ARM LIFT SURGERY (BRACHIOPLASTY) By Joshua Zuckerman, MD, FACS in New York City

Candidates for arm lift surgery, or brachioplasty, are most often post weight loss patients, but any adult who suffers from excess skin of the arms may be able to benefit from this procedure. Patients must be in good overall health, able to obtain medical clearance to undergo general anesthesia, and typically don’t suffer from healing problems. If you are at risk for the formation of keloid scars, please inform Dr. Zuckerman at your consultation as this may be able to be managed during your surgical process. If you solely desire to reduce the overall contour of the arms and eliminate excess fat deposits, liposuction of the arms may be a better fit for you. However, if you wish to remove excess skin and eliminate fat deposits, liposuction of the arms can easily be combined with brachioplasty.

Example incision patterns for brachioplasty. Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons

The brachioplasty procedure varies somewhat depending on the amount of excess skin of the arm. Typically, Dr. Zuckerman makes an incision that runs the full length of the upper arm. For more severe cases, he extends the incision across the armpit and may perform what is medically known as a z-plasty. This creates a small zig-zag scar to avoid a contracting band of scar, which could otherwise possibly affect arm movement. Dr. Zuckerman strives to strategically place the arm lift surgery incisions where the ultimate scars will be best hidden. Usually, he places the main incision at the junction between the bicep and tricep muscles on the medial, or inside, portion of the upper arm. As a result, it is relatively well-hidden during most movements. Moreover, in individuals with normal wound healing, surgical scars heal to precise, thin lines, which are significantly less obvious than accidental / trauma-related scars. Dr. Zuckerman may also perform liposuction of the arm to improve its contour and reduce overall volume. He will discuss with you at your initial consultation as to whether you may benefit from liposuction in conjunction with the procedure.

Brachioplasty typically requires approximately one hour of operative time per arm under general anesthesia. You may undergo arm lift surgery at Dr. Zuckerman’s state-of-the-art, fully equipped operating room located inside his office in midtown Manhattan. This operatory facility has been certified by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc. (AAAASF), certifying it as a facility that offers an equally high standard of care as a hospital. The privacy, discretion, and convenience of Dr. Zuckerman’s private in-office operating room facility is an exclusive benefit of Zuckerman Plastic Surgery that many patients appreciate. Should you desire, you may also undergo surgery with Dr. Zuckerman at Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital, a major hospital in Manhattan in the Northwell system where all types of breast, body, and face cosmetic surgery procedures are performed. Dr. Zuckerman is on staff in the department of plastic surgery for Northwell system hospitals in Manhattan among others.

Swelling and bruising should be expected in the days following surgery, which should resolve within two weeks. In addition, any postoperative discomfort will be managed with pain medication prescribed by Dr. Zuckerman. Dr. Zuckerman typically places a surgical drain to collect excess fluid and lower the risk of certain complications. The drain will stay in place for a week or less and is removed relatively painlessly in the office. Dr. Zuckerman also advises that patients wear a compression garment to reduce swelling for up to six weeks. Heavy lifting or strenuous activity should be avoided in the weeks after surgery, but most patients return to their normal routines after one to two weeks. He will provide you with a comprehensive scar care regimen for up to one year after surgery to minimize the appearance of your ultimate scar.

Dr. Zuckerman publishes many of his previous arm lift surgery (brachioplasty) results with patient consent. The before and after image gallery has pairs of high resolution images from three to four angles for each patient. Many prospective patients enjoy finding a similar case to their own that Dr. Zuckerman has performed in the past. Take a look through the gallery by clicking on the button below.

BEFORE AND AFTER IMAGE GALLERY

Brachioplasty is overwhelmingly safe when performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon. However, all surgery does involve some risk of complications. We list some of the possible, but uncommon, complications below:

• Seroma (fluid collection which must be drained)
• Wound healing issues
• Infection (not particularly common)

And, as described above, the patient will be left with a longitudinal scar down the inner portion of the upper arm after surgery.

Below are the answers to some questions Dr. Zuckerman most frequently receives from prospective patients. If you don’t see your question below, feel free to contact Dr. Zuckerman’s office, and a member of his staff will be glad to reach out to you.

Must I lose weight before undergoing arm lift surgery?

Generally speaking, yes. Dr. Zuckerman recommends that patients be near their goal weight before undergoing surgery. If not, the patient risks compromising their surgical result with additional weight loss after surgery, which may create further skin laxity.

Can arm lift surgery (brachioplasty) be combined with other procedures?

Yes, common combinations include the thigh lift or other post weight loss / body contouring procedures. However, Dr. Zuckerman does recommend that operative time not exceed six hours for a single operative period.

Will I compromise my surgical result if I gain weight after arm lift surgery / brachioplasty?

Unfortunately significant weight gain can indeed have deleterious effects on the tightened contour of the upper arms that Dr. Zuckerman creates during surgery. He strongly recommends that patients maintain a healthy lifestyle of diet and exercise after surgery.

Are you ready for your arm lift surgery (brachioplasty) consultation with Dr. Zuckerman? He will perform a thorough evaluation of your desired outcome and needs based on your anatomy and medical history. Dr. Zuckerman will also address any questions or concerns you may have about the surgery and discuss with you the details of his approach: incision location(s), procedure length and techniques, likely operative outcome, etc. Contact his office by clicking the button below or by calling 212-231-9897. Dr. Zuckerman also offers consultations via Skype and a process for out-of-town patients to visit New York City to have surgery with him.

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