Brachioplasty - Questions & Answers

Liposuction vs. Brachioplasty ?

There are many women who were not obese, but who have lost some weight either as a result of exercising or dieting. However, the weight loss alone may not address the "flabbiness" and size of their arms. If these patients still have relatively good skin elasticity, it is possible to tighten their upper arms with Liposculpture which removes the remaining excess fat.

On the other hand, if the patient had lost significant amount of weight before, and has poor skin elasticity along with excess arm skin folds, the only viable option is to undergo an Arm Tuck or Brachioplasty.

There are yet other patients that have not had massive weight loss, and either as a result of aging or poor skin elasticity, have loose and flabby arms. Liposuction will not benefit these patients who would need to undergo Brachioplasty or Arm Tuck.

When Will I Notice the Results of Brachioplasty/ Arm Tuck Surgery?

You will notice dramatic results with respect to loss of excess skin as soon as your physician changes your dressing after surgery. At this time the scars are rather fresh and prominent. It usually takes about 6 to 12 months for these scars to settle and gradually fade.

How Prominent Are The Scars?

A long scar will extend the length from your armpit to your elbow. In some patients these scars heal very well and become faint with time.

However, only the location of the scars is predictable. The intensity, color, and thickness of the scars from Brachioplasty are not predictable, despite skin tone or ethnicity.

What If Permanent Scars Are Unacceptable to Me?

Accepting the permanency of these scars is the biggest predicament for many patients.

For the majority of patients, however, losing their “bat wings” makes the scars tolerable. Patients who do not regard this as a good "trade off" should not undergo Brachioplasty/Arm Tuck.

What are Some of the Benefits of Brachioplasty/Arm Lift?

Most patients seek aesthetic improvements – arms that are once again firm and toned. However, this is just one of the many benefits of this procedure.

Benefits also include an end to the rashes that develop when excess arm skin sticks to armpit skin and to the chest, an improved ability to exercise and the ability to wear clothes comfortably.

Will Brachioplasty/Arm Lift Improve My Muscle Tone?

While it reduces flabbiness and improves contour, you will need to exercise regularly to firm the muscle beneath the skin. It will be helpful to do so before the procedure, as well.

Is Brachioplasty Always Combined with Liposuction?

Not necessarily. Although Liposuction is not an essential part of an Arm Tuck, some plastic surgeons utilize it as a way of dissecting and separating the deep tissues from the skin flaps.

Other Than Liposuction, is Brachioplasty/Arm Lift Performed with Other Procedures?

As more men and women lose massive amounts of weight, many plastic surgeons will perform procedures such as Body Lifts, Thigh Lifts and Butt Lifts on patients who have had Brachioplasty.

A common method is to precede Brachioplasty with the Body Lift and allow three months in between the procedures. However, the Brachioplasty can be performed simultaneously with a Breast Lift (Mastopexy) or Breast Reduction.

During your consultation, Dr. Younai reviews pros and cons of the Extended vs. Axillary Brachioplasty vs. Liposuction, potential risks and complications of each type of surgery, recovery course, pre and post operative instructions, and esthetic outcomes. There are also many before-and-after pictures and high resolution images of Arm Tuck/ Arm Lift available in our photo gallery. Here you can compare these results to that of the Liposuction of the Arms.

Dr. Younai is a board certified plastic surgeon who receives patients at the California Center for Plastic Surgery from the Northern as well as the Southern California region. Some of these cities include Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Hollywood, Burbank, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Pasadena, Glendale, Valencia, Palmdale, Fresno, and Oxnard.

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