VASER Liposuction (Ultrasound Assisted Lipectomy) of the Arms in Newcastle NSW
VASER liposuction (ultrasound assisted lipectomy) of the arms removes localised fat from the upper arm, between the shoulder and the elbow, in patients who are at or near a stable weight and whose skin still has good elasticity. It is a day procedure I perform at Maitland Private Hospital for patients across Newcastle, Maitland and the Hunter Valley. If you want the full picture of how liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) works, who it suits and how I approach it, start with my complete guide to liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy).
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Is Arm Liposuction (Suction Assisted Lipectomy) the Right Procedure for Your Presentation?
The deciding factor in the upper arm is not how much fat is present. It is the quality of your skin. During consultation, I assess the fat layer with a pinch test and check how well the skin recoils when stretched. If you have a localised fatty fullness of the upper arm, your weight has been stable and the skin snaps back firmly, VASER liposuction (ultrasound assisted lipectomy) is worth discussing.
If the skin of your inner arm is loose, crepey or hangs when you lift your arm out to the side, removing fat will not correct that. Liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) removes fat, it does not remove skin, and in an arm with poor elasticity it can leave the laxity looking worse. This is common after significant weight loss. In that situation the operation that treats your presentation is a brachioplasty (arm lift), sometimes combined with liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) of the arm at the same operation.
Two further points matter. Suction assisted lipectomy is not a weight loss method and is not a treatment for obesity; it removes localised fat in patients at or near a stable weight. And a symmetrical, disproportionate, often tender enlargement of both arms may point to lipoedema, which is a distinct condition with its own assessment pathway.
What VASER Liposuction (Ultrasound Assisted Lipectomy) of the Arms Involves
- Performed under general anaesthesia at Maitland Private Hospital, usually as a day procedure
- Tumescent fluid containing local anaesthetic and adrenaline is infiltrated into the fat layer of the upper arm
- A VASER ultrasound probe is passed through small access incisions, typically placed near the elbow crease and towards the armpit, to loosen and emulsify the fat
- The emulsified fat is then removed by suction assisted lipectomy through the same access incisions
- I treat the arm with you positioned to allow access to the posterior and inner arm, where the fatty fullness usually sits
- The access incisions are a few millimetres long and are closed with fine sutures or left to heal with dressings
- A compression garment is fitted before you wake and worn as directed during recovery
Why Come and See Me for Arm Liposuction (Suction Assisted Lipectomy)?
I am Dr Bernard Beldholm, a FRACS Specialist Surgeon with a practice focused on body contouring surgery. I have used liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) for more than 15 years and VASER (ultrasound assisted lipectomy) for more than 10 years, both as a standalone procedure and within larger body contouring operations. I operate at Maitland Private Hospital, which has 24-hour medical cover and an on-site ICU, and I do my own rounds daily if you stay in hospital. Your first consultation runs for approximately 1 hour, a second consultation is included at no cost, and telehealth appointments are available for patients travelling from further afield. Your follow-up schedule is included in the surgical fee, with intensive reviews through the first 2 weeks after surgery and then reviews at 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months.
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Risks and recovery
Like any operation, VASER liposuction (ultrasound assisted lipectomy) of the arms carries risks. These include bruising, prolonged swelling, seroma, infection, numbness or altered sensation over the treated area, contour irregularity, asymmetry between the arms, and, rarely, a burn from the ultrasound energy. Where skin elasticity was borderline to begin with, the skin can look looser after fat is removed. Recovery is generally faster than after excisional surgery: most patients manage light activities within days, return to desk work within the first week or so, and build back to full exercise over several weeks, with swelling continuing to settle for months. You will wear a compression garment as directed during this period. I cover the week-by-week detail in my liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) recovery guide and the full risk profile in my complications article.
Cost and Medicare
The cost of arm liposuction (suction assisted lipectomy) depends on the extent of the area treated and is confirmed in a written quote after your consultation, covering the surgeon, anaesthetist and hospital fees. Cosmetic liposuction of the arms does not attract a Medicare rebate, and I break down what goes into the price in my liposuction cost guide.
Your steps to surgery
1. GP referral
A referral from your GP is required before a consultation for cosmetic surgery can take place.
2. Consultation
We meet to assess your arms, discuss whether VASER liposuction (ultrasound assisted lipectomy) suits your presentation, and cover risks, recovery and alternatives.
3. Written quote
You receive an itemised quote in writing, so you can take your time deciding.
4. Prepare for surgery
You complete any pre-operative tests I request, and we finalise your surgery date and your instructions for the days beforehand.
5. Surgery at Maitland Private Hospital
Your procedure is performed under general anaesthesia, usually as a day case.
6. Recover with structured follow-up
Your compression garment and review appointments are arranged before you go home, with intensive reviews through the first 2 weeks and then at 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months.