Armlift (Brachioplasty) Los Angeles Questions Answered by Dr. Kenneth Benjamin Hughes

Question: What procedure would you recommend after massive weight loss?

Answer: You would not be happy with the results of BodyTite/liposuction and other non-invasive surgeries.  You would benefit from an extended brachioplasty.  Because the laxity extends all the way to the elbow, the longer incision is needed.  In an extended brachioplasty, Dr. Kenneth Benjamin Hughes can put the scar anywhere the patient desires (inside of arm, back of arm).  Schedule an in-office consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in arm lifts and discuss the pros and cons of a brachioplasty as it applies to you and your goals.  Question: Best treatment for arm fat and skin tightening? Answer: Schedule an appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon who can determine if BodyTite would provide the results you are seeking.   With its ability to safely and precisely heat the soft tissue that is being contoured, BodyTite is gentle, safe, and effective and could provide skin tightening effects with minimal down time. Question: Am I a suitable candidate for a short scar arm lift? Answer: An L-shaped brachioplasty or an extended brachioplasty combines the arm pit incision with an incision hidden on the inside of the arm. Patients who have lost a significant amount of weight or have a great deal of loose skin may benefit from this more extensive arm skin reduction and lift. This extended arm lift allows more fat and skin to be removed and it can produce a much better contour. In general, scarring is a product of genetics. Some people are good scar formers, and others are poorer scar formers. Dr. Kenneth Benjamin Hughes always minimizes the scars to minimize the likelihood of poor scars. There is no one best therapy for scars. Silicone sheets, Mederma, and Bicorneum are reasonable and popular options. Dr. Kenneth Hughes recommends that the scar therapy begin after the scars have healed and there are no open areas, which usually takes 4 to 6 weeks. Question: Are there options for upper arm tightening without going under the knife? Answer: If you have significant loose skin, an arm lift to remove that excess skin is usually a better alternative than liposuction or BodyTite. The extended arm lift allows more fat and skin to be removed, and it can produce a much better contour. Question: Are my upper arms likely to be very loose after 100-ish pound weight loss? Answer: There's no way of knowing ahead of time. However, 100 lb weight loss will usually result in skin laxity in multiple areas of the body including the arms. Question: I would like a procedure to tighten my arms. Would I be a candidate for Bodytite or an armlift (brachioplasty)? Answer: BodyTite does not remove any fat, but it is capable of producing a 45% contraction in tissues. Results can be seen immediately after one treatment and are more evident over three to six months post-treatment. Wait until six months to fully evaluate the aesthetic results.  Sedentary activities can be resumed in two to three days and full activity with exercise within two to three weeks. You would need to be evaluated in person to determine if BodyTite would provide the end goals you are seeking. Question: How much recovery time is needed after brachioplasty? Answer: Some arm lifts can be done with a small incision, and others require a larger incision. This depends upon the location and degree of skin laxity and requires an exam to evaluate. Returning to sedentary work may take 1 to 2 weeks.  Six weeks is usually needed for the scars to become strong enough to withstand opening or widening.

Question: Is it possible to do a mini arm lift with a vertical elliptical scar in the armpit area, instead of a horizontal scar? Answer: As far as the length of the scar, scar placement decisions are frequently made based on your anatomy.  An axillary (or armpit) incision can be used to remove a small ellipse of tissue. This arm lift is best utilized for patients who have loose skin confined to the arm pit area or uppermost aspect of the arm. This arm lift can be combined with upper arm liposuction in the right patient to produce a dramatic improvement in upper arm contour. The scar remains hidden within the armpit. Question: Would I benefit from arm liposuction given the size of my arm or is an arm lift needed? Answer: You appear to be a good candidate for BodyTite with liposuction of the arms. BodyTite does not remove any fat, but it is capable of producing a 45% contraction in tissues. Results can be seen immediately after one treatment and are more evident over three to six months post-treatment. Question: I have loose skin on my arms post bariatric surgery, am I a good candidate for a mini arm lit? Answer: Some arm lifts can be done with a small incision, and others require a larger incision. This depends upon the location and degree of skin laxity and requires an exam to evaluate.  You would benefit from an extended armlift or brachioplasty.  Question: 83lbs gone. I am 15lbs from my ideal weight. Do I need to achieve my goal weight before doing armlift/mastopexy/lower body lift? Answer: Most board certified plastic surgeons recommend that patients reach their weight goal and keep it stable for three to six months before surgery.   If you continue to lose weight after the surgery, your results could be less than optimal for each of your procedures. However, 15 lbs is unlikely to make a difference in the surgical plan. Question: I had a T extended arm lift and I'm looking for a revision. Could a Z revision fix it? Answer: The scars can be revised and perhaps realigned into a more favorable position within the armpit. The Z-plasty does not remove scars, but rather works to camouflage them by changing their positioning. Dr. Kenneth Benjamin Hughes wrote the scar revision chapter in the Reoperative Plastic Surgery textbook, so he is the premier expert in scar revision. Question: How soon can I have someone drive me back to my state after armlift surgery? Answer: All plastic surgeons will have different recommendations in the postoperative period.  The armlift does not have the higher rate of blood clot that tummy tuck does. The main issues with armlift recovery include following postoperative instructions to minimize complications such as wound separation and scar widening.

