Arm Lift (Brachioplasty)
An arm lift (brachioplasty) is the surgical procedure used to tighten loose skin of the upper arm area. This is frequently one of the operations used for patients who have undergone extreme weight loss, and who are subsequently disappointed by the amount of loose arm skin that still remains. In addition, there are patients who have not experienced extreme weight loss, but who are also troubled by laxity of the arm skin. They too, can benefit from a brachioplasty.
In an effort to disguise the scar resulting from removal of excess arm skin, the surgery is planned so the final scar will be positioned along the inner surface of the arm. Unfortunately such a scar is still visible. Nevertheless, such a scar is required if the arm skin is to be sufficiently tightened. This, of course, is a decision that must made prior to scheduling a brachioplasty.
Because brachioplasty involves the arms, activity for several weeks following surgery must be limited. It's been my experience that, in spite of the visible scars, patients who decide upon this surgery are generally very pleased with the final result.
Thigh Lift
A thigh lift can be performed, similar to the brachioplasty example, by removing excess inner thigh skin and creating a resultant scar along the inner aspect of each thigh. This is most often the method necessary for patients following extreme weight loss
For less extreme cases, however, it's usually possible to position the scar at the topmost part of the thigh where it can be easily hidden by shorts. My preference, by far, is to make every effort to avoid the lengthy scar along the inner thigh when performing a thigh lift.
