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Brachioplasty with Extended Incision at the Elbow: A Comparison with the Traditional Short Technique

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  • Body Contouring
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Abstract

Background

The elbow area is frequently affected by excessive sagging skin post-massive weight loss. The aim of this study is to present a brachioplasty with distal extension of incision to the anticubital surface, in order to make the transition from middle arm to distal arm/elbow more nuanced and aesthetically pleasing.

Material and Methods

An observational retrospective comparative study was performed confronting two groups of female patients. All patients treated with brachioplasty between January 2015 and December 2020 due to brachial laxity following massive weight loss were included in the study. Group A consisted of patients who underwent the novel procedure and Group B comprised subjects with the standard brachioplasty technique.

Demographics, including age, BMI and comorbidities were taken into account. The mean outcome measure was the Body-QTM-satisfaction with upper arms score, which was administered preoperatively and one year postoperatively.

Results

In the period considered, Group A consisted of 92 patients and Group B of 78.

No difference was found between groups concerning BMI and age. The groups were comparable also based on the Body-Q pre-surgery levels. The Body-Q scores at one year postoperatively were 22.80 ± 2.28 in group A and 19.50 ± 2.42 in group B.

The postoperative Body-Q scores across the two groups were a higher in group A, and the result is statistically significant (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The utilization of the proposed elbow-extended technique allows an improvement of the upper limb profile, with far higher satisfaction of patients, at the price of minimal sequelae in terms of scar.

  • The elbow area is a critical part in post-obese deformities of the brachium, and is frequently neglected.

  • In case of skin laxity and redundancy an elbow extension of the brachioplasty incision is indicated.

  • Results of elbow-extended brachioplasty are p valid and the additional scar well concealed and accepted by patients.

Level of Evidence III

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Funding

No funding has been received for this work. None of the authors have a financial interest in any of the products, devices, or drugs mentioned in this manuscript

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chief of Plastic Surgery Service, Humanitas Gradenigo Hospital, Turin, Italy

    Andrea Margara

  2. Plastic Surgery Service, Humanitas San Pio X, Milan, Italy

    Veronica Ponti

  3. Department of Plastic Surgery and Microsurgery, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy

    Andrea Figus & Filippo Boriani

  4. Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09042, Monserrato, Italy

    Adrian Gustar

Authors
  1. Andrea Margara
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  2. Veronica Ponti
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  3. Andrea Figus
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  4. Adrian Gustar
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  5. Filippo Boriani
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Correspondence to Filippo Boriani.

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Margara, A., Ponti, V., Figus, A. et al. Brachioplasty with Extended Incision at the Elbow: A Comparison with the Traditional Short Technique. Aesth Plast Surg 47, 2470–2478 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-022-03236-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-022-03236-4

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