Question: Do you think I should do an arm lift, belt BL and thigh lipo? (Photos) Answer: Dr. Kenneth Benjamin Hughes limits all surgeries to less than 6 hours. An arm lift and a lower body lift could probably be done in under 6 hours .

Question: An older athletic woman needs help with flabby upper arm, what procedure is recommended for women of her age? Answer: You would benefit from a significant amount of tightening, or a extended brachioplasty.  In most people, the axillary arm lift or mini-arm lift is an inadequate treatment because it removes very little skin.   Because the laxity extends all the way to the elbow, the longer incision is needed.  In an extended brachioplasty, Dr. Kenneth Benjamin Hughes can put the scar anywhere the patient desires (inside of the arm, back of the arm).  The incision in the bicipital groove is the most appropriate in most patients as most people during casual observation do not expose the medial aspect of their arms.  The posterior scar is more visible in walking in short sleeve shirts. 

Question: Will liposuction with J-Plasma work or is an arm lift necessary? Answer: J-plasma from Renuvion utilizes radiofrequency energy and a cool helium plasma to heat and then cool the area. Dr. Kenneth Benjamin Hughes utilizes BodyTite for tissue tightening to maximize results. Bodytite does not remove any fat, but it is capable of producing a 45% contraction in tissues. Question: Brachioplasty 12 months ago, scars are terrible. They also ache. I have a band on arm. Can this be fixed with revision? Answer: Complications related to scarring can result from almost any surgical procedure.  When faced with an unattractive or dysfunctional scar, one must first diagnose what the problem is and then develop a hypothesis to explain why the problem might have developed.  An assessment must then be made by a board certified PS as to whether the problem is amenable to correction, and, if so, a decision must be made regarding which of the many treatment options available for scar revision is most appropriate for the specific clinical situation.  Excision of the scar and steroid injection are the most common forms of therapy. Question: Do I need an arm and thigh lift or could I just get liposuction? Answer: When a patient has plateaued with weight loss and maintains a consistent body weight that does not fluctuate, two types of thigh lifts become available. The technique Dr. Kenneth Benjamin Hughes will use depends on the region of the thigh that needs to be contoured. An inner thigh lift is performed on the inner thigh region. In this procedure, an incision is made on the area where the groin and the inner thigh meet. Excess fat and skin are removed and the skin is sutured back together. A lateral thigh lift is performed on the outer thighs. Depending on the amount of fat and skin to be removed, the incision may extend from the groin to the hip and across the back. Excess fat and skin tissue will be removed and afterwards, the skin is re-draped over the incision site. The arms would benefit from a significant amount of tightening.  Because the laxity extends all the way to the elbow, the longer incision is needed.     If the arm lift and thigh lift are both extended, both will have to be completed in under 6 hours. Question: Can I get a mini arm lift? Answer: If you have loose skin with stretch marks on the lower part of the upper arm, an extended arm lift may be appropriate.  Some arm lifts can be done with a small incision, and others require a larger incision. This depends upon the location and degree of skin laxity and requires an exam to evaluate.  

Question: Am I good candidate for a full arm lift or should I do minimally invasive or nonsurgical? Answer: A significant amount of tightening can be accomplished by performing an extended brachioplasty.  Because the laxity extends all the way to the elbow, the longer incision is needed. Schedule an in-office consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in arm lifts and discuss the pros and cons of a brachioplasty.  In younger patients with better skin, a patient may want to opt for the noninvasive treatment or minimally invasive option (BodyTite and lipo); and if the improvement is suboptimal, perform the arm lift.