New Arm Lift Techniques Reduce Scar Visibility

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is reporting arm lifts are one of the country’s fastest-growing procedures with over 15,000 completed in 2012 alone. Arm lift surgery, also known as Brachioplasty, has dramatically increased by 4,378% in the past decade fueled predominantly by post-weight loss patients who want to tone up. Thankfully, techniques and technologies have come together to meet this demand in offering less visible scarring after surgery.

In the past, unsightly scars prevented most patients from having upper arm surgery to remove excess fat and skin that is resistant to diet and exercise. However, with today’s barbed suture technology, fractional laser treatments, and other scar management treatments, there is an increasing population of patients getting better results from arm lift surgery. In addition, improvements in liposuction techniques also make patients with fatty upper arms candidates for surgery to improve the contour and size with minimal to no scarring.

Patients who have undergone extreme weight loss can expect to exchange hanging “bat wings” for a well-hidden scar. Depending on how much skin and where the excess is, the incision may be completely concealed within the armpit or down the inside of the arm in an inconspicuous location for a variable length. Once the incision has been made, the excess skin and fat is removed and the incision is brought together to create a firmer and smoother arm contour. Part of having plastic surgery is to enhance your natural beauty without having to show scarring for it.