Arm Lift Surgery (Brachioplasty)

Arm Lift Surgery Scarring

Scarring with arm lift surgery depends on a number of factors. As with all surgery, to a great extent, the quality of scarring depends on individual patient characteristics, genetics, skin type and ethnicity. Different patients can develop scars of differing qualities even when arm lift surgery is performed by the same surgeon using the exact same technique. Post-operative care and a committment to healing the incisions optimally is crucial to developing minimal scars. Generally, this involves proper wound care (to be explained by Toronto arm lift surgeon, Dr. Backstein), wearing post-operative garments consistently, and refraining from exercise and heavy activity for the suggested period of time. It is critical to discontinue smoking completely for 3 weeks prior to and 3 weeks after surgery to avoid the adverse effects of smoking on plastic surgery. Interventions can also be of great value post-operatively to optimize arm lift scars. These interventions include vitamin E ointments and creams, silicone tapes, massage, and laser therapy.
Scars will also be short or long depending on which type of arm lift (brachioplasty) was performed. Depending on the extent of loose skin on the arms, either a modified arm lift or full arm lift will be recommended. A modified arm lift is suggested for more minor cases of redundant arm skin and uses a relatively short incision placed in the armpit. A full arm lift is suggested for more extensive cases and uses a long incision placed extending from the arm pit to around the elbow on the inside of the arm. Some patients will also be candidates for alternatives to arm lift surgery to recontour their arms.
Dr. Backstein has found over years of performing arm lift surgery that the benefit of the procedure drastically outweighs the scarring and that this procedure has an extremely high patient satisfaction rate.