The first step in finding out more about surgery is to schedule a private consultation. In this consultation, you will meet directly with your specialist plastic surgeon. This gives you an opportunity to discuss your concerns and get all of your questions answered.

To book a surgery date you can contact our team after a face to face consultation has been completed. You must wait 7 days from the consultation to book a procedure.  

At the end of your consultation, your surgeon will make recommendations about the best course of action to take for your surgery to achieve the result you are after. Every patient is different, and results always vary. While we can look at your inspiration images, we cannot ever guarantee your post surgery results. You must take this into consideration before proceeding with surgery.

Once you’ve booked your surgery date, a pre surgery appointment will be scheduled 4 weeks prior to your date. This is your chance to meet with your surgeon again, ask any further questions, go over the surgery plan and take some images. This appointment ensures you’re well prepared for the upcoming surgery date.

The night before and the morning of your surgery, you’ll need to adhere to certain guidelines. Typically, you should refrain from eating and drinking fluids after midnight, as is common with many surgical procedures.

Depending on your surgeons advice, you may be allowed to take specific medications with a small sip of water, such as beta-blockers or cholesterol medications. To minimise the risk of infection, it is recommended to shower with an antimicrobial soap both the evening before and on the morning of your surgery. Be gentle, during the cleansing process to avoid irritation.

For hygiene reasons, it’s advised not to wear nasal, nipple or facial piercings to the hospital to prevent loss and potential bacterial contamination.

Upon arrival at the hospital, nursing staff will conduct necessary checks, and you’ll have an opportunity to meet with your surgeon just before the procedure to ensure you feel prepared. In the operating room, you’ll be administered the appropriate anaesthesia.

The surgery is usually conducted in a private hospital and takes 3-4 hours. Most patients will be required to stay 1-3 nights in hospital during recovery.

Your surgeon makes an incision, which may vary in length and placement based on the amount of excess skin and fat. Incisions are typically made along the inner arm or the back of the arm, extending from the armpit to the elbow. The underlying supportive tissues are tightened and reshaped with internal sutures. Excess skin is removed, and liposuction may be used to eliminate unwanted fat. The remaining skin is smoothed over the new contour of the arm.

After the surgery, patients usually need to follow specific care instructions to ensure proper healing and minimise scarring.

Most patients will also have post operative drains inserted to reduce fluid retention. These stay intact for 1-5 days following surgery.

All sutures are dissolvable, therefore you will not need to have sutures removed post surgery.

• Heavy bleeding from an operated site. This may require a blood transfusion
• Infection that may require treatment with antibiotics or further surgery in some cases
• Allergic reaction to sutures, dressings or antiseptic solutions
• The formation of a large blood clot (haematoma) beneath an incision site may require further surgery
• Complications such as heart attack, pulmonary embolism or stroke may be caused by a blood clot, which can be life threatening
• Pain, bruising and swelling around the operated site(s)
• Slow healing, often related to smoking or diabetes
• Short-term nausea following general anaesthesia and other risks related to anaesthesia

Specific risks and complications associated with arm lift surgery include:

• Visible and prominent scars such as keloids and hypertrophic scars. These scars are raised, red and thickened, and may form over healed incisions. They may be itchy, annoying and unsightly but are not a threat to health. These scars may restrict the clothing you can wear
• Numbness around operated sites. In most cases this is temporary and will improve over many months
• Skin that does not heal and may require a skin graft
• Restrictive movement to the tightened skin
• Excess fluid accumulation under the skin (known as a seroma) around an operated site that may require one or more drainage procedures with a needle
• Fat that has a poor blood supply may result in a discharge from the surgical wounds or palpable lumps