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Scarring from Body Lift

I have excess skin due to massive weight loss and it is recommended that I get a body lift. I did not have any surgeries, but was on medication for obesity and am insulin resistant. I am concerned about scarring on my arms. Any advice on what I can expect regarding scarring?

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18 Doctor Answers | Asked by Charina in Brooklyn, NY

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Body Lift Scaring

A Body Lift , consists usually of doing a Arm Lift , Thigh Lift , and a Tummy Tuck , in most surgery's you will have a incision scar but they all fade away with time each body is different and scars differently some people have bad scaring but that could be hereditary , if you have had a scar before because of a fall or any other type of surgery you can usually with that determine sort of how you will tend to scar , but most people do in the beginning have noticeable scaring and with time it... more

Scars after a body lift

The scar following a body lift typically goes all the way around the body at the top of the hips, pubic hair line and top of the buttock. An arm lift is also called a brachioplasty. It involves a scar that runs along the inside of the arm from elbow to arm pit.

Arm lifting and scars

You are smart to be concerned about the scars associate with this procedure- they do tend to spread or experience pigment change. Scar revision surgery is often necessary/helpful. Planning of the excision is critical- the resulting scar should be as hidden as possible. Personally, I think this scar is least visible when it ends up on the inferior (bottom) of the arm as opposed to the bicipital groove (between the biceps and triceps muscles). Only you can determine if the... more

Body Lift

Plastic surgery after weight loss is a tread off between scar versus contour improvement. I have done many lower and total body lift surgeries and virtually all patients have been very happy with their decision. However, you need to select a plastic surgeon who specializes in this filed since your results ultimately depends on the selected surgeon. Below is a link of before and after pictures of my body lift patients.

Bosy lift scar

A body lift scar is usually a circumferential scar the is at the level of the unferware line, and usually heals nicely in most patients.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Body lift scar

Any body contouring procedure that requires removing excess skin will involve scar. If you get body lift, you will have a circumferential scar around your lower trunk. Although the scar is permanent, over time, it tends to blend in with your rest of your skin color. If you happen to develop hypertrophic or keloid scar, there are options (re-excision, peels, laser). Also, talk to your plastic surgeon where you would expect to see the scar. I think the... more

Scar from Body Contouring

All body contouring procedures require some degree of scar to achieve that better form. Scarless body contouring surgery simply does not exist. Often, plastic surgeons try to hide the scar in creases such as the waist line if possible.

Scarring is a trade for a better shape

You have to decide which would be worse...the scar or the saggy skin. There are options when choosing your arm scar placement, so discuss these with your surgeon. Several options for surgery plus helpful information about all procedures following weight loss are outlined in the book Bariatric Plastic Surgery, linked below.

Scarring and body lift surgery, a trade.

One of the first hurdles any patient faces when considering body contour surgery is the acceptance of the requisite scar that accompanies the procedure. Once the benefits of the surgery are discussed and the patient has a clear understanding of what is to be expected by looking at before and after pictures of other patients with similar body and skin types an informed decision can be made. Although there can be no guarantee as to the type of scar an individual patient will end up... more

Scars with body lift procedures after gastric bypass or weight loss.

Scars are a natural consequence of a body lift. Removal of excess skin cannot be acheived without incising the skin. In most cases, the trade off is extremely positive for patients in my Los Angeles office. Scars can be modified with laser and chemical peels to remove visibility.

Skin for scars

In order to remove any skin in body contouring surgery you will have to trade that excess for scars. Unfortunately, the scars that form under the arms are the thickest. And although they are discretely placed so that they are not easily visible from front or back, they are most visible to you. So it comes down to whether or not the skin is worth the trade. For most patients with large flapping arms after massive weight loss, it usually is. For patients with less skin, less... more

Arm scars a danger in body lifts

Brachioplasty (or arm lifts) are notorious for poor scar healing. The scars on the arms about half the time tend to be thick and wide. This is independent of how you heal in other parts of your body. The length of the scar in the arm depends on how much skin needs to be removed. If it's only in the upper arm then the scar may be able to be hidden in the arm pit. If more skin needs to be resected then the incision will extend down the iner arm towards the elbow as well as down the lateral... more

Scars heal differently

As expressed before by other authors, scars can heal very differently. Arm scars in general are not the best. It might be better to see how other scars heal first before considering the arm lift.

Scarring after Massive Weight Loss

With any procedure where there is an attempt made to manage excess skin, there will be a scar and this is related to the extent of redundant skin. Thus, the more skin you have, the longer the scar needed to removed it. When proceeding with massive weight loss (Body lift, Arm lift, Thigh lift) surgery, you must approach it with the idea that the trade-off will be a scar for improved form/shape. All procedures are some form of a compromise, and our goals (as both patient and physician)... more

Brachioplasty Scarring

The scarring from brachioplasty is problematic. There is not a good area to locate the scar. If it is placed on the inner-arm area, it tends to be thicker and redder. If it is placed more posteriorly, it tends to be less thick and red, but more visible. Many patients who have had profound weight loss are willing to trade the scar for an improvement in contour.

Scarring from Body Lift

Hello, The take home point on scarring from body lift operations is that it varies. These scars are long in extreme weight loss patients as the operations are extended to take in as much loose skin as we can. Healthy patients tend to heal well from them but this scar maturation will take a year.

Body lift scarring

When we use the term bodylift after weight loss we are describing a procedure to remove the excess skin from the abdomen, outer thigh and buttock. The scar is placed within a garment line and so it is covered in clothing and bathing suits. Generally speaking the incisions heal quite well. You can see examples of this on plastic surgeons websites who do this operation. When removing skin from the arm, the incisions can be placed immediately under the bicep so that the incision falls into... more

Body lift, arm lift, and scarring

A brachioplasty is the term for the arm lift which removes excess skin of the upper arms after massive weight loss. Typically, this incision runs on the inner portion of the arm from the armpit to the elbow. When your arms are down by your side, this scar will not be noticeable. This scar however, has a tendency to be a red, thickened scar, which can occasionally be raised. Most patients will accept a scar like this in exchange for a much improved arm contour. Look at before and after... more