Cosmetic Plastic Surgery In Toronto:
Brachioplasty
Each time your weight fluctuates, your skin loses a little more of its elasticity. The effect is cumulative and the resulting loss of suppleness causes the dramatic sagging in the upper arm some jokingly call “bat wings”. Women and men who suffer with this condition shy away from clothing that reveals the upper arm and resist raising their arms in public.
Exercise can help re-establish some tone to the area, but if the skin’s suppleness is too far gone, Brachioplasty surgery is the only way restore the arm to a tighter, healthier shape.
Brachioplasty
Also known as an Arm Lift, Brachioplasty is a surgical procedure that restores tightness and a healthy contour to the upper arms by:
- Reducing the excess skin and fat between the elbow and armpit
- Reshaping the arms to create a smoother profile
The tightening of the skin can be achieved through either of the following methods and is usually combined with Liposuction.
- An incision isolated to the armpit - this hides the scar well
- An incision down the inside of the arm - not as well hidden
Dr. Born will select the surgical method based on your examination and your goals for the surgery. The surgery is performed under a general anesthetic, and uses two types of sutures; dissolving and permanent. The deep sutures are permanent and aid in keeping the incision scar to a minimum. A long acting local anesthetic is placed in the tissues to minimize postoperative discomfort.
The goal is to decrease the overall volume of the upper arm, improving the tone and profile, and eliminating the embarrassing excess skin and fat.
Risks of Liposuction
Liposuction is a very safe procedure and the risks of are minimal. Generally, fat removal is limited to five litres – this is considered a large volume.
Specific risks of Liposuction
- Pain
- Bruising lasting longer than three weeks
- Firmness along the incision- this is normal for the first few months
- Asymmetry (this is normal and expected) in most persons there is pre-existing asymmetry
- Scarring – reduced greatly if the tape is worn for three months following the surgery
- Infection
- Mammogram/ultrasound interference due to scarring in the tissue
- Fluid collection or seroma
- Not enough correction
- Too much fat removed requiring fat grafting to fill the area
Specific risks of Brachioplasty
- Pain
- Scarring (visible)
- Not enough skin removed
- Too much skin removed
- Numbness of the skin of the forearm
- Bleeding that may require emergency care
- Problems with healing, requiring revision
There are some general risks intrinsic to all surgical procedures; please take a moment to review them.
Preparation
As with all surgeries performed by Dr. Born, patients are prescribed supplements to take before and after the surgery, to help prepare and recover faster and without complications.
Procedure length
This procedure takes approximately two hours with sedation and local freezing. You will be allowed to leave the same day.
Recovery
You are encouraged to resume normal activities; this decreases the amount of pain and increases the speed of your recovery. A Compression Garment may be needed for one to two weeks after surgery, depending on the degree of swelling. My staff will instruct you on how to massage on the third day following surgery. Bruising may be present for three weeks. The scar will improve over time and can take up to a year and a half to mature. There may be small folds at the end of the incision that may need a touch up six months after surgery.
Download our Post-Operative Care Instructions.
The Result
Brachioplasty will return proportion and tone to your upper arm. It is natural to lose some firmness as your body ages, but provided you maintain a stable weight and an active lifestyle, the results of Brachioplasty will be relatively permanent.
It is important to note that each surgery is tailored to meet the unique needs and features of individual patients.
What other patients want
Many patients combine Brachioplasty with procedures such as Liposuction of the flanks, abdomen, thighs or calves. Many also undergo Breast or Facial surgery to achieve an overall enhancement of their appearance.
It’s time to rediscover the freedom to wear what you want without feeling apprehensive about baring your arms. Book your consultation with Dr. Born today.
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