It is possible to get rid of saggy arm with Brachioplasty
Brachioplasty means “Aesthetic arm lift surgery” in Latin. Recently, in plastic surgery practices, brachioplasty is increasing among body contouring surgeries (contourplasty, profiloplasty).
Aesthetic, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nedim Sarifakioglu gave details about brachioplasty.
What does beautiful and harmonious arm symbolize?
A beautiful arm which is in harmony with the body always leads to a fit, form and anatomically remarkable perception. From Ancient Greek and Renaissance sculptors to the present, a beautiful arm represents health and beauty as well as power. The first brachioplasty in the literature of plastic surgery has been an article written in Spanish and in 1954. (Correa-Iturraspe M, Fernandez JC. Brachial dermolipectomy)
Why are brachioplasty surgeries gradually increasing?
One of the reasons for this is saggy arms of the obese patients due to rapid/excess weight loss as a result of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy which is frequently increasing. Saggy arms are sometimes not limited to the elbow/armpit and may spread to the side chest wall and back area.
What are common characteristics of patients who need to have brachioplasty? and What is Thoracoplasty?
Contour disorders and sagging of the arm (sometimes it is shaped like bat wing) due to skin sagging and excess skin and excessive fat accumulation (lipodystrophy) are considered as the common characteristics of the patients.
Rapid arm deformations which occur after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy as well as poor eating habits are also considered to be dramatic common characteristics. Thoracoplasty is combined with brachioplasty for these deformations (excess fat/skin sagging) which extend to the side chest wall.
What are preferred surgical options in brachioplasty?
Minimal brachioplasty, only limited skin removal procedure, is performed to the patients with minimal skin excess and fat clustering. Patients with moderate skin and fat excess form the group of patients who have not undergone bariatric surgery (gastrectomy for weight loss) and standard brachioplasty is preferred for this group. This patient population is the majority of patients who require complete brachioplasty.
The third group consists of patients have excessive skin sagging and fat accumulation and require liposuction with brachioplasty. Brachioplasty is accompanied by side chest wall and upper body deformations in the last group. In addition to the third group, thoracoplasty (chest wall correction procedures) is added to these patients.
What are the most important details to be considered in brachioplasty?
– Leave the surgical scar is on the hidden side of the arm which is invisible and in contact with the body.
– Not strained dressings/closure, tailor-made closure/dressings (measure 2, cut 1)
– Be careful not to occur drainage due to stitch line in the armpit.
– The arm does not damage the lymph drainage unit and nerve vascular structures.
About Brachioplasty and Recovery Periods
Brachioplasty which is performed under general anaesthesia takes 2-3 hours depending on the size of the surgery/operation (minimal or +/- thoracoplasty). Drains are preferred depending on the patient condition. If the drains are used, they are pulled out after 24 hours.
In the postoperative period, the compressed corsets which extend to the full arm or forearm are recommended to wear for 2-3 weeks. The first day after surgery, the arm should not be twisted from the elbow. Compressed silicone cushions or massages for scar control can be recommended for 4-6 months.
What are the possible complications after brachioplasty?
Although very rare, numbness in the arm, distal lipodystrophy on the elbow, distinct scar, and restrictive band formation due to stretched suture in the middle of the arm, drainage on the suture line in the armpit, persistent oedema and effusion.
What is the most frequent combined surgical procedure with brachioplasty?
Breast lift surgeries with or without silicone (mastopexy) is one of the most common surgeries performed simultaneously with brachioplasty. 360 Bodylifting, abdominoplasty and thigh lift surgeries, and body contour surgeries are also common surgeries combined with brachioplasty.
Aesthetic, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Specialist
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nedim Sarıfakıoğlu
www.ankaraestetikcerrahi.com
Facebook: @NedimSarifakioglu
Instagram: @nedimsarifakioglu
