Amaris
B. Clinic's first-half 2026 enquiry figures show arm-related concerns
accounted for 41.4% of all body-sculpting enquiries from women, with
nearly half of those enquiries coming from women in their 40s. Medical
director, Dr Ivan Puah links the trend to perimenopause, slowing
metabolism and lifestyle pressures specific to Singapore.
SINGAPORE-
Media OutReach Newswire
- 17 August 2026 - Arm fat has become the single most common concern
driving women to seek body-sculpting consultations in Singapore this
year, according to internal enquiry data from Amaris B. Clinic, whose
medical director, Dr Ivan Puah, is an MOH-accredited liposuction doctor.
Between January and June 2026, the clinic logged 406 face- and
body-sculpting enquiries from women, of which 168 (41.4%) cited arm
concerns, more than any other body area. Thirty-one women enquired about
more than one area, so individual counts do not sum to the total.
The pattern is one Dr Puah says he sees consistently in practice: Arm
fat that resists diet and exercise and that many patients report
noticing as they enter their 40s.
Nearly Half of Arm-Concern Enquiries Come From Women in Their 40s
Among women who wrote in specifically about arm concerns, enquiries were
heavily concentrated in mid-adulthood, an age range that overlaps with
perimenopause for many women:
Full Breakdown
Age group
|
Percentage of arm-concern enquiries
|
21 -29 year-olds
|
4%
|
30 - 39 year-olds
|
32%
|
40 - 49 year-olds
|
42%
|
50 - 59 year-olds
|
11%
|
60 - 69 year-olds
|
3%
|
70 and above
|
1%
|
Nearly half of all arm-related enquiries came from women aged 40 to 49,
an age range that overlaps with perimenopause for many women.
Why Arm Fat Is Difficult to Shift
Women naturally carry 6 to 11 percentage points more body fat than men, a
difference tied to reproductive physiology. Genetics also influence
where fat is stored, and some women are predisposed to carrying it in
the upper arms, a distribution pattern that responds poorly to exercise
alone.
Patients describe the concern in different ways, including upper-arm
fat, "bingo wings" or "bat wings" (a combination of loose skin and fat
that moves with the arm), and chafing where the arm rubs against the
body.
Dr Puah points to two overlapping life stages as the main physiological drivers:
"Perimenopause and menopause are the two life stages we most
consistently see linked to arm fat in the clinic. As women approach
these stages, metabolism slows, and that shift tends to show up first in
areas like the arms and underarms. It's most noticeable in women with
an apple-shaped body distribution," said Dr Puah.
Hormonal changes associated with ageing, often compounded by stress or
poor sleep, can make the body more prone to storing fat and losing lean
muscle mass. Skin also loses elasticity with age, which Dr Puah says
contributes to the looser, softer contour some patients describe.
Climate, Fashion and Workplace Culture Add Visibility
Singapore's climate means sleeveless and short-sleeved clothing is worn
year-round, keeping arms visible for most of the year. Dr Puah says
this, combined with grooming expectations in client-facing and corporate
roles, contributes to why arm concerns generate more enquiries in
Singapore than they might in cooler markets.
"In Singapore's climate, women are more conscious of how their arms
look in everyday clothing, and arm sculpting is consistently among the
most common requests we receive for this concern," said Dr Puah, who
chairs Singapore's Lipo Peer Review Committee.
Not All Arm Fullness Is the Same, Clinic Says
Dr Puah cautions that upper-arm fullness is not uniform from patient to
patient. For some women it is predominantly fat. For others, it is a
combination of fat and skin laxity, with genetics, hormonal changes and
age all shaping the tissue involved.
"Many women are surprised to learn that arm fat is often genetically
predetermined and resistant to exercise. A proper evaluation helps
clarify what's driving the concern and sets realistic expectations for
what can be achieved. The rise in enquiries reflects growing awareness
that stubborn arm fat is a physiological issue, not a failure of
willpower or fitness," said Dr Puah.
The clinic's data points to a broader shift: arm concerns are no longer a
secondary consideration for patients but a leading driver of body
sculpting consultations among women in Singapore, particularly during
the perimenopausal transition.
Note on methodology: Figures are drawn from self-reported enquiry
records logged by Amaris B. Clinic between 1 January and 30 June 2026
and reflect enquiries at this clinic only; they are not a
population-representative survey of Singapore women.
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