Arm lift scare -- will I ever be able to wear sleeveless shirts again?

In an extended brachioplasty, I can put the scar anywhere the patient desires (inside of arm, back of arm).  It is my belief that 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. 
Kenneth Hughes, MD, ABPS Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Los Angeles, CA

Thank you for your inquiry! Depending on the placement of the scar, will determine how it will be seen. Everyone scars differently. There are scar creams, silicone sheets available to help with scars. Lasers can also help reduce the appearance of scars. We would love to meet and discuss your concerns. Schedule a consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to discuss your goals.

Hello 55 and counting,
Thank you for your question regarding the armlift scar and whether you’ll be able to wear short sleeves shirts. The ability to wear clothing is completely up to the individual patient. There is no universal rulebook of who can and should wear what clothing. Some people wear clothing that others would never wear. The same is true for postoperative arm scars. Some patients have exceptionally good arm reduction scar results and yet, they will always wear long sleeved shirts. Conversely, there are other patients who have wide, thick arm scars and they may wear bikinis and tank tops. Therefore, the ability to wear short sleeved shirts is not up to your plastic surgeon or even your results. The ability to wear short sleeved shirts after an arm lift, arm reduction, or brachioplasty is completely 100% up to you, the patient. Wearing short sleeved clothing really has nothing to do with the results, but more your subjective opinion of the arm lift result.
In terms of the positioning of the arm lift scar, it entirely depends on which arm lift technique is being utilized. There are seven armlift patterns, including arm liposuction: liposuction, crescent, mini, modified T, bicipital groove longitudinal, posterior longitudinal, and complete (from axilla to wrist). In regards to the incision in the upper arm, most plastic surgeons favor the bicipital groove longitudinal arm scar. The reason most plastic surgeons favor this placement of arm lift incision is that most of the time, humans carry their arms by their side. When your arms are by your side, the arm lift scars do not show. All arm with scars show when your arms are raised, except the posterior longitudinal arm lift scar. During this procedure, an incision is made from the triceps to the back of the elbow. This scar is not visible when your arms are raised. However, the scar is entirely visible when your arms are held by your side or the natural resting state of the arm. Therefore, would you rather have the arms scar hidden most of the time (by placing the scar on the inside of the arm) or be visible almost all the time (except when your arms are raised)? Thank you for your question regarding the arm scar and whether you’ll be able to wear sleeveless shirts. I specialize in arm lifts. I hope that I have answered your questions regarding the arm reduction. If you have any more questions regarding the arm lift, arm reduction, brachioplasty or arm crease fat grafting, please contact my office. Since a brachioplasty or arm lift surgery is a difficult procedure, please seek an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing these types of arm lifts. Do your research. Make sure your chosen plastic surgeon has performed at least 100 arm lifts. Make sure they have the before and after pictures to prove it. Carefully examine their before and after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf.  Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, International College of Surgery, and American Board of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and ​member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)