Brachioplasty
Purpose of Procedure
The goal of the brachioplasty operation is to removed excess skin and fat from the upper arm between the shoulder and the elbow. This will result in more appropriate contours making the arms look slimmer, more youthful, and appropriate to the rest of the body.
Brief Description of the Procedure
This surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia. All surgery is done at Dr. Payne’s MediCare and California State Certified Pueblo Nuevo Surgery Center located within his office.
Incisions are placed on the inner aspect of the upper arm running from the armpit out towards the elbow. The exact length of the incision will depend on the degree of excess skin and fat the patient has. If the patient has excess subcutaneous fat then liposuction will be combined with skin excess to provide optimal results.
This is a relatively straight forward surgical procedure that nicely corrects skin and soft tissue excess and restores arm dimensions back to normal.
Likely Outcome and Longevity
For those patients with excess skin and fat on the upper arms this is a problem that can be quite bothersome. Many patients remark that they cannot wear any clothing styles which reveal the hanging skin and fat. This precludes short sleeved tops and bathing suits. In warm weather this can present great difficulty in finding appropriate dress. Patients are unhappy about this deformity which leads to embarrassment, reduced confidence and a loss of self-esteem.
Upper arms can have a little skin and fat excess or a lot. The greater the deformity the more work that needs to be done. Occasionally some patients will be candidates for liposuction alone but for most patients with true skin laxity/excess they will need a combination of skin excision and liposuction.
The goal of surgery is to reduce the arm dimensions back into the normal range. We don’t want to make arms that are too skinny and probably a little skin excess is better than too tight. Most patients skin and soft tissue is stretchy (decreased elasticity) so over time most patients will relax some and it is possible that a touchup surgery may be required down the road. The more a patient leads a healthy lifestyle the better off the results may be be over the long haul. This includes eating a good diet and maintaining a proper weight, exercising, avoiding excess sun exposure, avoiding tobacco products, etc.
Many patients will get dramatic results and this operation has the potential to really satisfy clients. The scar on the inside of the upper arm will fade with time and can be hidden from view by simply keeping the arms down which hides the scar location.
Recovery Issues
Brachioplasty surgery is not particularly painful and recuperation is fairly straight forward.
Each client will be given detailed postoperative instructions and medications aimed at minimizing pain and discomfort. Dr. Payne usually calls each patient the evening of surgery and the morning following surgery to reinforce instructions and make sure the patient is doing well.
Most patients are seen one to two times per week for the first few weeks to provide for careful monitoring and instruction. Patients are followed until they are fully healed and back to normal. It is recommended that patients wear compression garments and elevate their arms for several weeks after surgery to hasten recovery.
Patients may return to work within one to two weeks after surgery and may resume gentle exercise within a few days of surgery and more vigorous activity within a couple of weeks.
Cost
Please contact our office for information regarding cost. You can get a ballpark non-binding quote over the phone for this surgical procedure. The cost of the consultation is $100 and will be applied to any surgical procedure that you have. Once you have had your consultation with Dr. Payne the final details of the operative game plan will be made. At that point you will be given a final fee quote. There are multiple options for each patient hence cost may vary from person to person.
Consultation/Scheduling
Please contact our office if you wish to make an appointment to see Dr. Payne for a consultation. Our office will be happy to talk to you in detail about this procedure. Feel free to ask lots of questions.
Your initial consultation will be with Dr. Payne. This generally will take about 1 hour. You may visit the office prior to this consultation to have preoperative digital photographs taken or to simply come by and chat. If you would like you can view our Before and After album filled with multiple examples of this type of surgery and other facial cosmetic procedures. You will be given multiple brochures and other paperwork which will help to prepare you for your consultation. All your options will be discussed with you at the time you make your first appointment.
