A brachioplasty is a surgical procedure that removes extra skin and tissue to reshape the back of your upper arm, from your upper arm to your elbow. It’s also called an arm lift. This procedure will help you turn back the clock, create more of a defined shape, and improve self-confidence.
When a person gains a lot of weight, his or her skin slowly stretches over time. If you lose a lot of weight, your skin may not have enough elasticity to spring back into place. This can lead to extra skinfolds of tissue. These are likely to be under your arm and chin, and on your upper thighs and lower stomach. These changes may happen after you have lost a lot of weight from weight-loss surgery.
Brachioplasty is a type of body-contouring surgery. This type of surgery is often done after weight-loss surgery. Most people who have had weight-loss surgery are interested in surgery that reshapes the body. Surgeons often do brachioplasty at the same time as another surgery. These may include body contouring around the midsection, under the chin, or along the inner thighs.
During this surgery, a cosmetic or aesthetic surgeon takes out areas of extra tissue from under your upper arm. Your surgeon will make a cut on the inside or back of your arm. He or she will remove extra folds of skin and fat. Your surgeon will then sew the tissue that is left back together. This creates a smoother contour. This may also improve muscle tone in your upper arm. Sometimes the surgeon also removes extra tissue on the side of the chest. The surgeon may also do liposuction of the area during the surgery to help with the contour.
You will likely be asleep under general anesthesia during this surgery.
This surgery may be for you if you recently lost a lot of weight. It’s often done on people after they have had weight-loss surgery. You may not be happy with how you look after weight-loss surgery if you have extra folds of tissue under your arm.
These extra skinfolds may cause the following problems:
- General discomfort
- Inflammation and rash. This can lead to an infection.
- Problems with hygiene in this area
- Poor self-esteem
Your surgeon may do testing before your surgery. These may include:
- Electrocardiogram, to look at your heart rhythm
- Pulmonary function tests, to check your lung function
- Basic blood tests, to check for infection, anemia, and kidney function
Your surgeon may give you more instructions on how to prepare for your surgery.
