What is the most effective scar treatment for arm lifts?

Thank you for your question regarding the best or most effective scar treatment for an arm lift or brachioplasty. The best scar starts with your plastic surgeon. You should select a board-certified, plastic surgeon who’s done at least 100 arm lifts or brachioplasties in their career. Please thoroughly view their before and after arm lift pictures. After you have selected a qualified plastic surgeon, then the healing is up to you. This eventual arm lift scar depends on the sutures used, tension in the flap, your genetics, and your healing. You should rely on your plastic surgeon’s experience on the amount of tension in the flap and the sutures that should be used. Post-operatively, you can influence the arm lift scar. It is my personal belief as a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, having performed hundreds of arm lift, that the final coating on the arm lift scar should have Dermabond. This is an adhesive which minimizes tension and prevents infection. In addition, I believe arm compression garments are essential to minimize arm scarring. Arm compression garments should be worn for at minimum 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, the only medical proven scar decreasing cream is silicone. I like to use a product called Biocorneum as well as silicone strips. There is also another product called Embrace. If your arm scars still are unsatisfactory, then I would suggest Fraxel laser treatment. Please consult with your plastic surgeon before using the Fraxel laser. One needs to be completely certain that the incision is completely healed before the laser application for cosmetics scar appearance.  If after all these modalities you are still not satisfied with the appearance of the arm, arm scar revision surgery can usually be performed in the office under local anesthesia. It has been my experience less than 1%, of my patients need arm lift scar revision. When seeking a board-certified, plastic surgeon who is experienced in arm lift surgery, please do your research. Travel out of state if you must to find such an experienced, arm lift plastic surgeon. If you have any more questions regarding arm lift (brachioplasty) or post-operative arm lift scar treatment, please contact my office.

Sincerely,

Dr. Katzen

Keep your scar out of the sunlight, keep sunblock on it, and consider procedures like PRP and photo facials to reduce the scars.  You should also use scar creams religiously until your scars reduce in the appearance.   

Thank you for your question! For my patients, I recommend a silicone based scar cream called Biocorneum. Silicone is one of the key ingredients for lightening and fading scars most effectively. I recommend discussing specific recommendations with your plastic surgeon. Best of luck!

In general, scarring is a product of genetics. Some people are good scar formers, and others are poorer scar formers. I always minimize the scars to minimize the likelihood of poor scars. There is no one best therapy for scars. Silicone sheets, Mederma, and Bicorneum are reasonable and popular options. I recommend that the scar therapy begin after the scars have healed and there are no open areas, which usually takes 4 - 6 weeks.Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Hello and thank you for your question.  The
best advice you can receive is from an in-person consultation.  I always recommend biocornyium application after surgery for scar optimization.   Make sure you specifically look
at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery
performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.   The most
important aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend
that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who
can evaluate you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.  FACS
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Arm lifts are great surgeries, but they have the drawback of a long scar that can heal poorly due to having tension on thinned out, stretch marked skin.  We use Embrace scar pads for this surgery post operatively starting 3-4 weeks after surgery when the incisions are healed with no scabs.  The pads are put on and left there for 10-14 days.  Then replaced with 4 sets of treatments done to each arm.  The Embrace scar pad is made of silicone gel and is loaded under tension, so when applied it takes tension off the scar.  They are waterproof so you can shower and even swim with them on.  We use these in any surgery with long scar and good amount of tension: tummy tuck, arm lift, thigh lift, body lift.