Sometimes the effects of gravity or significant weight loss can result in areas of loose skin on the upper arms. Many patients seek to address this issue, as they are concerned about:
- the feeling of loose tissue wobbling as they move.
- self-consciousness whilst exercising.
- dissatisfaction with the shape of their upper arms in fitted clothing.
For these patients, it may be reasonable to consider a brachioplasty (arm lift) procedure.
What can I expect
Brachioplasty is a common procedure to reshape the contour of the upper arm. This involves reducing the lax skin and underlying fatty tissue, whilst leaving all the underlying muscle intact. This can be performed by excision alone, or in combination with liposuction to allow smoother shaping. It is important to note this procedure doesn’t extend past the elbow, and the new shape will need to be blended with the adjacent lateral chest and armpit (axilla) area. Brachioplasty is most often undertaken as part of a comprehensive body contouring plan following significant weight loss, and as such, we often need to plan at what stage your brachioplasty should be performed.
What happens before surgery?
On the day of surgery, you will be checked in and all details confirmed. You’ll see the Anaesthetist and discuss your plan for pain relief. Richard will make some markings on the operative sites to guide during surgery, then pre-operative photographs before you go into theatre. As brachioplasty is often part of a whole-patient approach to body contouring, there may be other operative sites that also need to be marked. Once everything is ready for you, you’ll be taken into the operating theatre.
What happens during surgery?
Brachioplasty surgery is performed under general anaesthetic, and may be combined with other procedures during the same anaesthetic. Once all our pre-operative safety checks are complete and anaesthesia carefully underway, the excess skin is removed from the upper arms. Often, liposuction is used to fine tune the result. In the end, a fine line surgical incision is closed along the back/ inner surface of the arm where it is least conspicuous. Compression garments are applied before you are gently woken up and taken to the recovery area. Occasionally, Richard uses surgical drains to remove any excess fluid over the next day or so.
What happens after surgery?
Most brachioplasty patients choose to stay in hospital overnight to recover. Expect swelling in your forearms and hands, and tightness in the arms. Major discomfort is very unlikely, and brachioplasty is generally well tolerated. Elevating your arms and an ‘active rest’ is best, where you move around the house and use your arms for light activities of daily living, but nothing heavier than a big book for the first two weeks. Most patients can return to office-based work after this time, whilst running is a month away and you’ll need six weeks or so before any upper body gym workouts.
As in all body contouring surgery following significant weight loss, the post-operative scars may stretch or migrate over time, as tension dissipates and the skin stretches.
Possible complications:
The decision to undergo brachioplasty surgery should only be made after considering if the potential benefits can achieve your aims, and whether the risks are acceptable to you. The possible risks/ complications of breast reduction include (but are not limited to):
- Cardiac problems, including heart attack or arrythmias.
- Venous thromboembolism (including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, which may be fatal).
- Surgical site infection.
- Haematoma/ seroma requiring return to theatre.
- Wound breakdown, delayed healing or protruding sutures.
- Conspicuous scars, including hypertrophic, stretched or migrated scars.
- Possible need for revisional surgery. Richard will only consider revising your brachioplasty if he believes:
- there is a definable structural issue,
- this issue is realistically able to be improved with surgery and
- the risk of revisional surgery causing a worse result are minimal.
- Dissatisfaction with the degree of arm tightening.
- Elbow/ forearm bulge.
- Contour asymmetry.
- Compression neuropathy or nerve injury.