Brachioplasty

An arm lift, also known as brachioplasty, is a surgical procedure to remove loose skin and excess fat deposits in the upper arm. With age, upper arm skin can become loose and flabby. We will discuss brachioplasty with patients who want to tighten this skin and look as good as they feel. In some cases you surgeon may suggest that liposuction be used alone or in conjunction with an arm lift to remove excess fat in the upper arms.

Procedure:

The arm lift begins by marking the area of excess skin. This is usually done with the patient standing or sitting. The excess skin is then removed. The pattern of skin removal is usually an ellipse or a triangle with the base in the axilla. Because the skin is very mobile in the upper arm it is usually not necessary to undermine extensively. Some fat is left over the nerves and arteries for their protection but liposuction is sometimes performed to provide a smooth result.

After the fat and skin are removed the wound is stitched together and occasionally a drain is used. The operation is done under either a local anesthetic or a general anesthetic. It is most commonly done as an outpatient procedure. This means you can be home within a few hours. Some surgeons shave the axilla others feel that this is not important.

Recovery:

After surgery you will have a bandages applied . This can be anything from an extensive absorbent bandage with elastic support to a simple dressing with paper tapes (steri-strips).

Recovery takes one to two weeks, depending on what was done. Return to work depend on the activity needed on the job but is often about 2 weeks. The dressing may be extensive with elastic support or something smaller. You will need to protect the incisions after surgery. Limiting lifting is important. Elevation with pillows increases comfort. It can take 6 months or more to see how the scars will evolve.