What is the best way to minimize scarring from a brachioplasty? (Photo)

Although the scar is lengthy, it is positioned over the inner part of the upper arm. I am very excited about the new post op dressing Embrace.  This is worn for several weeks and helps minimize the tension which can lead to a more narrow flatter scar. Once all healed, one can consider medical tattooing to blend the scar into the surrounding tissue.  

It's safe to say that it's impossible to perform arm lift surgery without scarring. This operation trades stretch-marks and loose skin for a scar that's, hopefully, well positioned. It's important to understand that wound healing is a dynamic process that goes on for 12 to 18 months following surgery. During this period of time, scars have the potential to undergo significant remodeling and become less noticeable.It's important to take steps in the post-operative period to minimize scarring. A variety of maneuvers have been utilized to minimize scarring. These include techniques designed to decrease tension on the wound closure, examples include steristrips, silicone scar sheeting and compressive support devices.Massage of scars with a variety of topical agents has been shown to be helpful, as well. It's also important to avoid sun exposure and tanning. In the occasional patient who develops hypertrophic scarring, steroid injections may also be helpful. When adverse scarring occurs despite these maneuvers, scar revision is occasionally necessary.If you're concerned about scarring following arm lift surgery, you should discuss these issues with your plastic surgeon. Your surgeon should be able to formulate a treatment plan that addresses scarring in the post-operative period. 

Your final arm scar is based on many factors.  The final arm lift scar depends in part, on you and in part, on your surgeon.  Certain patients have a pre-disposition to forming thick scars or keloids.  The genetics of the condition cannot be changed; however, the appearance of the final scar can be influenced by your surgeon's technique as well as post-operative scar treatment.  Let us look at your contribution to arm scaring.  To determine if you are prone to keloids, you should look at your scars. If your scars are thick and raised, you may have a propensity to develop keloids. Even if your surgeon does a perfect, meticulous job and you strictly adhere to the postoperative instructions, you may still develop a keloid. If you do not have thick, raised scars, it can be reasonably assumed that you should heal well without developing hypertrophic or keloid scars.  Your plastic surgeon's technique is essential to your healing and eventual arm scar. To minimize scarring, the surgical closure should be done in multiple layers to minimize the wound tension.  To further minimize scarring and to decrease swelling (edema), light compression should be applied. Different plastic surgeons have different techniques on how to achieve this light arm compression.  Some plastic surgery to use drains, however, most surgeons do not use drains for an arm lift or brachioplasty.  Post-operative scar treatment also influences your final arm lift scar. After the arm lift wound has healed, tight arm compression and a silicone-based cream are strongly encouraged.  Arm compression is achieved with an arm garment. The arm garment should extend from the forearm to the armpit. Arm compression should continue as long as there is arm swelling or for a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks.  Silicone-based creams or strips should be used on a daily basis for 4 to 6 months. It is rare that you would need laser arm scar treatment.  However, if you did require laser arm scar therapy, I would suggest the Erbium:YAG laser.  

An arm lift is the only way currently to recontour your arms as dramatically as you'd like. You can try nonsurgical methods of skin tightening/fat reduction however results tend to be unpredictable and may take several sessions spaced out over the course of several months. scar treatments, such as silicone sheeting and silicone gel, can help reduce the visibility of scars. 

Scars look worse when they are under tension.  Long term taping, silicone pads and gels, compression garments all can take the tension off the scar to allow it to heal its best.  It may take a year for the scar to improve.  There are laser treatments that are available to make it look better if needed.  They usually involve a fractional ablation such as a CO2 or an Erbium laser.  

Your concern is the same as many patients considering brachioplasty.  Brachioplasty will improve the contour of your arms but the trade off is a scar which is harder to conceal than others.  Your best chance to have the best scar possible is to see a board certified plastic surgeon and to realize each patients scars depend a great deal on their genetic make up.  Gentle tissue handling and good post op care also impact on how the scars appear over time.

In your situation, you need a full arm lift with a scar from the elbow to the armpit, ideally with an extension into the side of the chest.  Other than your surgeon's technique, there is a special dressing called Embrace that could help.  After the Embrace, you could consider laser scar treatments such as fractionated erbium to minimize your scars.  It is unlikely that you will end up with invisible scars in this area.  Most patients have to accept they will have visible scarring after surgery.

Thank you for your pictures.  Unfortunately, there is very little to offer to make the scars of a brachioplasty less visible.  The tradeoff is a scar for better contour.  This is why this procedure is best reserved for massive weight loss patients.

Unfortunately, the only way to get rid of that excess skin is by undergoing brachioplasty. Every surgery requires incision. So  the patient needs to understand that and  accept it if he/she desires to go forward-- a good surgeon will do his/her best job and leaving it its best looking at closure -- but from that point on the quality of the scar will be determined by the patient's healing capacity; environment;nutrition; stress; sleep; smoking--will have some affect on the final scar.There are great scar creams available post-operatively that your surgeon might recommend .

I recommend Embrace Advanced Scar Therapy to almost all of my brachioplasty patients. The difference between embrace and other methods of scar improvement is simply that embrace really works!

As mentioned by other surgeons here, Embrace is unique in nature and minimizes the appearance of scars by relieving tension along your incisions as they heal.  While some degree of scarring is inevitable with all surgery, Embrace has enabled plastic surgeons to further meet the desired outcomes of our post-weight loss patients seeking to fully enjoy their newly transformed figures.  The results speak for themselves and my patients report that the additional cost associated with embrace is well worth the investment.  In addition to the aesthetic benefits achieved with Embrace, many patients report that the device has the added benefit of an increased feeling of security around their incision sites during their initial healing stage.



While most weight loss patients are happy to trade their excess skin for scars, it remains an aspect of surgery which you should be fully prepared for.  As always, while the information on this website is an excellent resource as you research your options for cosmetic enhancement, it is no substitute for an in-person consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in brachioplasty surgery.