What Is A Brachioplasty?
Brachioplasty (arm lift) is a surgical procedure performed to remove the loose, hanging skin that often develops on the underside of the upper arm as a result of aging, weight loss or weight gain.
Is An Arm Lift Painful?
Arm lift surgery is performed using general anesthesia, which interrupts the transmission of pain signals to the brain. The anesthetized brain also does not register time and memory during the time that the patient is “asleep.”
Patients should expect some discomfort when their anesthesia begins to wear off. After this point, comfort is managed with a prescription painkiller, then an over-the-counter pain reliever.
Who Is A Good Candidate For A Brachioplasty?
Brachioplasty is ideal for patients who have an excessive amount of hanging skin and/or fat that does not respond to diet and exercise, who maintain a stable weight, who do not smoke, and who have realistic expectations for surgery. Patients must also be healthy overall, with no major medical conditions that can be affected by surgery.
How Should I Prepare For My Arm Lift?
Patients may prepare for their arm lift in various ways.
Before surgery, it is necessary to:
Before surgery, it is helpful to:
The Arm Lift Procedure
During brachioplasty, an incision is made along the inside of the upper arm that often spans the underarm to the elbow. Excess fat is removed, either by direct excision or by liposuction. Excess skin is trimmed away, and the arm’s underlying supportive tissue is tightened using internal absorbable sutures. Skin is then sutured back together; absorbable stitches may or may not be used to close the incision.
Brachioplasty is performed under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation and, depending on the amount of skin and fat that is removed, takes 2 to 4 hours. Patients are able to return home the same day as surgery.
For a patient who needs only a small amount of skin and fat removed, a minimal-incision arm lift may be performed. Since it is a less invasive way to remove excess fat and tissue, it requires only a few small incisions near the underarm.
Can I Combine My Arm Lift With Other Procedures?
Many patients who undergo brachioplasty have lost a significant amount of weight, so it is not uncommon to see them combine various lift procedures. Common combinations include thigh lift, tummy tuck, or breast implant surgery. One exception to combination procedures may be a breast lift. In this instance, the breast lift and arm lift incisions may be too close in proximity to achieve the desired outcome. To ensure safety and a successful recovery, surgeons may perform these two procedures at different times.
Recovery From Arm Lift Surgery
Arm lift recovery spans a period of approximately six weeks. To facilitate optimal healing, patients should:
During the recovery period, patients can expect:
Brachioplasty Results
The results of brachioplasty are noticeable right away, even when the arms are still bandaged after surgery. That said, patients can expect swelling to obscure the final outcome of surgery for up to six weeks. After that time, the shape of the arms can continue to improve for several more months, as the skin and tissue naturally settle and tighten.
How Long Does My Results Last From An Arm Lift?
Arm lift surgery removes excess fat and skin to restore slimmer contours to the backs of the arms. Barring subsequent, significant weight gain and loss, we expect the results of arm lift surgery to last indefinitely. Aging continues to affect the skin over time, so the arms could look somewhat lax over time. However, this typically takes many years and is usually nowhere as dramatic as it was before brachioplasty.
Risks Of Arm Lift Surgery
In addition to the risks associated with any surgery, those related to an arm lift include the following:
The scar left by brachioplasty is significant, although it fades over time.
Will There Be Scarring After My Brachioplasty?
During an arm lift, the incision is placed on the inside of the arm to disguise it, however it does create a permanent line.
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