Arm Lift Scar Position Favored by Most Women?

Thank you for your question regarding arm lift or brachioplasty scar placement. This is an excellent and frequently asked question. Any scar should ideally be placed in a concealed area whenever possible. Whether it is a facelift, rhinoplasty, breast lift, or thigh lift, plastic surgeons always try to hide the scars. Arm lifts or brachioplasties are no exceptions. I always try to hide the scar in the groove between the bicep and the triceps fold. This is on the inner portion of the arm. A scar placed in this region is much more concealed than a scar placed on back of the arm or posterior aspect of the tricep muscle. Typically, we carry our arms by our sides. When you hold your arms by your side, the arm lift scar is hidden. If the arm lift scars placed on the back of the arm, in the triceps region, the scar is extremely visible when you wear short sleeve shirts and your back is turned to the viewer.
Technically, it is easier to place the incision on the back of the arm. I believe this is why some surgeons perform the arm lift in this fashion. However, I believe the arm lift scar should be concealed. Even though the surgery is technically a little bit more difficult to perform on the inner arm, the results are better than a arm lift scar placed on the posterior portion of the arm.
To answer your specific questions, the posterior portion of the arm maybe thicker skin, but that does not mean the incision should be placed there. I have never had a scar "pulled more centrally to the back of the arm". Therefore, in my practice, this complication does not happen.
Good luck with your quest for skinnier arms.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office.
Sincerely, Dr. Katzen

                  When
women undergo brachioplasty surgery an incision is made from the elbow to the
axilla. Through this incision, excess skin and fat can be removed in both the
transverse and vertical dimensions of the upper arm. The exact placement of
this incision is dependent upon several variables.

                  In
the majority of cases, the incision is placed on the inner arm between the
biceps and triceps muscles. In this position the scars are well hidden when the
arms are at the patient’s side. When patients raise their arms, the scars
become more noticeable.

                  Occasionally,
women prefer scars that are more posteriorly located. In this position, scars
don’t tend to spread as much because the skin is thicker in this location.

                  It’s
important to understand that scarring is inevitable with this procedure,
irregardless of the incision placement. The most important variable in scar
formation is the patients wound healing biology. This varies from patient to
patient and for this reason incision placement needs to be individualized.

                  If
you’re considering brachioplasty, it’s important to discuss these issues with a
board certified plastic surgeon before proceeding. This surgeon should be able
to formulate a treatment plan that addresses this issue. 

There is primarily an inner arm scar which is a minimal armlift, however, it is used in patients with moderate lipodystrophy and not for patients with extensive skin lipodystrophy.

The location of the scar for an arm lift (brachioplasty) varies depending on a patient's anatomy and skin laxity.  Generally the scar is located on the medial or inner aspect of the arm, extending from the elbow to the armpit.  Sometimes this scar can located slightly more posteriorly or towards the back of the arm.  The goal is to provide a good contour while at the same time concealing the scar when the arm is down by the patient's side.  Regardless of where the scar is located, patient's must realize the scar can potentially be permanently dark in color and may be slightly thick.  This is a tradeoff , meaning you will have a better contour but may have a noticeable scar.

Please consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to determine if you are a candidate for this procedure and to discuss in detail the position of the final scar.

Best wishes,

Dr. Bruno

Before making a final decision on scar placement, the surgeon needs to analyze the arm anatomy.  Typically there is skin excess both in circumferential dimentions ( lilke the sleeve is too bit, skin hangs from lifted arms), and in longitudinal dimentions, (like the sleeve slipped down the arm).  Both of these issues need to be addressed.

The surgeon will advise you on ideal scar placement.  Typically plastic surgeons have been taught to leave the final scar just below the biceps muscle, but that is not the ideal placement for the scar. For most of my patients, the final scar should lie on inner aspect of the arm towards the back.  This placement of the scar is least noticeable in most arm positions.