
	Medical Edge


	About

	Television

	Radio

	Newspaper

		Participating Newspapers

	Magazine

	Contact


	About Mayo Clinic

	Make an Appointment at Mayo Clinic

Medical Edge Newspaper Column from Mayo Clinic

‘ARM LIFTS’ ARE GENERALLY SAFE, BUT NOT RISK FREE

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I have lost 50 pounds and have stretch marks and loose skin on my upper arms. I’m not comfortable wearing tank tops. I was told plastic surgery would leave long scars. Is this true? Is there another solution that would avoid scars? — Atlanta

ANSWER: The procedure you’re asking about is called an arm lift or brachioplasty. It’s done to remove excess skin and fat in the upper arm.

The surgery is increasingly common. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, about 10,000 arm lifts were performed in 2004, a 30-fold increase over 2000.
The increase is likely due to the rising popularity of weight-loss surgery. After someone experiences significant weight loss, the skin on the entire body — including face, arms and belly — permanently loses its ability to “shrink.” That means that after weight loss, patients can have stretch marks and saggy skin.

Surgery is needed to remove that extra skin and stretch marks, and it can leave long scars. Liposuction, where excess fat is sucked out with a vacuum-like device, can be used for patients who have small collections of fat and better skin elasticity. Liposuction scars are smaller.

An arm lift certainly could make you feel better about wearing tank tops. For people who have lost a great deal of weight, arm lifts can make it easier to exercise. The surgery can also reduce rashes that develop because of the excess skin.

While the procedure is considered safe and low risk, it’s not risk free. In 2005, a Mayo Clinic study found that minor complications may arise in about 25 percent of the cases. These included fluid collection under the skin (10 percent), poor scarring (10 percent), skin infection (7.5 percent), abscesses under the skin (2.5 percent) and wound separation (7.5 percent). Temporary nerve injuries occurred in 5 percent of the patients. Of the 40 patients studied, one experienced prolonged numbness of one forearm and hand. Another developed pain in one forearm and hand.

To find out what your options are, consult an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon who can review your medical history and overall health, and discuss the risks and benefits of arm lifts.

— James Knoetgen III, M.D., Plastic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Additional Resources:
News Release on Arm Lifts
Appointment Information
Cosmetic Surgery -- What You Need to Know Beforehand

READERS: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States and worldwide. And it’s a major cause of cervical cancer.

But, according to Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource, most women with HPV don’t know they carry the virus.

HPV includes hundreds of virus types, 30 to 40 of which can infect the genital area. Genital HPV can be low risk or high risk. The low-risk types can cause genital warts and mild Pap test abnormalities. High-risk types can cause cell changes that lead to cervical cancer.

HPV is especially common among younger women. An estimated 28 to 46 percent of American women under age 25 carry the virus. If you’re over 30, your doctor may recommend an HPV test along with your Pap test. Like the Pap test, an HPV test involves collecting cells from the cervix with a brush or swab. The aim is to detect high-risk types of HPV that may lead to cervical cancer.

The good news is that most HPV infections don’t progress to cancer. If abnormal cells develop, routine Pap tests usually can detect them at an early stage so they can be treated. Regular Pap tests are important because women with early cervical cancer generally don’t have any symptoms.

Most women should have Pap tests beginning at age 21, or three years after they become sexually active. Your doctor will recommend rechecks based on your age and Pap test results.

Additional Resources:
Infectious Diseases
Appointment Information
More Information on Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

- - -

Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic is an educational resource and doesn’t replace regular medical care. To e-mail a question, go to www.mayoclinic.org, or write: Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic, c/o TMS, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, N.Y., 14207. For health information, visit www.mayoclinic.com.