Postero-medial Incision Placement in Brachioplasty

These are both the same incisions, just worded differently. You should have your surgeon drain with a red sharpie where the incision would be. You can also visit my website at feplasticsurgery.com where you can see photos and the incisions. There is a trade off on this procedure so be prepared for the incisions and scars.

The first point to realize with a brachioplasty that the scar is the biggest issue with the overall outcome. You have to trade the excess skin and fat of the upper arm for a much better and tighter shape to the upper arm, but at the expense of scar. So there have been many different approaches to addressing the scar in brachioplasty. These range from the traditional inner medial incision to a posterior based incision to short scar types. The traditional inner medial incision is well... more

The scars from brachioplasty can be bad, or they may not be. In any event, I place my scars on the inner side of the upper armat the level of the brachialis muscls which tends to hide the scar. My goal is to have the scar hidden when you have your arms to your sidse. With luck, when the scars are healed, they will be slight, and better than the hanging flesh. Hope this helps. sek

For the last 8 years I have used the posterior incision for brachioplasty.  Why?  For years I utilized the medial scar because our Plastic Surgery publications and presentations at national meetings suggested that any deviation was akin to malpractice.  Unfortunately those same proponents final results( and my own) were so meager I avoided brachioplasty.  Often at national presentations the only difference between pre and post operative brachioplasty... more

There are basically two common incisions used for brachioplasty surgery. This can leave the final scar along the medial or inner aspect of the arm of on the posterior arm.

Every significant armlift involves a longitudinal excision of upper arm skin and fat. No matter where this cutout is oriented, a good circumferential reduction of the floppy upper arm will result. Since it involves a scar, the question is where you prefer it to be located. Most armlift scars are not great as defined but what most patients expect. That is a function of placing the scar perpendicular to the relaxed skin tensions lines of the arm which is circumferential not... more

The traditional scar placed on the inside of the arm will almost universally hypertrophy or stretch out.  The posterior scar is a curvy scar that is visible when your arms are down at your side. I was fortunate enough to have a patient willing to have each technique done and her overwhelming choice was the posterior scar. Scars will mature with time and become less noticeable.  The posterior approach is much simpler to revise if needed and the scar has potential to... more

I think the most important part of arm lift scar management is dealing with the scar redness and thickening that often develops in these patients. The scar should be positioned beneath the biceps muscle in the groove along the inside of the arm. More posterior placement risks migration of the scar onto the back of the arm, where it is always visible.

You are right there are two preferences when it comes to choosing the incisions placement: most surgeons wuld place along the inner aspect of the arm which is safer and more predictable. Few good surgeons would put it at the junction of the inner and post aspect to camouflage it. Both are good options and the key is how comfortable your surgeon feel about his technique.

Have your surgeon show you where the scars are located on the upper arm. One position for the scar is usually on the inside of the upper arm (not noticeable with the arm in "neutral" position while walking), but visible when you lift your arm to pick something out of a cupboard. The other location for the scar is on the "back" of the upper arm. It will be noticeable when someone is behind you while you are walking. Both scar locations accomplish the same goal in terms... more

I think you're getting caught up on terminology. Think of it this way. Do you want your scar visable when your arm is raised or do you want the scar to be only visable to people walking behind you? I don't think theres a single "right" answer... Just to warn you... both locations tend to give heavy and noticable scars. This is NOT a procedure to enter lightly or without consideration (not that any procedure is).