Upper Arm Lift Surgery - Indications, Contraindications, Procedure, and Complications

What Is Upper Arm Surgery (Brachioplasty)?

An upper arm lift (Brachioplasty) is a cosmetic procedure to improve the underarm's appearance. This procedure involves removing fat tissue and contouring the loose and flabby skin from the armpit to the elbow. It gives a toned appearance to the arms.

Who Is a Potential Candidate for Upper Arm Surgery (Brachioplasty)?

For patients with sagging or drooping arms, brachioplasty surgery is the first choice. When individuals raise their arms, a flap of skin that hangs down from this location may resemble a bat's wings.

It could happen because of the following:

• Age-related changes in skin elasticity.

• Keeping a healthy lifestyle while losing a lot of weight, whether with or without surgery for obesity.

• Possessing a few hereditary traits that make your skin sag.

• Lymphedema.

Where Is Upper Arm Surgery Not Indicated?

Arm lift surgery is not ideal for everyone, and doctors might suggest patients refrain from surgery if:

• The patient has a medical condition that prevents them from achieving proper wound healing.

• People who are overweight.

• Frequent fluctuations in weight.

• Smoking habit (if the patient has a smoking habit, it should be stopped two months before surgery and four weeks after surgery until satisfactory healing is achieved).

• Patients with connective tissue disorders like Ehler-Danlos syndrome, whose skin is highly elastic and has poor tissues that are difficult to heal.

• Patients on long-term steroids for a chronic illness may lead to complications.

Is There a Nonsurgical Approach for Upper Arm Surgery?

• Eating a low-fat, nutritious diet.

• Exercising may help achieve toned arms but will not tighten the loose skin.

• Wearing long sleeve dresses.

• Accepting themselves or talking to a counselor or psychologist helps people overcome their self-consciousness and actually like themselves the way they are.

How to Find the Upper Arm Lift Surgeon?

• Patients should ask health providers for recommendations on finding a qualified specialized surgeon or hospital where an upper arm lift (Brachioplasty) is conducted.

• Patients should question the surgeon's education and experience during their initial visit.

• It is better to have the operation performed by a surgeon with specialized training in brachioplasty and extensive experience performing this kind of surgery.

How Is Upper Arm Lift Surgery Done?

Presurgical Evaluation:

• The surgeon will evaluate the patient's medical history to find out the presence of any systemic disease.

• History of medications taken by the patient. Avoid medications such as Aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and blood thinners.

• Blood sugar levels should be monitored in diabetic patients. If the sugar levels are not in control, the healing process may get delayed leading to complications.

• Habits such as smoking should be avoided, which may lead to hematoma.

• The surgeon will then talk about the surgical procedure and what to expect from the surgery.

Anesthesia:

• Depending on the surgeon's choice, the procedure is done under general anesthesia or sometimes local anesthesia.

• The surgery may take three hours, depending on the patient's requirements.

• Sometimes liposuction (a surgical procedure done to remove the fat from specific areas using a suction technique) may be required.

• It is essential to have a person to accompany the patient during the procedure; the patient could be required to spend the night in the hospital.

Surgical Procedure:

• The surgeon slices the patient's upper arm's inner surface from the armpit to the elbow (generally, the back of the arm is where the cut is made).

• Sometimes in this procedure, liposuction is used.

• Liposuction removes extra fat by inserting a thin tube (cannula) into the fat deposit. With the use of a suction pump or a sizable syringe, the fat is removed.

• Sutures tighten the underlying muscle to get the upper arm's smooth and defined form.

• The extra loose skin is excised.

• Stitches and bandages are used to seal the wound.

What are Post Operative Precautions to Be Taken by a Patient?

• After surgery, patients should change the bandages as suggested by the doctor.

• Patients might have swelling and pain for a few days, which is temporary.

• Proper diet and nutrition are necessary for better healing.

• As the surgeon recommends, smoking should be avoided at least one month before and two weeks after the procedure for a speedy recovery.

• Drain tubes will be placed after the surgery, and the doctor will show how to empty the drains.

• Scars will develop in the underarm area, which will be minimized by Corticosteroid injection as prescribed by the doctor.

• Avoid strenuous activities like bending and physical activity for three weeks.

• Care must be taken not to give excessive force or motion to surgical incisions during healing.

• Medications should be followed as suggested by the doctor.

• Comfortable and loose clothing should be preferred till the healing is satisfactory.

• Supportive compression garments should be worn for a few days. This procedure will help to prevent fluid buildup and swelling and aid in support of the arm.

• Regular follow-up checks must be scheduled as suggested by the doctor.

What Are the Complications of Upper Arm Surgery?

• Wound infection for which antibiotic treatment may be necessary discomfort near the incision sites.

• Inflammation or itchiness surrounding wound area.

• Hematoma (a buildup of blood at the surgical site that could need to be drained).

• Prolonged swelling.

• Damage to underlying muscles.

• Scars are easily seen, such as keloid and hypertrophic scars, are enlarged, elevated scars that develop over healed incisions.

• Numbness around operated sites is typically temporary and will disappear after a few days.

• Seroma (which is an excessive buildup of fluid beneath the skin near a surgical site).

• Allergic reaction to general anesthesia.

• Fat necrosis (death of fat cells below the skin).

• Asymmetry or unevenness of the arms.

Conclusion

Upper arm surgery (Brachioplasty) enhances the tone and definition of the upper arms. This surgery can be necessary if there is loose skin due to weight loss or aging-related changes. An arm lift surgery can have long-lasting benefits. Sagginess, though, can reappear as individual ages or weight fluctuates. Even though the scars are permanent, they generally improve over some time and become less prominent.