arm Lift - did you have a cut into your armpit and down the side?

Hi - I'm in the final stages of choosing a surgeon for multiple surgeries.  The advice from all the surgeons has been quite consistent for the breast lift, tummy tuck and thigh lift but varies on the arm lift.

I have quite a lot of excess skin under my bicep muscle which then tapers into my arm pit and I have some excess skin/fat which sits above my bra line - it's not huge, but if the arms are reduced and the breasts are lifted I'm sure it will be more noticeable than it is now.

One surgeon says he won't cut across the joint as he says not to cut across a joint for healing purposes and says that surgeons are taught not to take incisions across joints.
The other surgeon says he will cut through the armpit and down the side by a few inches or so to remove some side fat above my bra line.  I would prefer to have the side fat removed if possible - but am confused with the conflicting advice.

Anyone have any experience of a cut through the armpit and above the bra line ? - did it heal up ok?  Any pros/cons of either would be great.

Thank you
Debbie

 I had an arm lift and a breast lift but they were done at different times. I also had the upper flankplasty/bra line area done. My surgeon continued my scar from under my breast around my ribs to my back. That took care of all of the extra skin that spilled over my bra. I have pictures on my profile if you care to look. I would think that an incision running all the way through the arm pit would have a tendency to widen and be pulled from all of the tension. I'm no expert by any means and I really don't know all of the different techniques that can safely be done.

My scars run through armpit and down my sides to bottom of my bra line. I have pics on my profile. There was a lot of excess skin on my arms and sides. My arms measured 24 inches around pre-op and my bust was 46 inches (fullest area). Post-op my arms are 12 inches around and my bust is 38 inches. I had a breast left and reduction at the same time. The scars on my breasts and side healed better than the scars on my arms. The armpits were not a problem but the scars over my elbows widened a bit once I went back to lifting weights.
Please let me know if you have any questions.

Ole

My scars run through my armpit and end just above my bra.  I wish he had done my bra fat as it is noticable to me now.  The scar in the armpit did widen and I have to be careful when drying off after a shower so I don't pull that skin.  It is pretty sensitive and if I dry off too roughly the scar tears and bleeds.  It is probably 1/2" wide through the armpit.  I see my PS next week for a follow up and will be talking with him about this scar.

I haven't had plastics yet, and although I haven't decided on a definite surgeon, I have done a ton research and see surgeons doing both versions, in addition to others. I will get my lbl first, then I plan on having my bl/arms done at the same time where the cut goes from the breast to the side to take side boob away and help with slight back laxity, then continues down my arm. I won't have a cut on my upper back at all. I decided to have this version because I have HUGE side boob(for my current weight/size) which is mostly skin. Beside my stomach and breast ptosis, it is my worst area. I have buy to very specific and expensive bras to even cover half of it there is so much skin. It is the only area I can't "hide" well enough in clothing unless I wear a shirt that is too big or a spanx. Never thought this would be the reason i can't move to a smaller shirt size, but even with my breasts remaining a D cup, my side boob is the current problem. With summer here approaching, finding sleeveless/tanks with both side boob/bra and tummy coverage has proven difficult. Have to layer.

Honestly, imho, about the surgeon who told you he was taught not to cut across joints, even though that may have been so when he was in school/residency, surgeons are discovering/exploring new techniques all the time as is normal in the practice of medicine ... I don't see as many surgeons performing this surgery the way I am going to have it. It seems to be a newer way to do the surgery and surgeons maybe aren't skilled to do it yet, or are happy performing their current version. I wonder if that is the "real" case with the surgeon.

I also think being at a stable weight and not having surgery before you've reached "goal, which is term I use loosely (unless medically nec.) is very important in healing. I personally would not want to have surgery and still plan on losing more weight on purpose after.

Congrats on your 1/2 marathon!!!

My surgeon cut along my arms, down through the armpit almost to the bra line. I also have an extended upper body lift where the breast scars run along my side, into my back, and up along my shoulder blades. All are healing well.

My first plastic surgery was an arm lift.  My incision runs from slighting below my elbow up my arms through my arm pits and down about 6".  It took awhile to heal but after 18 months, I have a thin white line at the incision site.  Wasn't until my arms where smaller that I could see the extra fat/skin on my back so now I'm considering having that removed.

My scar runs from below my elbow slightly to up through my arm pit and then up, not down the side.  Up under the arm and perhaps visible if looking closely from behind.  The arm pit incision healed extremely well and I have not had any problems with it.  I also do not have any more underarm hair!  AND I can go without deodorant if I wanted to - It's healed well.

Thanks everyone, I've decided to go with the surgeon who will go through the joint and into the armpit and down a bit - will just have to go extra careful when healing to try and minimise any pulling.
Wish me luck - surgery is scheduled for 26th April !

PS - I've revised my goal to 170lbs from 155lb - I've been deliberating this for a while and as I'm quite muscular think 170 is more realistic for me.

Thanks so much for all of your replies and great pictures (for those who have posted) it's so great to be able to see the before and afters of those who have gone through this journey.

Regards
Debbie