Location for scar - is a scar placed on the back of the arm for an upper arm lift beneficial?

Question

I have a procedure booked for an upper arm lift with a doctor. That’s been highly recommended however, I was surprised to find that she normally places in the scar for the upper arm lift in the back of the arms versus the inside of the arm. To me it makes more sense to have the scar on the inside where it won’t be as readily noticeable. She did comment that there is a nerve that runs along the inner arm and maybe she’s trying to avoid that?? Curious as to thought thoughts

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello kirstendc, Thank you for your question regarding the Location for an arm scar and is a scar placed on the back of the arm for an upper arm lift beneficial.  There are six types of arm lifts or brachioplasties: crescent or mini, modified longitudinal, T-incision, longitudinal with the scar in the bicipital groove, longitudinal with the scar along the triceps, and complete upper and lower brachioplasty with an incision from the armpit to the lateral wrist.  You are concerned about the longitudinal brachioplasty with the scar in the bicipital groove versus the longitudinal brachioplasty with the scar along the triceps. The longitudinal brachioplasty with the scar in the bicipital groove (between the biceps and triceps) is the most common and conventional way to successfully complete a brachioplasty.  Technically, the longitudinal brachioplasty with the scar in the bicipital groove is more difficult to complete than the longitudinal brachioplasty with the scar along the triceps.  The anatomy differs, including a sensory nerve, lymphatic vessels, and hair follicles in the axillae.  The longitudinal brachioplasty with the scar along the triceps avoids all these structures. However, longitudinal brachioplasty with the scar in the bicipital groove is a more concealed scar when your arms are by your sides compared to the longitudinal brachioplasty with the scar along the triceps.  Therefore, even though the surgery is more difficult and risky, most experienced arm lift surgeons prefer the longitudinal brachioplasty with the scar in the bicipital groove because the scar is hidden.  Good luck.  I hope that I have answered your questions regarding the  Location for an arm scar and is a scar placed on the back of the arm for an upper arm lift beneficial.  Since an arm lift can be a challenging surgery,  please seek an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing these types of lifts. Do your research.  Make sure they have performed at least 170 armlift procedures.  Make sure they have the before-and-after  pictures to proveit.  Carefully examine their before-and-after pictures and check their reviews onRealSelf.   Sincerely, Dr. Katzen, MD, MBA, FACS, FICS, FASMBS, FASBPS (Plastic Surgeon , President of  the American Society of Bariatric PlasticSurgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow ofthe International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, AmericanCollege of Surgery, International College of Surgery, and American Boardof Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, AmericanAcademy of Cosmetic Surgery andRealSelf Hall of Fame.)

Mario Arturo Moran Romero, MD · Answer

In my practice, I prioritize placing the scar along the inner (medial) aspect of the arm, particularly in female patients, as this provides the best concealment in everyday situations, especially when wearing sleeveless clothing. From an anatomical standpoint, the medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve can be reliably protected with proper technique&mdash;using blunt dissection above the medial epicondyle and maintaining the correct plane&mdash;so the risk of significant nerve injury is low, and any nerve-related symptoms are typically temporary.A key part of my technique is aggressive liposuction of the arm flap prior to skin excision, which helps thin the tissue and reduces the need for aggressive surgical dissection, allowing better preservation of lymphatics and nerves while improving contour.While posterior scar placement may avoid some medial structures, in my experience it often results in a more visible scar, particularly in women, and should be reserved for selected cases&mdash;such as patients planning a full sleeve tattoo where the scar can be camouflaged. Additionally, the proximal posterior arm, near the shoulder, can be more prone to hypertrophic or keloid scarring, which is an important consideration when planning incision placement.

Location for scar - is a scar placed on the back of the arm for an upper arm lift beneficial?

Answers (2)

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