BRACHIOPLASTY
The Brachioplasty allows to eliminate the excess of skin and the accumulated fat in the upper part of the arms. The skin of this area has several problems: It is extremely thin, has little elasticity and is not exactly vulnerable to exercise. Therefore, the last alternative available to correct the flaccidity of this area is Brachioplasty, to remove excess skin, fat and restore the shape of the arm. This surgery has several modalities that differ according to the type of incision made. The selection of the type of incision will depend on the amount of excess skin and accumulated fat that the patient has. The length of the incision will be proportional to the amount of loose skin there is, so the more skin the longer the incision will be.
Who is a good candidate for Brachioplasty?
To start the surgeon will assess aspects such as excess fat on the inner side of the arms, the quality of the skin, the ability to retract and of course the state of health of the patient (adjuvant diseases, allergies, taking medication, smoking) .
A good candidate has significant excess skin on the upper arms. Most complaints from patients are that they need to use larger shirts to accommodate excess skin or that they do not feel comfortable wearing sleeveless clothing.
The surgeon will determine if the patient is a good candidate for Brachioplasty and will explain to the patient everything related to the surgery as well as the recovery process after it.
Types of Incision
There are three types of techniques (incisions) to treat the upper area of the arms. The selection of the technique will depend on the patient and his diagnosis.
Type 1: It is performed in patients with very little flaccidity of the skin, but with some accumulation of fat. In these cases a liposculpture of the area is performed, through small incisions, to eliminate fatty deposits and in this way subtly reduce the thickness of the arm. This procedure is used in younger patients who still have good elasticity, which allows the skin to be collected after the fat has been removed.
Type 2: It is performed on candidates with loose skin, which is removed and collected by making a short incision under the armpit. Usually, a liposculpture is also performed to finish molding the arm.
Type 3: It is carried out in people with more severe cases of loose or flaccid skin. A longitudinal incision extends from the armpit to the elbow to remove excess skin. This incision can be located on the inside or back of the arm. The location is determined between the doctor and the patient during the preoperative evaluation.
