Contact & consultation

Arranging an assessment

Outpatient appointments are booked through the hospital on the numbers below; international patients can ask for Michael Yu. Wear or bring sleeveless clothing, because the assessment is done with the arm raised as well as lowered. Bring a written note of your weight over the last two years, any record of surgery or radiotherapy involving the armpit, breast or arm, and any history of arm swelling, however minor it seemed at the time.

What the consultation should establish

Whether the fullness is fat, skin or muscle, and which of those is dominant; whether the skin has the recoil to settle over a smaller contour; whether the arm has any history that makes the operation inadvisable; and what the plan does if the skin does not take up. You should leave able to say which of those findings was identified and why the proposed plan addresses it.

Asking about the plan

Ask where the entry points will sit and how visible they will be, whether a skin-removing operation was considered as an alternative, whether the arms will be treated alone or with other areas, how long the compression sleeve must be worn, and who performs the operation. Ask what would make this the wrong operation for your arm. A surgeon who answers that last question specifically is assessing you rather than presenting to you.

Before you commit

No decision needs to be made at the first appointment. Take the plan away, read it against the guides on this site, and come back with questions. A discount that expires, or pressure to book before the assessment is complete, is information about the clinic rather than about your arms.