Brachioplasty: A Personal Approach

Abstract

Brachioplasty has become one of the most rapidly growing operations in plastic surgery. There are a variety of arm presentations, due to either weight loss or other reasons, and the extent of the defect can carry into the lateral chest wall and the back. In this featured operative technique article, the author describes indications, patient selection, and criteria for classifying brachioplasty, and illustrates the surgical techniques of this procedure. Markings, scar positioning, and the various operative steps are described along with the intricacies of postoperative care, including scar control. A personal experience, along with the limitations of brachioplasty, are discussed.

Wide-Awake Brachioplasty: A Safe and Effective Technique for Local Anesthesia

“…The scar is placed in a posteromedial location, between the bicipital groove and the triceps muscle. 3 The patient is marked from the medial epicondyle to the midaxillary line. The marking extends to the apex of the axilla if the deformity is located solely in the arm but in some circumstances extended a short distance down the lateral chest as required.…”

“…Numerous operative techniques have been described, and the safety of the procedure is well-documented. [2][3][4][5] Traditionally, brachioplasty is performed under general anesthesia. Here, we present a technique for performing brachioplasty under wide-awake local anesthesia.…”