Your skin may retract (tighten) some on its own, but significant skin tightening often requires more intervention, such as surgery. Today’s blog will focus on excess upper-arm skin and ways to improve it.
Brachioplasty – The Procedure
Brachioplasty is a plastic-surgery procedure that involves an incision in the underneath region of your upper arm to allow for removal of extra skin and subsequent tightening of the tissue. The benefits of undergoing brachioplasty are tighter and more toned upper arms.
The main drawback is that you will have an incision running from the armpit region (axilla) down to just above the elbow. This incision is not generally visible if your arms are at your sides, but once your arms are raised, it will be noticeable. We can’t predict if the incision will be a fine-line scar or a scar that is more noticeable.
Is Brachioplasty Right for You?
If you have reached your goal weight and are willing to trade excess sagging arm skin for a tighter and more toned appearance with an incision on the upper arm, then you are a candidate for brachioplasty. If you smoke, we might ask you to quit smoking for a few weeks before and after your surgery, because smoking negatively impacts healing of tissue.
What to Expect After Brachioplasty Surgery
Brachioplasty surgery is real surgery. You will be required to undergo anesthesia, and generally the procedure can take one to two hours to complete. You will be required to wear a post-procedure garment that helps to reduce swelling.
There will be discomfort with surgery; most patients require a few days of prescription pain medication before weaning to Tylenol or Advil as needed. You may have some bruising that will improve in seven to ten days. Exercises, especially those that involve use of your arms like tennis, may be prohibited for six to eight weeks.
Find Out More About Brachioplasty
To learn more about brachioplasty, set up your consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Antonio Gayoso.
