Body Lift Surgery Guide
Please read these instructions carefully before your brachioplasty (arm lift) surgery at Evita Clinic. Proper preparation helps improve surgical safety, protect the long arm incision, support wound healing, and make your early recovery smoother.
Most Important Notes
- Fasting: Do not eat or drink anything, including water, for at least 6 hours before surgery.
- GLP-1 Medications: Stop Wegovy®, Ozempic®, Mounjaro®, Zepbound®, Rybelsus®, Saxenda®, and similar GLP-1 weight-loss or diabetes medications at least 1 week before surgery.
- Smoking and Nicotine: Stop smoking, vaping, and all nicotine products at least 1 week before surgery and avoid them for at least 2 weeks afterward.
- Maintain a Stable Weight: Avoid both weight gain and aggressive weight loss immediately before surgery. Do not use crash diets, prolonged fasting, dehydration, or extreme calorie restriction.
- Arm Movement: Plan ahead for a temporary restriction in lifting, pushing, pulling, stretching, and repeatedly raising your arms above shoulder level.
- Postoperative Monitoring: A companion is not required. After surgery, a dedicated nurse will monitor you closely and assist you until you are stable and ready for discharge.
- Follow-Up Visit: You must return to Evita Clinic the day after surgery for your first postoperative examination.
- Medical Information: Inform Evita Clinic about all medical conditions, allergies, medications, hormones, vitamins, supplements, and previous anesthesia-related reactions.
- Bring Your Passport: Bring your passport or another valid identification document on the day of surgery.
Understanding Brachioplasty
Brachioplasty, commonly called an arm lift, removes excess skin and localized fat from the upper arms to improve arm shape and reduce sagging.
Depending on your condition, the procedure may include liposuction, removal of excess skin, tightening of the underlying tissues, and extension of the incision into the armpit or lateral chest area.
The position and length of the scar depend on the amount and location of excess skin. A standard brachioplasty usually leaves a scar along the inner or lower aspect of the arm, extending from the armpit toward the elbow.
Brachioplasty is a body-contouring procedure, not a weight-loss operation. The most predictable results are achieved when your weight is reasonably stable.
Before Surgery Checklist
Maintain a Stable Weight and Good Nutrition
Try to maintain a reasonably stable weight before surgery. Significant weight gain or continued major weight loss may change the amount of loose skin and affect the planned surgical design.
Aggressive weight loss immediately before surgery is also not recommended. Crash dieting, prolonged fasting, dehydration, and severe calorie restriction may reduce your energy, protein intake, hydration, and overall physical condition.
- Do not intentionally gain weight before surgery.
- Avoid crash diets and very-low-calorie diets.
- Avoid prolonged fasting or deliberate dehydration.
- Eat regular, balanced meals.
- Include adequate protein in your daily diet.
- Maintain normal hydration until the required fasting period begins.
- Do not begin an extreme new exercise or weight-loss program immediately before surgery.
If you are still actively losing a substantial amount of weight, it may be better to reach a stable and maintainable weight before proceeding with brachioplasty.
Aspirin and Anti-Inflammatory Painkillers
Unless specifically approved by Evita Clinic, avoid aspirin and anti-inflammatory painkillers for at least 2 weeks before surgery. These medications may increase bleeding and bruising.
- Aspirin
- Advil® or Motrin® (ibuprofen)
- Naprosyn® or Aleve® (naproxen)
- Excedrin® products containing aspirin
- Other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications
If aspirin was prescribed for a heart, vascular, or neurological condition, do not stop it without approval from the prescribing physician.
Vitamins, Herbal Products, and Supplements
Inform Evita Clinic about all vitamins, herbal medicines, weight-loss products, bodybuilding products, and dietary supplements.
Some supplements may increase bleeding, affect blood pressure or blood glucose, or interact with medications used during IV sedation.
- Vitamin E
- Ginkgo biloba
- Ginseng
- Garlic extract
- Fish oil or high-dose omega-3
- St. John’s wort
- Weight-loss supplements
- Pre-workout or bodybuilding supplements
- Other herbal products
Stop non-essential supplements according to the instructions provided by Evita Clinic. Do not assume that a product is safe simply because it is described as natural.
Stop Smoking and Nicotine
Stop smoking and using all nicotine products at least 1 week before surgery and avoid them for at least 2 weeks afterward.
Nicotine reduces blood flow to healing skin and may increase the risk of delayed healing, wound opening, infection, skin discoloration, and wider scars.
