The surgical rejuvenation of the upper arm remains a persistent problem for both the patient and the surgeon, despite the many techniques that have been proposed for its improvement. The goal of the brachioplasty is to reduce skin redundancy and to reduce the circumference of the arm. When there is good skin tone or minimal skin sagging, fat deposits can be reduced by liposuction. But marked skin redundancy or laxity can only be improved by surgery. The incision has to be placed in an axillar crease and in the internal aspect of the arm along a line extending from the axilla to the epicondyle of the elbow. Then a piece of skin-dermis and fat is removed and the subcutis and skin are closed using routine aesthetic suturing.
Two to three hours.
The anesthesia can be general or local with sedation.
Both options are possible.
In some cases edema or lymphoedema of the arms can result.
Highly visible or keloid scars and cutaneous nerve injuries.
The healing process may take 7-10 days. An elastic bandage or compression garment may be recommended for several months.
Good and stable results can be achieved in young patients with adiposities and good skin tone as well as in adults of older age, sometimes with the help of several months of postoperative elastic compression.