- read about upper arm brachioplasty
- see before and after photos
- alternatives, risks, benefits & recovery
The upper arm skin can be elevated by removing a section of skin that lies along the inner aspect of the upper arm. This procedure removes excess skin after massive weight loss. The skin removal is usually extended into the armpit and side of the chest in these cases. Skin striae or stretch marks if present preoperatively will not disappear but are usually dramatically diminished. A modification of the procedure where only skin in the armpit is removed can be employed in patients who have not lost lots of weight and do not require the removal of large amounts of excess skin.
This 44 year old, 5’6″ tall patient went from 404 lb to 228 lb, after gastric bypass weightloss surgery leaving her with excess skin in the upper arms that would hang down below short sleeve shirts. This was very effectively addressed by brachioplasty surgery.
Read Dr. Stone’s blog about brachioplasty-arm liftBrachioplasty – Upper Arm Lift
Brachioplasty – arm lift surgery can enhance your appearance and your self confidence. Realistic expectations are important to be happy with any surgery. As each patient is an individual, different results can be expected in each patient.
Alternatives
In mild cases liposuction alone via 2 small incisions will suffice. As the severity of skin excess increases the skin excision and incision becomes larger until an L-shaped shaped scar from the armpit down the back of the arm is required.
Risks
As with any type of surgery there is the risk of infection or bleeding. Additionally there is the risk of seroma or blood fluid collections under the skin, bruising and skin loss especially at the lower edge of the abdominal skin below the belly button and the middle of the lower back. The main risks are areas of numbness on the upper arm and a visible scar on the upper arm. For those whose skin hangs down below their shirt sleeves the scar is a worthwhile tradeoff. Doing the full surgery on someone with less severe tradeoff however frequently leads to an unhappy patient.
To minimize visible scarring the surgery needs to be designed so the scar lies at the junction of the back and inner side of the upper arm. Special clamps are employed so that just enough skin excess is removed without tension on the closure. To minimize the risk of numbness a wedge of skin and fat is removed without undermining the surrounding skin.
Benefits
The benefits are improved arm mobility and not being self conscious shopping for clothes, in a bathing suit at the beach, or when being intimate. Being pleased with your new appearance can be a major incentive to changing your lifestyle, diet and exercise regularity in order to maintain your new look.
Recovery
When performed alone this is a same day outpatient surgery procedure. Sutures are removed at 10 to 12 days and drains are not usually required. There are exercise and activity restrictions for 3 to 4 weeks after surgery after which patients gradually return to their pre-surgery exercise routines. Scar taping after surgery ensures the most cosmetic end result scar.
Dr. Aaron Stone
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9700 Venice BlvdCulver City, Los Angeles,CA 90232