This procedure is mainly performed after massive weight loss, or in the later decades of life, when there is significant sagging or loose excess skin of the upper arms, making some patients self-conscious when wearing sleeveless garments. The main drawback of this procedure is a long but thin scar, hidden in the inner aspect of the upper arm, that is necessary to give the best aesthetic results.
There are two to three main techniques for the performance of this procedure, depending on the specifics of the results required, and tailored according to the amount of excess tissue that would need to be removed, and the length of the scar that would be acceptable to the patient. The goal of this procedure is a naturally firm and round circumference to the upper arm, yet without making the arm unnaturally thin due to the excessive removal of tissue. The other goal is to smooth out the ends of the resection margins so as to have as natural a result as possible. Swelling at each end of the scar in the short weeks after the surgery, is normal, and does resolve in a few short months after the surgery. The scars will also fade significantly and gradually over a period of about 12 months.
