What to Do with "Bunching" of the Skin After Arm Surgery? (photo)

Thank you for the question and pictures. Your concerns are understandable. The “band” that you demonstrate is a result of the arm lifting procedure. Because of the skin removed during the procedure there is tension in the area of banding when your arm is flexed. At this point, I would not suggest surgical intervention; I would agree with your plastic surgeon that ongoing time and possibly massage of the relatively tight area may be helpful.Best wishes.

Thank you for your question regarding skin bunching after your arm surgery. It appears that you will need a revision. This could be a dog ear due to excess skin and fat in this localized area. This may need revision. Often revisions can be done under local anesthesia in the office. However, if the entire incision needs to be redone, this would probably have to be done in the operating room. Either way, I would go to a plastic surgeon specializing in arm lifts. Thank you for your question regarding skin bunching after your arm surgery.

Unfortunately, gathering of the wound margins can sometimes occur when patients have large amounts of skin removed during brachioplasty. This bunching occurs when surgeons intentionally avoid extending the incision beyond the axilla and elbow to avoid secondary complications.Although these scars can be very noticeable in the immediate post-operative period, they tend to improve with the passage of time. It's important to understand that wound healing is a dynamic process that continues for over 12 to 18 months following surgery. During this time, wounds remodel and scars soften and lose their redness.This process can be facilitated with a variety of maneuvers designed to avoid tension on the wound closure. Examples include steristrips, silicone sheeting and compression garments. Massage with a variety of topical agents has also been shown to be helpful. Rarely, if these steps are unsuccessful, secondary scar revision may be necessary.If you're concerned about scarring following brachioplasty, you should contact your plastic surgeon. Your surgeon should be able to formulate a treatment plan that addresses your concerns.