I am 78. Am I too old to have the full treatment for flabby arms which will result in scars?

No, you are not too old for arm lift or brachioplasty. Before any surgery is performed, I always order blood tests, EKG and chest x-ray. If all these studies are within normal limits, there is no reason why you should not be allowed to undergo arm surgery. The arm lift or brachioplasty takes approximately two to three hours under general anesthesia. There are a variety of incisions. For you, I would imagine healing would take two to three weeks. Most people are very pleased with their arm lift or brachioplasty results. I hope this answers your question regarding the safety of performing a brachioplasty on a patient who is 78 years old. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact my office. Sincerely, Dr.Katzen

Best suggestion is to see a board certified plastic surgeon to evaluate your laxity and give you a good ideas of results you may expect. Thanks

Thank you for your question. With age and/or weight changes, the upper arms can hold a lot of excess fatty tissue and develop skin laxity. An arm lift procedure helps to contour the upper arms by reducing excess skin and fat. The incisions can be hidden in the armpit for those with a moderate degree of laxity or along the vertical length of the upper and inner arm for those with more skin excess (traditional arm lift).The results are extremely satisfying. I would recommend that you visit with a board certified plastic surgeon in your area to discuss your options in more detail.  In addition, your surgeon will take a detailed medical history to help you determine whether you can have the procedure safely at your age.

Thank you for your question.The most important thing to consider when you are undergoing a cosmetic procedure is that you are healthy. Age is just a number because there are people that are in their 70's that are healthier than people in their 50's. As long as you do not have any health problems, I would proceed with contacting a surgeon in your area to see if you are a good canidate for the surgery.

We live at a time with unprecedented life expectancy, and many seniors experience a very high quality of life.  As a result, plastic surgeons see older patients every day who want to look as good as they feel.  Most of us are less interested in actual chronologic years than physiologic years.  That is, I would rather take care of a healthy 78 year old than a 50 year old smoking diabetic!I would recommend that you see a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to assess you as a candidate for surgery.  They should get a history and physical exam and consider you as a whole patient, and not just evaluate your arms.  You would want to make certain that your primary care physician evaluates you before surgery, to make certain that any health concerns are being optimally managed.  It would also be important to discuss the type of anesthesia that your surgeon proposes, as well as the setting for surgery.  You likely would feel more comfortable and better cared for in an accredited surgery center or hospital than an office setting. Nothing substitutes for good judgment and an emphasis on safety! 

I would not be concerned about your age but you need to see a suitably qualified surgeon and run through the pros and cons. Make sure to look at the various scars and the results obtained by all the various techniques.

Having a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon would be the first step in the process.  He/She will be able to examine you and determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure.

Thank you for your question concerning an arm lift.  Consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon will help you assess your health and determine if you are a good candidate for the surgical procedure.  Your overall health, not age, will be the determining factor.Best wishes!

Thank you for your question. Age is not a contraindication. Your general health is more important. Please see a board certified PS for evaluation.

Thank you for your question.  No you are not to old because I use the bloodless and the finesse technique (which I invented). I routinely operate on patients in your young age group. Because of the techniques I employ, and the fact that I use a doctor anesthesiologist, you will not require as much anesthesia and IV fluid as a typical surgical patient. This is important when operating on people in your age group. Typically patients do not need pain medication after this procedure, and if they do  they only require it a few days after surgery.  Please note everyone is different so you need to consult your plastic surgeon. I hpe you find this useful.