Advances in surgical techniques and faster recovery times are making arm lifts more appealing than ever. In addition, the surge in GLP-1–assisted weight loss has further increased demand. More patients are interested in arm lift surgery to improve their arms contour, address excess skin and enhance their post-weight-loss results.
Written by Mark Domanski, M.D.
Arm lift during my medical training and now
An armlift (brachioplasty) is a procedure I perform completely differently than during medical training. The new liposuction-skin-shear technique is easier on the patient, carries less risk, results in improved scar, and does not require drains. Amazing!
Here is how that’s possible:
1. Electrocautery no longer needed: I no longer use electrocautery for removing fat from the arms. Now, a lymphatic sparing liposuction technique is used instead. This reduces the risk of nerve injury and speeds recovery. My patients in Northern Virginia, Fairfax, Arlington, and Woodbridge need to recover quickly and get back to work!
2. Liposuction allows for de-fating outside of the area of skin excision. This reduces the size and weight of the arms beyond what the old technique could accomplish.
3. Drains are no longer necessary. Electrocautery can result in fluid egress from the surrounding soft tissues. No electrocautery means less fluid egress and no drains.
4. Better skin reduction measurements are obtained by folding the skin in and performing a test closure. If the test closure holds, the skin is safe to excise, and a final closure is performed.
5. Unidirectional sutures such as v-lock or stratifix decrease the number of deep sutures that are needed. Unidirectional sutures also do not rely on knots, so the risk of a knot untying is eliminated.
6. Improved incision placement: Incision is no longer placed in the brachial groove but hidden on the underside of the arm. The liposuction-skin-shear technique allows the surgeon more flexibility on incision location
Why arm lifts are so popular?
Advances in surgical techniques and improved patient outcomes, combined with growing demand for toned arms following significant weight loss, are driving the increasing popularity of arm lift surgery.
The lymphatic-sparing liposuction technique has made arm lifts (brachioplasty) one of my favorite and most popular procedures.
The popularity of GLP-1 weight-loss medications has helped many patients achieve significant weight reduction. However, rapid or substantial weight loss can also reveal excess, sagging skin. The upper arms are a common area of concern, as stretched skin often remains despite improved body weight. As a result, more patients are seeking body contouring procedures, such as arm lifts (brachioplasty, to remove loose skin.
Sincerely,
Mark Domanski, MD
