Upper Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)
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As we get older the skin on our upper arms becomes loose and can result in what is sometimes referred to as bat wings or bingo wings – drooping skin which is noticeable when we lift our arms. Sufferers sometimes confuse the drooping with excess fat and try to remove it by dieting which can in fact make the problem worse as the drooping is caused by a loss of tissues in the arms including fat and muscle. This is why some younger patients also experience the problem after losing weight. Exercises which involve the arms can sometimes help to tone the muscles but most sufferers will find that this does not alleviate the problem enough to enable them to show off their upper arms with confidence.
Surgery can help restore the firmness in the body with a procedure known as body contouring. This surgery involves fat and skin removal from multiple parts of the body which have lost tone usually after weight lost. However if the arms are the only problem area, sufferers can have an upper arm lift (or brachioplasty). This operation gives a much tighter, younger looking arm area but the obvious scaring is a major downside to the procedure as there is no natural place to hide the scar. Patients should consider the options carefully before undertaking surgery and if on a weight loss programme should reach their desired, stabilized weight before the procedure to ensure the best results can be achieved.
The surgery
At least one consultation with the surgeon is necessary prior to the procedure. Patients should discuss their goals and express any concerns they may have. The risks of the surgery will also be explained and patients will need to sign a consent form to confirm they’d like the surgery to go ahead. The operation is performed under general anaesthetic and takes about two hours (this will be longer if combined with other body contouring procedures). The surgeon will cut along the underside of the arm from the armpit to the elbow and remove the subcutaneous fat (the fat just beneath the skin) and extra skin. The surgeon will be careful not to remove too much skin or pull it too tightly as this may cause nerve damage or affect the circulation in the arms.
The wound is then closed with stitches and bandaged. Patients will remain in hospital for a night or two although they might be able to return home the same on some occasions. The surgeon will ask the patient to gently exercise their arm soon after the surgery as this prevents blood clotting. They will need to return to the surgeon’s office again about a week later to have the stitches removed and for the surgeon to check that the skin is healing properly.
Side effects
There will be bruising after the operation which will subside within a week. There will also be a rather large scar running along the underside of the arm. At first the scars will look red and raised but they should heal well and fade with time. It takes about a year for the scar to properly mature and it should continue to fade a little more as time goes on although it will always be visible.
As with any wounds there is a possibility of infection. This is treatable with antibiotics should it occur but you must notify your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any signs. Your arms are likely to be quite swollen after the operation and you may get reoccurring periods of swelling some months later. There might also be some temporarily numbness, very rarely nerve damage can result in a permanent loss of sensation.
Another problem associated with all surgery that takes place on both sides of the body is asymmetry. You surgeon will of course make every effort to achieve the same result on both arms but you should be prepared for a tiny degree of asymmetry. This can be corrected with a further operation if it worries you.