Sagging skin on the undersurface of the arm between the armpit and the elbow, perhaps with some fatty tissue excess, is quite a common problem, particularly after significant weight loss.
Correction is carried out under a general anaesthetic (asleep), usually with a one night stay. Both arms can be dealt with at the same operation but, if so, this requires good support at home to start with.
Otherwise one arm can be treated, then the other, with an interval of at least 3 months. Great care is required by the surgeon to remove enough tissue to make it worthwhile but not to remove so much that skin closure is excessively tight with potential problems with healing or of the blood supply to the forearm and hand.
Skin and soft tissue is removed from the undersurface of the arm, from just above the elbow level to the armpit. The skin is stitched together with either dissolvable or removable stitches and a dressing is applied. The area is quite sore for a few days afterwards and pain-relieving tablets are given for this. After 2 weeks any removable stitches are taken out.
Sometimes there is a slight fullness at the elbow skin (as the skin removal does not go past the elbow level) and there may be a strip of skin in the forearm beyond the bottom end of the scar where feeling is reduced or absent.
The main trade-off for the correction is a scar on the undersurface of the arm to the armpit and, in the armpit there is generally a short horizontal scar as well. Like all scars, these take about a year to mature, fading more or less, sometimes stretching a bit and occasionally ridging to some extent. Nevertheless, even before the scar has faded, the cosmetic result is obvious and very beneficial to confidence and self-esteem.
Return to energetic sports or full gym workout: estimate 2 – 3 months.
4 Months Postoperative Photos
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