Is there any danger involving lymph nodes during brachioplasty?

Thank you for your question regarding potential lymph nodes damage occurring during an arm lift or brachioplasty.  Typically, lymph nodes are not involved in a routine arm lift or brachioplasty.  The lymph nodes are deep to the area of dissection and are usually not involved in an arm lift or arms reduction. During an arm lift or arm reduction, arm liposuction is performed to remove hanging arm fat. Then, excess arm skin is removed from the armpit to the elbow. The axillary nodes are deep to the tissue dissection and are not removed during a standard arm reduction or arm lift. Even if the arm lift incision is extended into the armpit like a Z-Plasty and even connected to a vertical torsoplasty, the arm skin resection is still superficial to the lymph nodes. Thank you for your very important question regarding lymph node involvement and the arm lift procedure. If you have any more questions regarding the arm lift or brachioplasty, please contact my office. When seeking plastic surgery, please find an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon who has performed hundreds of arm lifts in their career. Travel out of state if you msut. Thank you for your question.

Sincerely,

Dr. Katzen

Many thanks for your question. Brachioplasty performed by an appropriately qualified plastic surgeon with experience of the procedure poses minimal risk to the lymph nodes. I would advise seeing a plastic surgeon experienced in body contouring procedures such as this. 
All the best,
Jonathan

Thank you for your question. Injury to lymph nodes is unlikely during brachioplasty when using proper surgical techniques. I recommend you consult with a board certified/eligible plastic surgeon. Best of luck. 

Arm lift and brachioplasty are synonymous for the same procedure:  removal of excess skin and fat from the upper arm.This procedure is for all comers but mainly patients who have experienced recent weight loss who are left with excess skin and fat.  If the tone of the skin is adequate then a simple procedure such as liposuction can be performed with improved results.  But in general, most patients have excess skin which will not retract enough to have a pleasing result, therefore a liposuction procedure alone will not suffice.  There are some critical structures such as nerves, muscles and blood vessels that are in that vicinity that may be damaged in inexperienced hands.  However, in general, injury to these structures are not very common.Make certain you see a board certified plastic surgeon that has experience with performing brachioplasty procedures.Hope that helps.

While brachioplasty (arm lift surgery) involves manipulating tissues around the arms, the surgeon must be cautious about the lymphatic system. Damage to lymph nodes could lead to complications such as lymphedema, a condition causing swelling. Surgeons typically take care to preserve the lymphatic vessels and nodes during the procedure to minimize these risks. It’s crucial to discuss any concerns with your surgeon before undergoing brachioplasty.

A properly performed brachioplasty should not injure the lymph nodes in the axilla.  It would be best for you to consult a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery who performs this procedure on a regular basis in order to have the best chance of an uneventful procedure.  Good luck

Lymph nodes are usually not affected by liposuction. Of course this depends on the technique / location of the fat and amount of removal.

Hi, Pouch Lover.  As other physicians have also answered, there is a risk of damage to the lymph nodes during a brachialplasty, bur fortunately that risk is not high when performed by a surgeon familiar in the anatomy of the area and experienced in the technique.  A standard or limited arm lift, that is confined to the upper arm only and not the axilla, carries the least risk.  As the brachialplasty is extended into the armpit, the risk is certainly higher (but still small).  There may be disruption to the tiny lymphatic channels that carry the lymph from your arm up to the lymph nodes, or there may be compression to the lymphatic channels due to swelling, garment binding, poor positioning, etc.  Such lymphatic channel disruption or compression may result in enhanced and/or persistent swelling.  Post-operative elevation, massage, attention to proper garment fit and arm positioning may help reduce this potential issue.Good luck should you decide to pursue an arm lift, and I hope you have the results you are looking for and an uneventful recovery! Dr. Ghafoori

Most brachioplasty approaches will not significantly risk injury to the lymph nodes as the surgery should largely be restricted to the skin and subcutaneous fat. There are nerves, blood vessels and other structures that are near the areas typically removed but an experienced surgeon can usually stay superficial to these and identify any structures that would be close to the surgical dissection field. Swelling after surgery and mild lymphedema could occur but should be relatively short-lived. Temporary numbness of the skin incision territory is common but injury to named nerves like the ulnar nerve or others should be exceedingly rare. 

Generally speaking, arm lifting procedure involves dissection of structures and removal of tissues superficial to the lymph nodes of the axillary area.  Obviously, careful selection of plastic surgeon and skillful execution of the procedure will be key. Best wishes.