What Are the Options for Treatment of Bat Wings if You've Had a Mastectomy?

Thank you for your question regarding your options regarding the treatment for bat wings or excessive arm skin if you had a mastectomy. A mastectomy should not hinder your ability to have an arm lift, arm reduction, or brachioplasty. You can still have a mastectomy if they did lymph node removal or axillary node removal. It would be best if you discussed these at length with your chosen experienced plastic surgeon. However, you can still have a brachioplasty after a mastectomy whether you choose a crescent, a modified T, full brachioplasty, or brachioplasty down from the armpit to the wrist. These procedures can safely be performed even if you had a mastectomy. Thank you for your question regarding your options regarding the treatment for bat wings or excessive arm skin if you had a mastectomy.
I specialize in arm lifts. I hope that I have answered your questions regarding the arm reduction. If you have any more questions regarding the arm lift, arm reduction, brachioplasty or arm crease fat grafting, please contact my office. Since a brachioplasty or arm lift surgery is a difficult procedure, please seek an experienced, board certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing these types of arm lifts. Do your research. Make sure your chosen plastic surgeon has performed at least 100 arm lifts. Make sure they have the before and after pictures to prove it. Carefully examine their before and after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf.  Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, International College of Surgery, and American Board of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and ​member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

                  When
post-mastectomy patients have excess upper arm skin it’s not unusual for them
to request arm lift surgery. Redundant upper arm tissue can be especially
noticeable following mastectomy and for this reason, patients are often eager
to address this issue.

                  In
the vast majority of post mastectomy patients, brachioplasty is an excellent
surgical option. This procedure results in significant contour improvement and
is associated with high satisfaction rates.

                  Unfortunately,
if patients have had extensive axillary lymph node dissections, brachioplasty
should be approached with caution. Under these circumstances, lymph node
dissection can disrupt the lymphatic drainage of the arm and create scarring in
this area. This can increase the potential for swelling, drainage, infection,
wound breakdown and seroma formation. For this reason brachioplasty should be
approached with caution following lymph node dissection.

                  If
you’ve had a mastectomy and are considering arm lift surgery, consultation with
a board certified plastic surgeon is appropriate. This surgeon should be able
to make an appropriate recommendation based on your previous surgical
procedure. 

The term “bat wings” is often used to describe excess skin or flabbiness in the upper arm area. If you’ve had a mastectomy, and you’re concerned about this issue, here are some treatment options to address it: 1. Surgical Options: Brachioplasty, also known as arm lift, is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from the upper arms. This can be an option, but it’s important to discuss with a plastic surgeon to determine if it’s suitable for you. 2. Non-Surgical Treatments: Non-invasive treatments like laser therapy, radiofrequency, or ultrasound can help tighten loose skin and improve the appearance of the upper arms.3. Scarring Considerations: If you’ve had a mastectomy, there may be concerns about additional scarring from arm lift surgery. Discuss this with your medical team to make an informed decision. 4. Arm Exercise: Incorporating targeted strength training exercises can help tone and strengthen the muscles in your arms, reducing the appearance of bat wings.5. Compression Garments: Wearing compression sleeves or garments can provide support and reduce the appearance of excess skin in the arm area.Ultimately, the best approach for you will depend on your individual health, medical history, and aesthetic goals. It’s important to consult with a healthcare professional who can provide recommendations based on your specific situation.

There are many causes for flabby arms. Incisions can be very small or large depending on location of fat. If one has flabby arms, the best indicator of the treatment would be the elasticity of the skin.  If the skin has good elasticity, then Liposuction alone may be the answer.  If not, then an arm lift to resect the excess skin is best.  However, the best indication for an arm lift, and the most gratifying are those who have lost a lot of weight.  The skin is usually flabby and overstretched.  It is simple and effective to remove the skin that has been stretched past its capacity.  No Liposuction, or other noninvasive modalitiy will help the skin become more firm around the arms.  The length and type of the incision will vary depending upon the location and the amount of fat in the arms.  The cost will also vary by geographic locale.  Most will run anywhere from $3500-$7000.  I would advise you to visit with a board certified plastic surgeon to have treatment recommendations specific to your concerns.

This is an excellent question.   And the answer depends on what was done to your lymph nodes.  If you had just 1 or 2 lymph nodes removed (i.e. sentinel lymph node biopsy), then you are likely ok to consider an arm lift.   However, if you had a full axillary lymph node dissection and/or radiation to your axilla, I would not advise an arm lift.  Why? Because if your lymphatic drainage is suboptimal from your arm, you will be at significant risk for infection, seroma, exacerbation of lymphedema.   Please ask your breast surgeon to find out what was done during your cancer treatment.  Best of luck

Prior to consideration of a brachioplasty (batwing correction), be sure to check with your surgeon about the  status of the lymph nodes.   For patients that have had a lymph node dissection, or radiation to the axilla, brachioplasty is absolutely contra-indicated.  For patients that have had a sentinel node biopsy only, brachioplasty may be a consideration.  One of the most common symptoms after mastectomy is the redundant skin along the lateral (outer) part of the chest, immediately below the armpit.  This can often be treated by liposuction or direct removal of skin.  For patients that have redundant tissue in this area as well as excess skin of their arms, a combined procedure that includes correction of this area as well as the arms can produce very dramatic results.

Thank you for the question.

Arm lifting is an excellent procedure to improve the contour of the arms;  the downside is a relatively high rate of unsatisfactory scarring and the need for revisionary surgery.

If your mastectomy involved lymph node dissection  you would be at greater risk for significant swelling/complications after arm lifting surgery.  Arm lifting  may be contraindicated in your case. 

You may want to check with your oncologic surgeon to ask about previous lymph node surgery.

If during the mastectomies, lymph nodes were taken, or you have any swelling of the arms, hand, lymphedema, then do not do any surgery of the arms. Consult your plastic surgeon, for complete examination, review of your medical records and a chat with your general surgeon about lymph nodes removal during the mastectomy.

Contouring the upper arms is an extremely successful procedure.  Batwings, hanging skin from the upper arms, is removed to provide a smooth and youthful contour.  This can be performed after breast reduction or in conjunction with other body contouring procedures.  There is a long scar, but this is usually well hidden at the back of the arm.