58. Brachioplasty
Tyler M. Angelos, Jeffrey E. Janis, Constantino G. Mendieta
INDICATIONS
■ Excess skin and/or subcutaneous tissue of the arm refractory to conservative treatment such as diet and exercise
CONTRAINDICATIONS
ABSOLUTE
■ Neurological or vascular disorders of the upper extremity
■ Collagen-vascular disorders (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, progeria, elastoderma)
■ Lymphedema of the arms
■ Unrealistic patient expectations
RELATIVE
■ Severe comorbid conditions (including heart disease, thromboembolic disease, diabetes)
■ Unstable weight gain or loss
■ Expecting future pregnancy
■ Active smoker
■ Patients with a history of keloids or hypertrophic scars
ANATOMY (Fig. 58-1)
Fig. 58-1 Anatomy of the arm. A, External landmarks. B, Cross section.
■ Skin: The skin covering the shoulder and arm is smooth and very mobile over the underlying structures.
• It is thin on medial aspect and progressively thicker laterally.
■ Subcutaneous tissue: Fat accumulates on the inferoposterior aspect of the arm, with a minimal amount medially.
■ Superficial fascia: The superficial fascia both circumferentially and longitudinally encases the fat of the arm from the axilla to the elbow.
• This fascia weakens with age and weight gain, causing ptosis of the posteromedial arm.
■ Deep fascia: The deep fascia invests all muscles and important neurovascular structures.
• This layer should never be violated during brachioplasty or suction-assisted lipectomy.
TIP: Along the distal third of the arm and in the region of the medial elbow, the basilic vein and medial antebrachial cutaneous nerve run together and are superficial to the deep fascia and vulnerable to injury, especially where they pierce the deep fascia an average of 14 cm proximal to the medial epicondyle.1
TIP: The only nerves found superficial to the deep investing fascia are branches of the medial brachial cutaneous nerve and the intercostobrachial nerve. All other important neurovascular structures are deep to the investing fascia.
PREOPERATIVE EVALUATION
■ Obtain a complete medical history, paying specific attention to weight gain/loss, weight stability, tobacco use, and scarring.
TIP: Weight should be stable for 6-12 months before performing any body contouring procedure on a massive-weight-loss patient.
■ Physical examination should focus on the amount of excess skin, excess subcutaneous tissue, and degree of ptosis present in the arm.
■ Patients can then be stratified into one of three groups (Table 58-1).
Table 58-1 Classification of Upper Arm Contouring
■ An algorithm (Fig. 58-2) can then be used to help guide surgeons to the procedure that is best suited to achieve optimal results.2
Fig. 58-2 Algorithm for treatment of upper arm lipodystrophy. (SAL, Suctionassisted liposuction; UAL, ultrasoundassisted liposuction.)
INFORMED CONSENT
■ Patients need to be informed that, with a brachioplasty, they are trading a more pleasing shape and contour of the arm for a scar.
■ The scar is not inconsequential and will be visible depending on the type of clothing worn.
■ Scars may stay thick and heavy for a prolonged period of time.
■ The brachioplasty scar is likely the most noticeable scar in all of aesthetic surgery.
SENIOR AUTHOR TIP: In the preoperative consult, use a skin marker to draw the potential scar on the patient’s arms to help them understand the procedure and to align their expectations with reality. Document this in their medical record.
TIP: Photographs are imperative when discussing brachioplasty outcomes.
■ Common brachioplasty complications include widened hypertrophic scar, wound dehiscence, seroma, infection, paresthesias/numbness, scar tethering across the axilla, and recurrent skin laxity.
EQUIPMENT
■ No special equipment is needed to perform a brachioplasty unless concomitant liposuction is performed.
• In this case, wetting solution and liposuction equipment are required.
TECHNIQUE
MARKINGS
■ An area of debate for surgeons performing brachioplasty is where to place the arm scar.
■ Many place the scar within the brachial groove, whereas others prefer a posteriorly positioned scar.
■ A survey of plastic surgeons and the general public showed that a medial, straight brachioplasty scar is more acceptable than a posterior straight scar.3
■ Brachioplasty markings depend on the type of brachioplasty performed.
■ The type of brachioplasty performed depends on the location of the excess skin (see Table 58-1).
• Type I: Minimal skin excess, moderate fat excess
► If skin tone is good, this is best treated with suction-assisted lipectomy alone.
• Type IIA: Moderate proximal skin excess, minimal fat excess
► A minibrachioplasty4 is used, which is isolated to the axillary fold.
► If the skin excess is purely horizontal, then a vertically oriented wedge or ellipse is placed in the axillary fold (Fig. 58-3, A).
Fig. 58-3 Type IIA markings. A, Markings for proximal horizontal excess only. B, T-shaped resection markings for proximal vertical and horizontal excess.
► If skin excess is horizontal and vertical, a T-shaped excision is used (Fig. 58-3, B).
• Type IIB: Moderate skin excess of the entire arm (axilla to elbow), minimal fat excess
► A traditional brachioplasty is used placing the scar in the brachial groove.
► If there is vertical skin excess only, then use a linear horizontal incision (Fig. 58-4, A).
Fig. 58-4 Type IIB markings. A, Markings for vertical excess only. B, L-shaped excision markings for horizontal and vertical excess.
► If there is vertical and horizontal skin excess, add an L-shaped extension to the linear horizontal incision in the axilla (Fig. 58-4, B).
• Type IIC: Moderate skin excess of the arm and chest, minimal fat excess
► An extended brachioplasty is needed, which extends the excision onto the chest wall.
► These are typically massive-weight-loss patients.
► A horizontal incision is made in the brachial groove and carried through the axilla down onto the chest wall.
► This excision often passes distal to the elbow (Fig. 58-5).
