Cincinnati Plastic Surgery Specialists in Brachioplasty
Thank you for considering UC Health Plastic Surgery for your plastic surgery procedure. We offer a safe, comfortable atmosphere in our modern, state-of-the-art facility located in West Chester, Ohio, convenient to both Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio. We offer a friendly staff of nurses and administrative support to help with your scheduling issues and questions.
What is Brachioplasty?
An upper arm lift (or brachioplasty) is a surgical procedure that removes excess fat from the upper arm and reshapes the muscle and skin to correct the effects of aging or significant weight loss. Brachioplasty may be performed in conjunction with liposuction of the excess fat before the skin is tightened. The result is a firmer, slimmer arm contour.
Procedure Benefits
- Remove excess fat and skin from upper arms
- Correct the “droopy” or “floppy” appearance of loose skin
- Reshape the contour and symmetry of the upper arms
Private Consultation
Your surgeon, in our conveniently located Cincinnati offices, will evaluate your overall health to determine whether you are a candidate for brachioplasty. You will discuss your goals and expectations, and your surgeon will explain the surgical options and other body-contouring procedures including liposuction if appropriate. You should be prepared to discuss your complete medical history, including previous surgery, and any medications you are taking (including vitamins). You will also discuss the cost of the procedure, keeping in mind that this is usually an elective procedure which is not covered by most insurance companies.
Preparation
If you have a medical condition such as high blood pressure, it must be controlled before you can undergo this procedure. For at least two weeks prior to surgery, you must stop taking any blood-thinning medications and herbal supplements. After you have scheduled a surgery date, you will make an appointment for pre-admission testing and a physical exam. The surgery should take place within 2 weeks after the results of these tests have been returned. You will receive guidelines on eating and drinking, taking vitamins and medications, and smoking. Smoking should be stopped 2-3 months before the operation because it reduces the blood supply to tissue. In fact, some surgeons will refuse to perform elective surgery on smokers due to this risk. You should arrange for someone to drive you home from our Cincinnati offices, after your surgery and to help you out for a few days if needed.
Procedure Overview
The procedure is performed in about 2 hours as an outpatient surgery in our surgical facility in West Chester. You will receive general anaesthesia or a combination of local and regional anaesthesia. In some cases, liposuction is first performed to remove large amounts of excess fat in the upper arm. Your surgeon will make an incision along the armpit and the inside surface of the arm from the elbow to the armpit. After excess fat and skin are removed, the muscles in the upper arm are tightened and the skin is pulled together and sutured in place. After surgery, all incisions are closed with sutures and covered with a dressing.
Recovery and Healing Time
Your surgeon will fit an elastic compression garment on your arm to reduce swelling and to help maintain the new shape of your contoured upper arm. A drain may also be replaced if there is excess fluid. You will probably go home in a few hours, or you may stay overnight in the hospital if the surgery has been more extensive. Any pain and discomfort are managed by prescription medications. Swelling will last for 2-3 days and then completely disappear over 2-3 weeks. The sutures and drain (if used) will be removed in 1 week. You should be able to return to work and other activities in 1 week, provided that you do not do any lifting or other strenuous activities using your arms until approved by your surgeon. The new “lifted” appearance of your contoured upper arms will be visible within the first week after surgery. An attempt is made to place the incisions so they are as inconspicuous as possible, and the scars should fade in 6 months to a year depending on the extent of the procedure. A healthy diet and exercise will help maintain the new shape of your upper arms.
Procedure Risks
- Adverse reaction to anesthesia
- Swelling
- Redness and bruising
- Infection
- Scarring
- Nerve injury (rare)
UC Health Plastic Surgery in West Chester, has three nationally recognized Cincinnati plastic surgeons.
Located north of Cincinnati, we serve West Chester, Mason, Loveland, Indian Hill and the rest of Greater Cincinnati and Dayton for all of their plastic surgery procedure needs.
