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Is Liposuction Required for an Arm Lift?

asked 2 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS
Question viewed 1,328 times
Tags: arms, under arms, sagging

i hate my underarm flapping skin. Was considering arm lift surgery.  However, it's not clear to me if I'd also need to get liposuction to get results. What is the best way to know ahead of a consultation if it will be necessary?

22 answers to Is Liposuction Required for an Arm Lift?

+2

Liposuction Not Needed for all Arm lifts

Although Liposuction is used in most traditional arm lifts it is not required if there is not much fat redundancy. Your plastic surgeon will quickly let you know if this is required.
Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction with arm lift

Arm lift procedures frequently involve liposuction as part of the surgical treatment. Only in situations of massive weight loss is liposuction not necessary. Otherwise, even a small amount of liposuction can aid in the overall result. Of course, care must be taken to avoid excess fluid infiltration and excess skin excision that would result in a tight skin closure and eventually a wide scar.
John Michael Thomassen, MD

Fort Lauderdale Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction Necessary for Arm Lift?

Thank you for the question. Liposuction is a tool that may be useful during arm lifting surgery. It is certainly not “required”. Whether or not it is used will depend mostly on your surgeon's preference. Please make sure you're working with a board-certified plastic surgeon. I hope this helps.
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposution with an arm lift...

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that removes fat from a specific area of the body. Unlike liposuction, brachioplasty reduces excess skin, and reshapes your arm to a more toned appearance. Since you are considering having an arm lift done, liposuction can be done at the same time if needed. The best way to know what you need for sure is to see a board certified plastic surgeon.
Shain A. Cuber, MD

Marlboro Plastic Surgeon

www.AssociatesinPlasticSurgery.com

+1

Arm flapping skin and liposuction

I do not commonly combine liposuction with arm lifts.  If your arm is flopping quite a bit, you  may be a better candidate for an arm lift than liposuction.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

It depends

Most of the time liposuction is done with arm lift where it helps in skin excision and at the same time gives better natural contoure where you can liposuc the areas that your incision will not extend to as the lower arm area 
Nawarah Alarfaj, MD

Saudi Arabia Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction during armlifts.

Liposuction will obviously reduce the amount of fat present in a thick upper arm.  However, it will not adequately reduce the laxity associated with excess skin.  Therefore, if lax skin is part of the problem, then liposuction will be used to enhance the result of the traditional arm lift. 
Allan J. Parungao, MD

Oak Brook Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction and Arm Lift

Liposuction is often part of the arm lift procedure. The liposuction will remove the fat excess. In some cases, where skin tone is good and there is not much skin excess, liposuction alone may provide excellent results. If there is no extra fat, liposuction would not be performed. For "flapping skin," cutting away the extra skin will be necessary, with or without liposuction. During examination, your surgeon can determine if there is extra fat requiring... more
Paul C. Zwiebel, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon
+1

Arm lift and liposuction combination

There are specific areas of the anterior (front side) of the arm that are not addressed with a traditional arm lift.  I typically micro-sculpt these areas with liposuction. 
Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Arm Lift with Liposuction

 I also perform liposuction prior to all my arm lift. In some patient, liposuction alone may do the trick. However, the majority of patients will require excision of excess skin. I do not charge extra for the liposuction. Most people who have excess skin also have some fatty area, so I use liposuction to contour the area. Liposuction also help tighten the area. The only way to know for sure is to consult a board certified plastic surgeon. It is important to know that not all... more
Stanley Okoro, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

www.georgiaplastic.com

+1

Arm liposuction and arm lift

It is imperative that your surgeon carefully analyze your arm anatomy.   In our practice it is not uncommon to perform some arm Liposuction during arm lift surgery,  it is just a part of arm lift procedure.  On the other hand,  if there is only minimal fatty layer in the arm than liposuction during arm lift can leave one with sub-optimal arm lift result.  Only an experienced and talented surgeon can decide on the optimum approach in order to obtain ideal... more
Boris M. Ackerman, MD

Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon
+1

Brachioplasty with or without liposuction

If you have flapping skin under your arms then a brachioplasty is the only effective way to remove that skin. Depending on how much excess fat you have in the arm, liposuction may be added either before or during the surgery to deflate them allowing removal of more skin and better contouring.
Adam Hamawy, MD

Westchester Plastic Surgeon
+1

Extensive liposuction can mar a arm lift result

For patients with very fatty arms and loose skin - I prefer to stage extensive arm liposuction and follow with an arm lift several months later. The scars tend to be much better.
Scott Sattler, MD

Bellevue Plastic Surgeon
+1

Lipo can help or hurt an arm lift, depending

The answer depends on your presentation.  If the hanging skin has very little fat underneath, lipo will not help at all - if fact it can increase the risk of healing and even cause irregularities the final result.  On the other hand, if there is a combination problem- both skin and extra fat, lipo can augment the result.
David Shuter, MD

Jupiter Plastic Surgeon
+1

Brachioplasty removes excess skin

Brachioplasty removes the excess skin of the arm and some fat. If the arm as a whole is very fatty, then liposuction all around the arm with a brachioplasty will improve on the aesthetic results.
Samir Shureih, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction could be added to arm lift but not for every case

Liposuction could be done in addition to the arm lift procedure. The general rule is to avoid extending the liposuction into the tissues to be left behind. I prefer not to use lipo sepcialy if the main problem is skin excess. The addition of fluid (tumescence) for lipo can change the amount of skin to be removed. Hope that helps!
Hisham Seify, MD, PhD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction with Arm Lift

Liposuction can often be a useful adjunct procedure with arm lift or brachioplasty. There is really no way to determine this in your case without a consultation with a plastic surgeon. That really is the reason for a consultation; so that these questions can be answered. Remember that this surgery rather than something that you can simply order from a catalogue, etc.
John Whitt, MD

Louisville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction for an arm lift depends

It all depends on just how much fat you have in your arms AND on the amount of arm skin looseness. When the skin tone is great and there is only a bit of annoying giggly fat, a liposuction without any other procedure may suffice to obtain a good result. When the arms are thin and devoid of fat after a large weight loss but the skin is very loose ("IE Bat wing Deformity), only a formal arm lift with a scar along the inner aspect of the arm can fix this deformity. But - when you have a... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction Can Enhance the Arm Lift Result

I will perform lipo using a small suction cannula on the arms, and I think it can help tighten the skin.  It is also helpful in areas where there is excess fat, although I like to limit the lipo to small amounts because it causes a lot of swelling.
John LoMonaco, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+1

Trust your surgeon

I usually perform liposuction at time of brachioplasty (no extra charge for this).  The determination is the thickness of the fat pad in the upper arm.  The brahioplasty addresses the excess skin and stretched supporting structures. sek
Scott E. Kasden, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Arm lift and Liposuction

Well, that is why you are seeing a plastic surgeon to see what you need done. Not every arm lift surgery need to have liposuction added. It all depends on the arm lift you are having as there are different types and it depends on your anatomy and what you need done. If you post a picture we would be better able to let you know. Good luck.
Farbod Esmailian, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction is frequently used in conjunction with an arm lift

Arm lift surgery is also known as a brachioplasty. The operation can be performed in several different ways depending upon your degree of skin laxity. Liposuction is frequently used in conjunction with skin excision to give a nice contoured result. This is simply a relatively standard technique to achieve the best result. There may be no good way for you to know in advance if liposuction would be used. A plastic surgeon who is experienced in body contouring procedures will be able to... more
Jeffrey Zwiren, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

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