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A brachioplasty, or upper arm lift, is an operation performed to improve the shape and contour of your arm from armpit to elbow. There are a variety of different brachioplasty procedures and so the operation will be tailored to suit the specific problem of each patient. The scar can sometimes be shorter if a small lift is needed, but it can also be longer and incorporate the removal of lateral chest fullness in massive weight loss patients.
The procedure leaves a scar running from the armpit down to the inner aspect of the elbow, which for most patients will fade and become relatively inconspicuous. Because the scars are relatively hidden on the inner aspect of the arm, patients can feel confident about wearing short-sleeved or strapped garments.
Brachioplasty is performed under general anaesthesia and usually requires an overnight hospital stay. A brachioplasty takes between one and two hours to do and the wounds are closed with dissolving sutures.
The operation is very effective in restoring a more youthful contour to the arm and eliminating redundant hanging skin. In most cases the results are long lasting – 10 years or more.
Following the operation you should be fairly comfortable, although you may feel some discomfort with movement. You will be given painkillers to take regularly. Someone will need to drive you home and help around the house for a few days.
Healing is a variable process and it will take several weeks to feel like your self again. Bruising takes two to three weeks to settle, but swelling can take up to three months or longer. Mobilisation should be gentle and strenuous exercise should be avoided for six weeks – your body will tell you if you are pushing too hard.
The scars continue to mature for up to a year. It must be remembered, however, that much of wound healing is out of the control of the surgeon, and abnormal unsightly and uncomfortable scars can occur. Massage of the scars with an aqueous cream helps, and should be started after the first month.
Delayed wound healing is the commonest nuisance problem and is typically managed by dressings. Other risks include prolonged swelling or lymphoedema, numbness or hypersensitivity, bleeding or fluid collections, infection, tissue necrosis, and unsatisfactory scarring. Occasionally we see asymmetries or irregularities in contour, the commonest being dog-ears at the ends of the scars which may require simple revision under local anaesthesia.
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