- Cigarettes
- Electronic cigarettes and vaping
- Heated tobacco products
- Nicotine gum
- Nicotine patches
- Nicotine pouches
- Other nicotine-containing products
Inform Evita Clinic if you have been unable to stop nicotine before surgery. Your surgery may need to be postponed for safety.
Weight-Loss Medications (GLP-1 Medications)
Inform Evita Clinic if you use a weight-loss or diabetes medication such as Wegovy®, Ozempic®, Mounjaro®, Zepbound®, Rybelsus®, Saxenda®, or another similar GLP-1 medication.
These medications may slow stomach emptying and can affect anesthesia safety, even when surgery is performed under IV sedation.
Stop GLP-1 medications at least 1 week before surgery.
If you use the medication to treat diabetes, inform Evita Clinic and the physician who prescribed it before changing your medication schedule.
Contact Evita Clinic if you recently started treatment, recently increased your dose, or currently have nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, significant bloating, or severe constipation.
Prescription Blood-Thinning Medications
Inform Evita Clinic as early as possible if you take an anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication.
- Plavix® (clopidogrel)
- Warfarin or Coumadin®
- Xarelto® (rivaroxaban)
- Eliquis® (apixaban)
- Pradaxa® (dabigatran)
- Other prescription blood-thinning medications
These medications may need to be temporarily stopped before surgery, but the correct timing varies according to the medication, dose, kidney function, medical indication, and prescribing physician’s instructions.
Never stop a prescription blood thinner on your own.
Additional blood testing or written clearance from the prescribing physician may be required.
Birth Control and Hormone Therapy
Inform Evita Clinic if you use birth control pills, contraceptive patches, vaginal rings, estrogen therapy, testosterone, fertility medication, or any other hormone treatment.
Most patients do not automatically need to stop birth control or hormone medication before routine brachioplasty.
However, estrogen-containing medication may require individual assessment when additional blood-clot risk factors are present or when brachioplasty is combined with another extensive procedure.
Do not stop prescribed birth control or hormone medication on your own.
Medical Conditions, Allergies, and Previous Reactions
Inform Evita Clinic about all current and previous medical conditions, even if they appear unrelated to arm surgery.
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes or abnormal blood glucose
- Heart disease or abnormal heart rhythm
- Asthma or other respiratory disease
- Sleep apnea or heavy snoring
- Varicose veins
- Previous deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism
- Bleeding or clotting disorders
- Anemia
- Liver, kidney, or thyroid disease
- Seizure disorder
- History of fainting
- Previous arm, armpit, breast, or lymph-node surgery
- Previous anesthesia or sedation complications
Also inform us about:
- Antibiotic allergies
- Pain medication allergies
- Anti-inflammatory medication allergies
- Soybean allergy
- Latex or adhesive allergy
- Previous severe nausea or vomiting after anesthesia
- Any other previous medication reaction
Accurate medical information helps us select appropriate medications, determine the safe surgical extent, and reduce avoidable complications.
Plan Your Recovery and Work Schedule
Brachioplasty temporarily limits lifting, pushing, pulling, reaching, driving, household activities, and repeated overhead arm movement.
Activities that repeatedly raise your arms above shoulder level place tension on the long arm incision and the vulnerable axillary area.
Plan additional recovery time if your work includes:
- Repeatedly reaching above shoulder level
- Heavy lifting or carrying
- Pushing or pulling equipment
- Hairdressing or beauty treatment work
- Healthcare or caregiving duties
- Housekeeping or cleaning
- Warehouse, restaurant, or manual work
- Upper-body exercise or sports
Office work may be easier to resume than physically demanding work, but the appropriate timing depends on your surgical extent and healing progress.
Plan Your Stay in Korea
Brachioplasty requires postoperative examinations, drain removal, dressing care, and monitoring of the long arm incision.
- You must return to Evita Clinic the day after surgery.
- Surgical drains are commonly checked and usually removed at the first postoperative visit.
- Additional visits may be scheduled for wound care and postoperative treatment.
- A stay of approximately 10–14 days is generally recommended.
- A longer stay may be recommended after extensive or combined surgery.
Avoid scheduling demanding sightseeing, heavy luggage handling, or long-distance travel immediately after surgery.
Existing Tattoos
Inform Dr. Jeon if you have tattoos on the upper arms, armpits, lateral chest, or another area included in the surgical plan.
Skin containing part of a tattoo may need to be removed. The tattoo may therefore be partially removed, distorted, narrowed, divided, or repositioned after surgery.
This may be unavoidable when the tattoo is located within excess skin that must be removed to achieve the planned contour.
Excessive Underarm Sweating
Inform Evita Clinic if you have excessive underarm sweating.
