Upper arm laxity, also known as `bingo wings` – where the skin on the upper arms is loose and sagging, resulting in a “wing” of skin that hangs down when the arm is raised is a common problem for many men and women. Upper arm laxity can occur after a significant weight loss, in overweight individuals or just in individuals who are ageing and who have naturally lost some of their skin elasticity and tissue volume.

The main treatment for upper arm laxity is brachioplasty or upper arm lift, but the downsides of this treatment are that it can be painful as it’s a surgical procedure, requiring a lengthy period of recovery, and that it leaves a long scar down the inside of the arm. Brachioplasty is the most successful form of treatment for bingo wings as it removes the excess skin, but many individuals are put off by the scarring. For individuals with mild to moderate upper arm laxity, there are some alternative, less invasive treatments.

Short-scar brachioplasty is a mini version of a full brachioplasty. It involves an incision being made in the underarm. This is a good option for individuals with only a moderate amount of loose skin, but as the scar is underneath the arm, it reduces the amount of loose skin that can be removed.

Liposuction on the upper arms is also an option for individuals with moderate bingo wings. Young candidates with healthy skin, little skin laxity and only small to moderate amounts of fat are the best candidates for upper arm liposuction. Liposuction of the upper arm will reduce fat, but it will not reduce excess skin, although some liposuction methods which use heat energy sources such as radiofrequency can achieve some skin tightening at the same time.

Another option for upper arm laxity is the external application of radiofrequency. Studies have shown that candidates can expect an improvement of up to 55%, but this is only suitable in individuals with mild to moderate skin laxity.

Many candidates will benefit from a combination of the above treatments.