Bingo wings, otherwise known as the excess folds of loose skin on the underside of your upper arms, can often be an area of the body where people can be self-conscious leading to a reduction in self-confidence. Many patients feel uncomfortable wearing short-sleeve clothing to avoid exposing their arms, while many types of long-sleeve clothing don’t fit correctly. Although bingo wings are most commonly seen in women, they can also affect men, particularly after significant weight loss.
Bingo wings most commonly affect patients who are overweight or obese and can still persist even after dramatic weight loss. Many slim people can also have bingo wings even if they have skinny arms.
It is an area of the body that is particularly prone to excess fat and can be hard to tackle with healthy eating and exercise. This is why some people choose to consider surgical options such as liposuction of bingo wings.
What are bingo wings?
Bingo wings is another term for the excess fat located beneath the arms. This is often more visible when the arm is raised as it is in motion. Bingo wings form when there is a lack of muscle definition in the arms. It can also be caused after undergoing a large weight loss. Bingo wings can also become more prominent as we naturally age and begin to lose skin laxity. Bingo wings can cause problems with self-confidence and cause people to alter their clothing style, opting for clothes with long sleeves.
Bingo wings most commonly occur due to the natural ageing process, which occurs when the skin loses its inherent elasticity. This can be worsened by excessive sun exposure and sun damage. The skin begins to lose collagen and elastin and stretches out, and this stretching process may accelerate when there is an excess of fat in the arm. Arm liposuction is the most effective treatment to reduce excess fat in the arm and tighten the skin by up to 10%. Those with significant skin laxity may be better candidates for a brachioplasty also known as an arm reduction. Arm lift surgery can be either a full arm lift or a mini arm lift.
Non-surgical treatments
People who have sagging skin affecting the upper arms can improve their appearance with certain non-surgical treatments. Morpheus8 uses radio frequency micro-needling technology to tighten and lift the skin. In a smaller number of cases, Profhilo may be used to create firmer-looking skin, which often appears much smoother after treatment. Morpheus8 is a non-invasive treatment that does not involve the incisions and scars of traditional surgery. The treatment is quick to carry out and does not involve any downtime. For patients with more than mild skin laxity, nonsurgical treatment may not be as effective as surgical arm lift surgery for getting rid of bingo wings. Patients who have severe skin laxity are not appropriate candidates for non-surgical bingo wings treatment.
Am I a suitable candidate for liposuction of bingo wings?
You will be eligible to undergo arm liposuction if you:
- Have excess fat on the underside of the arms, which you want to remove
- Are 18 years or older
- Are physically and mentally healthy
- Have reasonable skin laxity
- Have reasonable expectations about what the procedure can achieve
If you have excess skin, rather than excess fat, beneath the arms, you will not be considered eligible for arm liposuction alone. Instead, you may wish to undergo an arm lift to remove the excess skin. If necessary, arm liposuction can be performed simultaneously with the arm lift. Patients who have mild to moderate amounts of excess skin may be able to have a mini arm lift which has shorter incisions compared with a full arm lift.
You will have to be a non-smoker or be able to stop smoking at least two weeks before the procedure, as well as stop smoking during the recovery period.
Patients who have slim arms can benefit from skin excision alone but patients who have large and heavy arms will require additional liposuction to reduce the size of heavy arms. The scar for an arm lift is situated along the inside of the arm to make it less visible and runs from the armpit to the elbow.
How is bingo wing liposuction performed?
Bingo wing liposuction will be performed under a local anaesthetic. However, if you do not wish to be awake for the procedure, you may opt for a general anaesthetic. At Centre for Surgery, we exclusively use TIVA anaesthesia. You will be able to wake up much quicker and will not experience that groggy feeling often associated with a traditional general anaesthetic.
Surgery to remove bingo wings can be performed under local anaesthetic or general anaesthetic, depending on your preferences. If you are having arm liposuction combined with another procedure then we would recommend a general anaesthetic for your comfort.
Liposuction procedures at Centre for Surgery in London are performed using the PAL lipo method, which is commonly used by the Centre for Surgery. Unlike other methods of liposuction, PAL lipo does not involve the use of heat, reducing the chance of bruising and swelling afterwards and the chance of damage to the body during the procedure.
The arm is first injected with a solution that combines a local anaesthetic and a vasoconstrictor. This not only numbs the area, reducing the risk of pain and discomfort but also reduces the risk of bleeding. Next, small incisions are made. Liposuction is then used to aspirate the fat globules, which ensures the blood vessels and stromal network are not damaged. A small, vibrating cannula is then used to break up the fat cells. Finally, the surgeon will sculpt the final layer of fat to ensure you achieve natural-looking results.
Bingo wing liposuction will be performed as a day case, and you will be able to return home once the effects of the anaesthetic have worn off.
What can I expect from the arm liposuction recovery period?
After bingo wing liposuction, you may experience swelling, bruising and redness, particularly around the incision site. You may wish to apply an ice pack to the area or take pain medication if necessary. The swelling will subside after 7 to 10 days.
You will have to wear a compression garment on your arms. This will help to reduce swelling and ensure your arms stay in the best shape possible.
You may need to take two to three days off work. This will vary from person to person, and some people may need a longer period of time to recover. If your job is physically demanding and involves lots of heavy lifting, you may need to take a longer period off work.
You will have to avoid any strenuous physical exercise, including heavy lifting, for at least two weeks. If you have to look after young children, you may have to consider this when planning your recovery period. After two weeks, you will be able to start light activities again.
Brachioplasty
This procedure is also known as an arm lift or arm reduction. Brachioplasty surgery is designed to remove areas of loose skin and excessive areas of fat from the upper arm. Liposuction is commonly combined with skin removal as part of the arm lift procedure. Liposuction or Lipo is first carried out to remove excess fat. The loose skin beneath the arm is then surgically removed.
Patients who have moderate amounts of excess fat and skin may be a suitable candidate for a standard full brachioplasty. Patients who have mild to moderate skin laxity may be suitable for a mini brachioplasty, also known as a mini arm lift. Mini arm lift involves creating a curved incision beneath the armpit compared with a full arm lift, which involves an additional incision running down the inner aspect of the upper arm to the elbow. Any areas of excess fat and loose skin are surgically removed before the skin is carefully stitched together to leave minimal scarring. In Patients who have lost significant amounts of weight, an extended Brachioplasty may be appropriate to remove loose skin, which often extends onto the side of the chest. The disadvantage of an extended brachioplasty involves a much longer incision being made to remove loose skin. The resulting scar is, therefore, much longer compared with a standard arm lift. Arm lift surgery is one of the most effective ways of getting rid of bingo wings whilst significantly improving the tone and definition of the arm, allowing patients to freely expose their arms without being self-conscious.
Are you interested in getting rid of bingo wings? Centre for Surgery offers both liposuction and arm lift surgery to treat this common condition. Contact us today to find out more or to book your consultation.
