Arm Surgery

Brachioplasty

The First Step: Choosing a Surgeon You Can Trust

Selecting a plastic surgeon certified by the Mexican Board of Plastic, Aesthetic, and Reconstructive Surgery and a full member of the Mexican Association of Plastic, Aesthetic, and Reconstructive Surgery ensures that your surgeon is qualified and up-to-date, giving you confidence in your choice.

Who Is a Candidate?

If your goal is to have firmer, more youthful-looking arms, brachioplasty may help you achieve it. Ideal candidates include:

• Individuals with significant arm sagging ("bat wings").
• Healthy, non-smoking individuals.
• Those with a positive outlook and realistic goals for what brachioplasty can accomplish.

This procedure improves the shape and tone of the tissue supporting fat and skin on the arms. It removes excess fat and loose skin, addressing issues caused by a loss of tissue elasticity. Additionally, the procedure can improve the appearance of irregular skin dimpling, commonly known as cellulite.

What You Should Know

Brachioplasty is a surgical procedure designed to remove excess skin and fat from the arm region that cannot be resolved through exercise due to age, weight fluctuations, or genetic factors.

This surgery can dramatically improve the appearance of your arms. However, it leaves a permanent scar, which may be located in the armpit or along the length of the arm, depending on your specific case. These scars will fade over time and become nearly invisible. For mild cases involving minor sagging and fat accumulation, liposuction alone may provide excellent results.

Planning Your Surgery

During your consultation:

• Discussion: Share your reasons for seeking the surgery and your expectations.
• Evaluation: Your medical history, allergies, treatments, and previous surgeries will be reviewed. A comprehensive physical examination will assess your body mass index, arm shape, and skin quality.
• Documentation: Photos will be taken for medical records, and surgical options tailored to your case will be discussed.

The Procedure

• Anesthesia: Intravenous sedation with local anesthesia is typically used. For more severe cases, general anesthesia (complete sedation) may be required. The procedure lasts approximately 1–2 hours.
• Incisions:
  • The length and pattern of incisions depend on your case and the amount and location of excess tissue.
  • For liposuction-only cases, a small 5-mm incision at the elbow is sufficient.
  • For more severe cases, incisions may be placed on the posterior or inner arm, extending from the elbow to the armpit, or limited to the armpit area. Internal sutures help create the new contour.
• Closure: Incisions are closed, leaving the patient with a more contoured arm. Scars are permanent but fade significantly over time.

Recovery

• A special compression bandage will be worn for three weeks post-surgery.
• Stitches are removed 10–14 days after the procedure.
• Specific post-operative care instructions will be provided, including how to care for incisions, manage pain, and prevent infection.

Your New Look

Immediate Results: Improvements are noticeable almost immediately, but final results may take up to six months to fully develop.

Scars: Scars will fade significantly over time.

Longevity: Results can last a lifetime with proper maintenance, including stable weight and a healthy lifestyle. While natural aging may lead to some loss of firmness, most of the improvements achieved through brachioplasty will endure, leaving you delighted with your results.