Brachioplasty is a surgical operation that is made to correct the sagging of skin and loosening of the subcutaneous tissue that appears at the medial sides of arms due to gravity, rapid weight gain and loss or due to structural reasons. Local fat deposits can be removed with a localized liposuction operation if sagging of the skin doesn't exist. Skin and subcutaneous tissue is more loosen in this area compared to other parts of arms anatomically. Therefore
uncomfortable sagging mostly occurs in this area due to gravity and rapid weight gain and loss. Dressing at summer with short -sleeved outfits, activities that requires arm movements make this patients very much uncomfortable. Removal of subcutaneous fat deposition with liposuction techniques makes skin sagging more noticeable. Therefore brachioplasty surgery that involves removal of subcutaneous tissue that leads to sagging should be combined with liposuction surgery if necessary.
How is brachioplasty done?
Brachioplasty is performed at operating conditions in hospitals under local anesthesia and sedation or general anesthesia. If there is excess fat deposition with the sagging of medial brachial skin, subcutaneous fat tissue is removed first with liposuction techniques. After liposuction, the sagging and subcutaneous tissue that becomes more noticeable is removed. Important thing about this surgery is the localization of scars. Scars can be hidden in axillary area if the sagging is small. But sagging that makes people have this surgery is mostly more advanced than the stage that scars can be hidden in axillary area. The desired tension can only be achieved if the excision of the excess tissue is made parallel to arm length. Scars are tried to be localized in a way that they won't be seen at anatomical position when arms are parallel to body when they are observed from frontal or posterior sides. Widening and permanency of the scars depend on the patient’s genetic composition and taking its final form with arms takes about 1-2 years. A vacuumed pipe system called drainage tubes is used to prevent the leakage to build up at operation sites.
How is the postoperative phase of brachioplasty?
Drainage can be removed in 2-3 days depending on the leakage. Patients are discharged the same day or the next day with a prescription for antibiotic and an analgesic. The bruising at the medial sides of arms begins to reduce after first week. Avoidance of activities that burdens the arms fastens the healing process. Sauna, Turkish bath and intensive sportive activities are not recommended before 8 weeks.
Copyright/Main Edition 2012 Limited Revision 2022 Prof. Dr. Z. BURCAK TUMERDEM ULUG
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