Medical Edge Newspaper Column

"Arm Lifts" Are Generally Safe, But Not Risk Free

Aug. 27, 2006
DEAR MAYO CLINIC:
I have lost 50 pounds and have stretch marks and loose skin on my upper arms. I'm not comfortable wearing tank tops. I was told plastic surgery would leave long scars. Is this true? Is there another solution that would avoid scars? -- Atlanta

ANSWER:
The procedure you're asking about is called an arm lift or brachioplasty. It's done to remove excess skin and fat in the upper arm.

The surgery is increasingly common. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, about 10,000 arm lifts were performed in 2004, a 30-fold increase over 2000. The increase is likely due to the rising popularity of weight-loss surgery. After someone experiences significant weight loss, the skin on the entire body -- including face, arms and belly -- permanently loses its ability to "shrink." That means that after weight loss, patients can have stretch marks and saggy skin.

Surgery is needed to remove that extra skin and stretch marks, and it can leave long scars. Liposuction, where excess fat is sucked out with a vacuumlike device, can be used for patients who have small collections of fat and better skin elasticity. Liposuction scars are smaller.

An arm lift certainly could make you feel better about wearing tank tops. For people who have lost a great deal of weight, arm lifts can make it easier to exercise. The surgery can also reduce rashes that develop because of the excess skin.

While the procedure is considered safe and low risk, it's not risk free. In 2005, a Mayo Clinic study found that minor complications may arise in about 25 percent of the cases. These included fluid collection under the skin (10 percent), poor scarring (10 percent), skin infection (7.5 percent), abscesses under the skin (2.5 percent) and wound separation (7.5 percent). Temporary nerve injuries occurred in 5 percent of the patients. Of the 40 patients studied, one experienced prolonged numbness of one forearm and hand. Another developed pain in one forearm and hand.

To find out what your options are, consult an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon who can review your medical history and overall health, and discuss the risks and benefits of arm lifts.

-- James Knoetgen III, M.D., Plastic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.