L brachioplasty correction of excess tissue of the upper arm, axilla, and lateral chest.

Following massive weight loss, patients evolve severe arm deformity, extending through the axilla and on to the chest. The L brachioplasty was developed to treat the entire deformity through the excision of two unequal ellipses at right angles in the form of an "L." More than 50 patients have been treated since 2002 with esthetic reshaping of the upper arm, leaving inconspicuous scars and only minor complications. There have been eight scar revisions, including two Z-plasties for contracture. The rationale and results compare favorably with contemporary techniques. L brachioplasty is our procedure of choice for the patient who has had massive weight loss, and it can be applied selectively to the aging arm.