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MENU Arm Lift / Brachioplasty by Saul R. Berger, MD, FACS
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One of the most common procedures patients seek after weight loss is contouring of the arms. This procedure can be life changing for many individuals who are unable to wear short-sleeve or sleeveless attire, or even knock things over if they have severely lax skin.
There are a number of possible approaches that can be used; the best
approach must be individualized for each candidate.
One of the key factors in
establishing a plan depends on the amount of excess fat as well as the laxity or looseness of the skin. If the skin is not very loose and has the probability of tightening up as the fat is reduced, then approaches such as liposuction can improve the contour with the most minimal or inconspicuous of scars. If the skin is very loose, the chance of it tightening after fat reduction is very low and, consequently, the skin generally needs to be tightened surgically using lengthier scars.
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Patients considering brachioplasty are often very concerned about the scars, and justifiably so. For those with loose skin, the removal of the excess can be thought of as a “tradeoff” between greatly improved contour and a visible scar.
There is some
latitude as to where the incisions can be located in planning the surgery, and your surgeon should discuss this with you. In particular, your surgeon should discuss the advantages and disadvantages of placing the incision in specific parts of the arm. Most of my patients tend to select an incision that is not visible when the arm is held naturally at the side of the body. In such cases, if one were to extend or reach forward, the scar could become visible at the inner aspect of the arm. Importantly, the scars can be devised so that they are not visible from behind, thereby helping to conceal the surgery. I have found that my patients are much less self-conscious when they attend public events, even in sleeveless attire, and there is no incision visible from behind as well as most other angles. I use a specific protocol for the aftercare of patients in order to speed their recovery and reduce the risk of problems. Depending on a patient’s customary work and the details of their procedure, the recovery may require downtime from several days to two weeks. The specific plan is customized for each patient and the surgery as well as the aftercare will be discussed at the time of consultation. Case Examples: Case 1-
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