An arm lift surgery, medically called Brachioplasty, will help you get rid of the loose skin and fat pockets in your upper arm, defining their shape and giving them a more toned appearance. Self-pay cosmetic surgery can be extremely expensive but it doesn’t have to be as now you can consider an affordable arm lift abroad.

Brachioplasty would be the right treatment if the undersides of your arms are sagging and have a bat-wing appearance.

Arm lift surgery - Before and After

Cost of arm-lift abroad

Cost of arm lift in Thailand – starts from $2,700

Cost of arm lift surgery India – starts from $2,200

Cost of arm lift in Malaysia – starts from $3,000

As you get older, the skin on your arms loses its elasticity and it starts sagging over time.

Also, patients of bariatric surgery, or those who have naturally lost significant weight, tend to have loose, redundant skin on their upper arms, which cannot be tackled with exercise.

You should consider arm lift if:

  • The skin on your upper arms is loose and sagging due to ageing
  • You have lost a massive amount of weight and have a lot of extra hanging skin
  • You are not significantly overweight
  • You are free of any medical conditions that can interfere with your recovery
  • You do not smoke or abuse drugs or alcohol
  • You have realistic expectations from the surgery

The surgeon will explain the procedure and discuss the possible outcomes of your arm-lift surgery during the initial consultation.

Your doctor will also tell you about the placement of incisions and pain management post-surgery. On the day of the procedure, the below steps will be followed:

  1. Anesthesia: Arm-lift is generally performed under general anesthesia, but intravenous sedation is also an option.
  2. Incision: Your cosmetic surgeon will be the best person to decide the pattern and length of the incision for your arm-lift, which will be based upon the amount of fat and skin to be excised. The incision for your arm lift can be placed on your inner arm, outer arm, or a small incision in your axilla.
  3. Removal of excess skin & fat: The extra fat will be removed and the loose skin will be cut off. If required, liposuction may also be used at this stage.
  4. Sutures: The remaining skin will then be smoothened over and the incision will be closed with dissolvable or removable sutures.
  5. Discharge: You will be sore in the arms for 2-3 days and remain at the hospital with nursing care. A drain may be temporarily placed to remove excess blood or fluid.

The incision for arm lift is usually made on the inside of your arm, so it doesn’t show easily.

The scars left by arm lift incisions will fade over time, but they may not completely go away. However, if the incisions are placed strategically, they may not be visible easily.

Arm lift scars

It is important that before you go in for the surgery, you discus arm-lift incisions and scars with your cosmetic surgeon.

It is natural to be a little concerned about getting surgery in a foreign destination, but you should feel confident once you learn about the cosmetic surgeon’s skills and experience and find some before-after pictures of arm-lift.

There are hospitals in Asia that cater to tens of thousands of foreign patients each year and most patients report they found the care and service to be better than their local hospitals.

While language interpreters can be arranged in most places, you’ll feel better if your doctor speaks your language.

Also, you should plan enough time for your treatment and recovery at the destination and not try to rush home too soon after being discharged. Long flights are not encouraged while you are still recuperating.

Get a fit-to-fly certificate from your surgeon before you leave the country.

No surgery comes without some possibility of complications, and it is up to you to decide if you see the risk to be worth the benefit.

The risks associated with arm lift surgery include:

  • Adverse reaction to anesthesia
  • Excessive bleeding and pain
  • Improper healing
  • Infection at the surgical site
  • Necrosis of the underlying tissue
  • Unexpected scarring
  • Fluid accumulation (seroma)
  • Blood accumulation (hematoma)

Besides, there could be an accidental injury to the blood vessels or nerves causing changes in skin sensation or skin color.

  • The first step in preparation is to decide on the hospital and the surgeon who will be performing your arm-lift and request your treatment plan.
  • If you are unsure with so many choices out there, write in to us to get our recommendations about cosmetic surgeons that specialize in arm-lift. Request your treatment plan and surgery quote.
  • Once you have decided on the dates, confirm the surgeon’s availability and then plan your itinerary.
  • Remember to share your complete medical history with the doctor, so he can advise on which medications to stop before the surgery and what lifestyle changes to make.
  • You will likely be asked to stop smoking about six weeks before the surgery and not to take any blood thinners or other medications that may interfere with the healing.
  • Consider making arrangements at home as your physical activity may be limited for a few weeks after the surgery, and also take enough time off work
  • If possible, arrange for someone to accompany you on your medical trip to assist with small things.

Post-op recovery varies from person to person as it really depends upon your own body’s response to the surgical wounds.

Recovery after arm lift

Immediately after the surgery:

  • You will be heavily sedated and bandaged when you wake up after your surgery
  • You will be shifted to the patient room for the next 2-3 days, where you’ll remain under nursing care
  • Small tubes, called drains, may be left in the surgical site to remove any blood or fluid in the first day
  • You will be sore for atleast 2-3 days following the surgery, but the pain can be managed with painkillers
  • By the next day you will be encouraged to walk a little in your room to encourage blood flow
  • You will be allowed to go home 2 or 3 days after the surgery with a set of post-op instructions
  • Keep the wound clean and dry and follow the diet and activity pattern suggested by your doctor for optimum healing

Week 1 after the surgery

  • The soreness should be gone by now, there might still be some swelling
  • This is a critical period for healing, so don’t exert yourself too much
  • The stitches and bandages will be taken off any day in this week
  • Make sure to see the surgeon for one final time and ask any questions that you have before you leave the country
  • You could still have the surgeon’s and hospital’s contact in case any problems arise, but you shouldn’t develop any complications if you follow the instructions well

1 Month after your arm lift

  • You should be able to resume most of your normal life by now, but you still cannot return to heavy workouts or physically demanding routines
  • Wait for 6-8 weeks after the surgery before you get involved in any extreme activities
  • The incision marks will be noticeable but they will fade significantly over the coming months

Arm lift patients not only reported to be satisfied with the surgery outcome, 70% of them also reported an improvement in their social life and 50% reported an improvement in their emotional lives as a result of the surgery, according to study published in the Brazilian Journey of Plastic Surgery.

If you are unhappy with the flab or sagging skin on your arms, an arm-lift should be as easy and permanent solution.

You can use our service to find the best hospitals for arm lift overseas.

To know your options for arm lift abroad, reach out to us at info@unimedtravels.com
Question? Make an inquiry