The armpit is a warm, moist, and high-movement area. Excessive moisture may make postoperative dressing care and protection of the axillary incision more difficult.
Dr. Jeon will assess whether any additional treatment or special postoperative care is appropriate for your condition.
Prepare the Underarm Area
Carefully remove or trim underarm hair approximately 2–3 days before surgery.
Do not shave on the day of surgery. Fresh cuts, irritation, razor burn, or folliculitis may increase the risk of infection.
Do not apply deodorant, antiperspirant, body lotion, oil, powder, or other cosmetic products to the arms or armpits on the morning of surgery.
Prepare for Early Recovery
A companion is not required. After surgery, a dedicated nurse will monitor you closely in the recovery area, assist you with your initial walking, and confirm that you are stable before discharge.
Prepare your accommodation so that you can manage daily activities without lifting or repeatedly raising your arms.
- Prepare loose, front-button, or front-zip clothing.
- Avoid clothing that must be pulled tightly over your head.
- Place commonly used items below shoulder height.
- Prepare pillows to support your forearms while resting.
- Prepare simple meals, drinking water, and necessary medications.
- Use light luggage with wheels whenever possible.
- Avoid carrying heavy bags after surgery.
- Choose accommodation with an elevator and easy access to the clinic.
Begin Fasting
Do not eat or drink anything for at least 6 hours before surgery.
This includes:
- Food
- Water
- Coffee or tea
- Juice or other beverages
- Milk
- Protein drinks
- Candy
- Chewing gum
If you accidentally eat or drink during the fasting period, inform Evita Clinic immediately. Your surgery may need to be delayed or rescheduled.
On the Day of Surgery
- Do not eat or drink anything during the required fasting period.
- Tell our medical staff if you used a GLP-1 medication within 1 week of surgery.
- Tell our medical staff if you currently have nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, significant bloating, or severe constipation.
- Bring your passport or another valid identification document.
- Remove all jewelry, rings, bracelets, watches, and body piercings.
- Remove contact lenses before surgery.
- Remove makeup and nail polish as instructed.
- Leave at least one fingernail completely uncovered for monitoring.
- Do not apply deodorant, antiperspirant, lotion, oil, powder, or cosmetic products to the arms or armpits.
- Wear loose, comfortable, front-opening clothing that does not require raising your arms high.
- Do not bring valuable jewelry or unnecessary valuables.
- Do not drive yourself to or from the clinic.
- Arrange a taxi or another appropriate method of transportation after discharge.
- Arrive at the scheduled appointment time provided by our coordinator.
- If you take medication for high blood pressure, inform Evita Clinic in advance. In most cases, it may be taken with a small sip of water, but follow the individual instructions provided to you.
- Bring essential prescribed medications that may be needed during your stay at the clinic.
- After surgery, a dedicated nurse will monitor your recovery and assist you until you are stable and ready for discharge.
What to Expect After Surgery
- Brachioplasty at Evita Clinic is usually performed using tumescent local anesthesia and IV sedation.
- The procedure generally takes approximately 2–3 hours, depending on the amount of skin removal, liposuction, and extension into the armpit or lateral chest.
- You will be monitored closely in the recovery area for several hours.
- A dedicated nurse will assist you with medication, hydration, initial walking, dressing, and preparation for discharge.
- Surgical drains are commonly placed and are usually removed during the first postoperative visit on the following day.
- You will wear an arm compression garment as instructed.
- Swelling, bruising, tightness, temporary numbness, and limited arm movement are expected during early recovery.
- Rest with your forearms comfortably supported on pillows. Do not place your hands above your head.
- Avoid repeatedly raising your arms above shoulder level during the early healing period.
- You must return to Evita Clinic the following day for your first postoperative examination.
Important Note
Brachioplasty creates a long incision in an area that moves frequently. The armpit portion of the incision is particularly vulnerable to tension, moisture, friction, and repeated arm movement.
Proper preparation includes maintaining a stable weight, eating adequate protein, stopping nicotine, following medication instructions, and arranging your work and accommodation so that unnecessary arm movement can be avoided.
A companion is not mandatory. Evita Clinic provides dedicated nursing observation during postoperative recovery and confirms that you are stable and able to walk safely before discharge.
Every patient has a different medical history, surgical plan, scar pattern, and recovery process. Follow the individual instructions provided by Evita Clinic even if they differ from general information found online.
Questions?
Contact Evita Clinic before surgery if you are unsure about a medication, GLP-1 treatment, blood thinner, hormone therapy, supplement, fasting instruction, tattoo, underarm sweating, travel schedule, or activity restriction.