Arm Lift Scars
Scars from an arm lift surgery, or a brachioplasty, are inevitable since an incision must be made to excise excess arm skin.
What may be more applicable to prospective patients are the location of the lift scar, its potential length, and the changes to the scar and surrounding skin as it heals.
Where Will an Arm Lift Scar Be?
Scar locations can vary based on the total amount of loose skin that is surplus, and the areas to which that skin is lax.
Typically, the arm lift incision will be made on either the inner or posterior portion of the upper arm, and may travel from the armpit to the elbow.
More significant amounts of sagging skin may require an incision that extends to the side of the chest.
Can an Arm Lift Scar Be in the Armpit?
An arm lift scar in the armpit is possible when the amount of loose skin is limited to the upper area of the arm.
What also impacts the length of skin incision is where the incision is made.
A mini arm lift that only allows an incision to be made around the armpit will leave a scar that is only visible from certain angles.
However, skin removal is also limited to that region.
How Long Is the Scar From an Arm Lift?
The length of the scar correlates to the total amount of skin being excised during the surgical procedure.
For example, a patient with only a small amount of lax skin may only need a small incision to remove that skin compared to a patient with skin laxity that extends along the entire upper arm.
This is why the length of the visible scar cannot be determined without first evaluating the amount of skin that must be excised.
Can an Arm Lift Leave a Small Scar?
A smaller arm lift scar is more likely when only a limited amount of loose skin needs to be removed.
A short incision cannot provide the same amount of skin removal as a longer incision, so the possibility of an arm lift with a small scar depends on the amount and location of skin laxity.
Standard and Extended Arm Lift Scars
An incision that runs along the entire upper arm is necessary for a standard brachioplasty.
An extended procedure may continue beyond the armpit when loose tissue also involves the side of the chest, particularly after significant weight loss.
The trade-off is more extensive skin laxity correction for a longer scar.
What Do Arm Lift Scars Look Like in the Early Stages of Healing?
Fresh surgical scars and mature scars appear differently.
In the early stages of scar healing, scars may seem darker, redder, firmer, and more raised than the surrounding skin.
There may be swelling of the arm that can also affect the appearance of the incision and the early arm contours.
What Do Arm Lift Scars Look Like After Healing?
Scar maturation is a slow process.
In the months to come, the incision may soften and flatten, making it less noticeable, although a scar from an arm lift may be permanent.
The rate of this process varies from person to person.
The healing process is briefly explained in the arm lift recovery article.
What Do Arm Lift Scars Look Like After 1 Year?
Arm lift scars after 1 year may look different from the red or firm scars seen during the first stages of recovery.
As scar maturation continues, the scar may flatten, soften and become less noticeable. Some scars take longer to mature, so one year does not represent exactly the same stage for every patient.
The scar does not disappear completely simply because more time has passed.
What Makes Some Scars More Prominent?
The appearance of a scar can be related to healing, characteristics of the skin, the tension of the wound, smoking, complications of the wound, the surgical technique, and the tendency of a person to develop scarring that is raised.
Patients that have a history of developing hypertrophic or keloid scars should mention this prior to surgery.
When Can Silicone Be Used on an Arm Lift Scar?
Scar management, especially for raised scars, may include the use of silicone gel or silicone scar sheets.
Generally, they should be used only after the wound is closed and on the advice of a medical professional.
There can be many issues with healing an incision when products are applied to a wound that has not healed, so timing is very important.
Why is sun protection necessary?
The tissue of a fresh scar may react to UV exposure more intently than healthy skin.
Once an incision closes, covering the scar and using sun protection can be incorporated into scar management.
How Can You Hide Arm Lift Scars?
How easy it is to hide an arm lift scar depends largely on the location and length of the incision.
An armpit scar may be concealed from many angles, while a longer scar along the upper arm can remain visible with some clothing or arm positions.
As scar healing progresses, a scar that becomes flatter and less noticeable may also be easier to conceal.
Scar care, sun protection and any products recommended by the medical team are intended to support healing rather than completely erase the scar.
Should arm lift scars be massaged?
Massage of a scar can be suggested after the healing of a surgical wound is completed.
The medical team should approve the commencement of any deep massage over a recent incision.
When should a scar be examined?
A scar that is becoming more painful, is reopening, oozes, or is increasingly red should be examined rather than treated as a typical scar maturation.
Concerns of infection and scar healing should be communicated to the surgical team.
Can an Arm Lift Scar Be Revised?
Arm lift scar revision may be considered when a scar remains especially prominent, raised, wide, uncomfortable or otherwise concerning after healing.
The treatment depends on the type of scar. Scar management may involve topical treatments, injections, laser treatment or a surgical scar revision in selected cases.
A revision cannot completely erase a scar. The aim is usually to make the scar less noticeable or improve a scar that has healed poorly.
How should scars be evaluated in before and after photos?
Photos taken immediately after surgery show the scars during the initial stage of maturation which does not reflect the final result.
When evaluating the results, check the date of each photo, and if the scar is captured from multiple viewpoints.
Results of arm lift surgery should be read in the context of time. Our arm lift before and after guide explains how recovery timing can change the appearance seen in photos.
Are arm lift results worth the scar?
This is a decision that every individual should make.
Brachioplasty results in an incision scar in place of loose skin. The key consideration at the consultation is whether the scar resulting from that particular arm lift procedure is worth the expected result in arm contouring.
Our guide on arm surgery in Turkey goes into greater detail on the surgery and the planning process.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to arm lifts, scarring should not be a surprise: it is included in the procedure.
Incisions are made in accordance with the location and the extent of the tissue that needs to be removed, and post-operative scarring is one part of assessing healing after the procedure.
Medical Sources
- Scars: Diagnosis and Treatment — American Academy of Dermatology.
- A Patient’s Guide to Scar Care After Surgery — Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, NHS.
- Scar Revision — American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
- Arm Lift Results — American Society of Plastic Surgeons.