|
Volume 4 No. 1, January 2009 |
||
|
Liposuction -Assisted
Brachioplasty Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria(1) & Tanta(2), Universities, Egypt
Background/Aim: Contour deformities of the upper extremity
present a challenge to the surgeon and patient alike. Multiple
techniques for upper arm rejuvenation have previously been described
depending on the degree and extent of arm lipodystrophy and the
degree of skin laxity such as suction lipectomy, resection
brachioplasty or a combination of both. The unresolved problems of
brachioplasty techniques including postoperative residual contour
deformities, hypertrophic scars, widened scars and patient
dissatisfaction with scar location, many patients are reluctant to
undergo brachioplasty procedures. In this study,
liposuction-assisted brachioplasty to treat either isolated arm
lipodystrophy or skin ptosis following massive weight loss was our
target. Patients & Methods: Liposuction-assisted brachioplasty was
done for twenty five patients. Following liposuction, assessment of
the skin ellipse was done and excision in a piece meal manner was
done. In fifteen cases we ended up in a T-shaped fashion while in
ten cases, the suture line ended in a straight horizontal line
extending about 2 cm. beyond the anterior crease of the axilla.
Results: All wounds healed without infection or major complications.
Conclusion: Following strict rules as regards gentle handling of
tissues, proper scar placement posterior to the bicipital groove,
adequate skin excision leaving no mere tension on suture line and
good skin closure minimized the incidence of skin edge necrosis and
scar dehiscence. Ending the brachioplasty scar in a horizontal line
shortened the operative time and gave similar results to the
T-shaped fashion brachioplasty however it is only applicable to mild
and moderate degrees of arm laxity. |
||
|
|
||
