How to get rid of bingo wings and achieve toner, more sculpted arms

We all know about the unflattering ‘bingo wings’. They are loose flesh that hangs from the upper arms and wobbles as we move our arms around. They are the reason we shy away from sleeveless tops, and why we always pose with our hands on our waist for photos.

There are many reasons why people have bingo wings. Genetics is one of the reasons. Some people are just predisposed to them because the areas under their arms are more susceptible to fat growth.

The other common factor is ageing. As skin loses elasticity as one gets older, it can appear saggier and this happens to the skin on all parts of our body, including the underside of our arms.

The annoying thing about bingo wings is that even a person of healthy weight may have them. This is because they are attributed to excess fat that occurs in those stubborn pockets under our arms that simply refuses to go away.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO GET RID OF BINGO WINGS?

Put your arms to form an L, shake them – what do you see? If the underside of your arms are jiggling and you’re bothered by it, it’s probably time to start doing something about this pesky feature.

The key to getting rid of bingo wings is to lose body fat at the arm area. But do you know what can truly help with targeted fat reduction?

We consulted Dr. Ivan Puah, the medical director of Amaris B. Clinic, who has been performing body sculpting procedures for more than 15 years to understand more about how targeted fat reduction works.

WHAT YOU MAY ALREADY BE DOING THAT ARE UNLIKELY TO REDUCE BINGO WINGS

LOADING UP ON FIBRE AND PROTEIN IN YOUR DIET

Fibres and proteins may give your body a sense of satiety, manage your appetite and help you control your diet better, but this can only help you achieve overall weight loss. You can keep up with this diet plan if your goal is weight loss, but it won’t target stubborn fat tissues around your arms.

WORKING OUT

Cardio or strength training? Or are you doing arm exercises to reduce the appearance of bingo wings? Unfortunately, these will not translate to targeted fat loss too.

A fitness plan involving cardio and strength training is probably the best way to lose weight. This can help you achieve leaner muscles, but you’ll likely find your stubborn areas more wobbly than the rest of your body.

GETTING SUFFICIENT SLEEP

There are several reasons why adequate sleep is good for health. Our body repairs itself when we’re sleeping, which is essential if you want to ensure better wellness and healthier skin.

In fact, it seems like scientists are also drawing the link between having sufficient sleep and improvement of metabolism. Studies show that cortisol (also known as the “stress hormone”) spikes when you're not having enough rest.

When this happens, your body is instructed by the hormone to conserve energy by holding on to fat. Adequate sleep helps to balance your body’s hormones, which in turn improves metabolism and regulates unhealthy food cravings.

Of course, this means that you should turn in early and get that beauty rest that you need, but if you’re hoping it’ll help you lose those bingo wings – let’s just say it’s a fat hope.

WHY CAN’T DIETING, EXERCISING, AND SLEEPING MORE HELP GET RID OF BINGO WINGS?

Dr Puah says that dieting, exercising and having adequate rest can help lose weight or reduce overall body fat percentage. These are essential activities to achieve general health and wellness. However, they’re not helpful regarding targeted fat reduction or body shaping.

“When one loses weight, one loses fat and other tissues indiscriminately,” he explains. “Based on each individual’s genetic predisposition, susceptible areas may lose more tissues while stubborn ones would see less obvious results.”

In other words, if your stubborn fat area is around your arms, losing weight will not help make that particular area look better or more proportionate compared to the rest of the body.

FOR TARGETED FAT REDUCTION: VASER LIPOSUCTION

Considering genetics and age are two factors that are pretty hard to reverse, it’s an uphill challenge to eliminate bingo wings.

Dr Puah shares that an increasing number of patients consult him for solutions to get rid of bingo wings. One scientifically proven way to achieve targeted fat reduction he would recommend to his patients is Vaser Liposuction. It is an ultrasonic-assisted liposuction that utilises ultrasound waves to liquefy stubborn fat. Once this process is completed, Dr Ivan Puah will remove the melted fat via suction and carry out body contouring for the patient.

This body sculpting treatment can be performed under local anaesthesia, which makes it an ideal option for many patients. A one-time procedure, it eliminates the fat tissues in the treated area immediately and safely. There is also minimal pain and downtime compared to traditional liposuction.

On top of removing fat, it also stimulates collagen production for skin tightening. What this means is that you can achieve arms that don’t just look slimmer but also appear more toned.

Singapore’s Ministry of Health has strict regulations for doctors who want to provide liposuction. Only doctors accredited by the governing authority can perform this procedure.

If you are looking to consult a doctor about Vaser Liposuction, Dr Ivan Puah from Amaris B. Clinic is one of the accredited doctors in Singapore to visit. He has vast experience in body sculpting, and his patients know him for his meticulousness. Safety and results are a top priority at Amaris B. Clinic, and the appropriate treatment plans based on the patient’s clinical conditions are always carefully discussed before any procedure.