualifications and certification, specifically plastic surgery related certifications and memberships, such as membership of American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
Years of experience as a plastic surgeon, especially as a Oculoplastic Surgeon, and number of surgeries done
Number of Brachioplasty surgeries done, and frequency thereof
Proof of work – before/ after images
Patient testimonials
Surgeon reputation
Your comfort factor with the surgeon, his manners, his patience in answering your questions
Surgeon’s philosophy regarding patient safety
You are planning a surgery, so it’s very important that you decide wisely.
You can read my full profile here.
The clinic or hospital for your Brachioplasty surgery should be carefully chosen. Ensure that the facility is licensed. A hospital is not necessary for a Brachioplasty surgery, an accredited/ licensed clinic is just fine.
The clinic should have a licensed anaesthetist on board, competent nursing and operations staff, and the surgical room should be clean and hygienic.
Ministry of Health (MOH), Dubai regularly conducts inspection of all medical and surgical facilities in Dubai and license is granted or renewed only if the prescribed conditions regarding hygiene, safety, etc. are met.
My medical center – Cocoona Center for Aesthetic Transformation, in Dubai, UAE is an MOH-licensed clinic, and we are permitted to perform surgeries under local anaesthesia. We also have competent anaesthesiolgists on board, and a full team of caring and professional nurses, patient counsellors, and other support staff.
Now that you have all the base information regarding Brachioplasty, you should take the next step of booking the initial consultation.
Stage 2: Initial Consultation – My questions to you
During our initial consultation, I will first ask you certain questions, then explain the Brachioplasty procedure to you, and then answer all your remaining doubts and concerns.
At the end of the consultation session, my goal is to have clarified to you fully and clearly what you can realistically expect from your Brachioplasty, assessed your eligibility for the surgery, satisfied all your concerns and doubts, and assured you of my capability to provide you the best results. Having done that, I will connect you with my patient counsellor, who will handle the routine aspects of preparing you for your prospective surgery.
Why do you think you need Brachioplasty?
The most common answer to this query of mine, is to make the upper arms look shapely and younger. Some of my patients may have undergone large weight loss, thus needing help with excising the extra sagging skin, and some might just need this to combat age. I will need to hear from you, what is your primary aim from this surgery.
What is your medical history?
I will inquire about your past surgeries, and past and present conditions like any medical illnesses, allergies, ongoing medications, etc., to gauge your suitability for surgery, and which technique of surgery will be best for you.
What are your expectations?
This will help me understand your desire and expectations. I will than analyse if they are realistic or unrealistic. I will explain to you what to expect, and whether I will be able to meet your expectations.
The basic Brachioplasty process involves removal of excess fat and skin from the upper arm area, to make it appear younger and better defined. The surgery will be done either at an accredited day care surgical facility such as my medical center Cocoona, in Dubai, UAE, or a hospital, depending upon your choice, and anesthesia considerations.
Understanding the process involves knowing about anesthesia, the surgical steps, post-procedure recovery, return to normalcy, risks involved, and expected results.
What anaesthesia is used?
The procedure involves some form of anaesthesia. Depending upon the kind of incision, and amount of skin / muscle that must be excised, we will recommend either local IV anaesthesia or full anaesthesia.
Usually, the surgery can be done under local anaesthesia with IV sedation. After IV sedation, I will inject local anaesthesia on the upper arm, using the smallest possible needle, and you will not feel anything.
In a few cases, full anaesthesia may be recommended, especially if the patient does not want to be ‘conscious’ during the procedure.
What are the surgical steps during this procedure?
After anaesthesia is administered, to perform the arm lift, one of the following types of incisions will be made:
A cut along the under arm, this incision typically stretches till the elbow. It is the most common style for excising moderate amount of skin and tissue.
A minimal cut, along the inner upper arm, joining the armpit. This is the preferred method when a small amount of skin and tissue is to be removed.
A longer cut stretching from the elbow to the armpit and then to a part of the chest – this is used for larger amount of skin, fat and muscle are to be excised, especially in patients who have undergone significant weight loss. This is also known as ‘extended brachioplasty’.
After the incision is made, the excess fatty tissues are sucked out via liposuction, the excess skin is cut, tightened, and stitched back in place to give a smoother and better shaped upper arm.
During our initial consultation, I will explain these procedures as appropriate to your specific case.
At this stage, you are likely to have some more questions for me to clarify. Some such questions are covered herein. I will be glad to answer these and any other concerns you have.
What is the recovery phase immediately after the procedure?
After completing the procedure, as the effects of the anaesthesia wears out, there will be mild soreness which is easily controlled with pain killers. Applying regular cold compress and wearing compression garments aids the reduction of post-operative swelling. Prescribed medicines will help recover quicker.
After a week or so, the sutures are removed, and general check-up is done. Most of the swelling disappears within the first 2 weeks, and you can resume work then. Strenuous exercises and heavy lifting should be avoided for nearly 6 weeks, and can only be resumed after consultation with the surgeon.
When will the results be visible?
In most cases, you will see improvement in the shape and size of the upper arm almost immediately, and then gradually notice further improvement. After the swelling disappears, which is around 10-12 days, your friends will see the difference and comment on your younger looking arms.
The incision marks will take much longer to fade.
Stage 3: The Next Steps …
After our detailed initial discussion, almost all matters would have been clarified. You will then get a handbook that explains the details of before and after care, medications to avoid, risks and complications, financial agreement, consent and permission forms, medical history form, etc. Please spend some time reading the booklet completely.
My patient coordinator will get back to you with cost details applicable to your surgery, and the booking protocol, and will also answer any questions you may have in the run-up to the surgery.
Then a pre-operative appointment will be arranged wherein we will do a medical check-up, arm measurements, surgical planning, photographic documentation, and other necessary paperwork.
Finally, on the appointed day, I will perform the surgery, transforming your looks into one with a fresher look.
It is advisable to have a family member or friend to drive you back home after the surgery.
Have a look at some of the testimonials from my patients. Spend a few minutes watching this video to better understand the Brachioplasty process.
You can also access my full profile here.
Do not hesitate to get in touch with me in any of the following ways:
Call: 800 362636 or +971 4 394 1090
Contact Form: Please complete the appointment form.
Email: info@drsanjayparashar.ae
I look forward to hearing from you.
Shapely arms are a hallmark of famous women, especially those in the spotlight. Brachioplasty, also colloquially known as Arm Lift surgery or Arm Liposuction, is an easy method to get the right shape of your upper arm to match your body type.