The Posterior Arm Flap for Reshaping the Postbariatric Breast

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Body Contouring
• Massive Weight Loss Surgery

Background:

• Postbariatric surgery often requires multiple procedures to address deformities in massive weight loss (MWL) patients.
• Correcting both arm and breast contour simultaneously presents a surgical challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a combined surgical technique for improving arm and breast contour in MWL patients.
• To evaluate the functional and aesthetic outcomes of this combined approach.
• To reduce surgical time and costs through a single-stage procedure.

Main Methods:

• A modified Pascal-Le Louarn brachioplasty was performed for upper arm contouring.
• A standard McKissock mastopexy with Wise pattern closure was used for breast lifting.
• Posterior arm flaps (PAF) were harvested, tunneled, and transposed to augment the breast mound.

Main Results:

• No immediate postoperative complications were observed.
• At 6-month and 1-year follow-ups, patients showed symmetric arm contours and improved breast shape.
• No adverse events such as skin disorders, scar hypertrophy, or lymphedema were reported.

Conclusions:

• Posterior arm flaps (PAF) are a viable option for breast contouring procedures.
• This technique effectively improves both arm contour and breast volume/shape simultaneously.
• Further studies with larger patient cohorts are needed to validate the long-term effectiveness of this combined approach.