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Arm Liposuction After Massive Weight Loss?

asked 2 years ago by Reb23 in Ohio
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 3,194 times
Tags: arms, female, weight loss, anesthesia, fat, fat reduction, ideal weight, overweight, weight

I have lost approximately 155lbs via Gastric bypass surgery. I still have about 60 pounds to lose. I have always had larger arms but I have not really lost any weight off my arms and I don't think I have much extra skin, just still have a lot of fat. Rolls of fat.

I am going to have a panniculectomy and Tummy Tuck and am now thinking of getting arm Liposuction at the same time (to reduce anesthesia costs for one thing). Based on my photo. Do you think I am a good candidate?

16 answers to Arm Liposuction After Massive Weight Loss?

After large weight loss, skin will not shrink - it needs to be removed surgically

First, congratulations on your weight loss. I suggest you lose all the weight you expect to lose before having any of these procedures. Once your weight has stabilized, then continue with body contouring. For you midsection, given the large weight loss you've experienced, I would expect you would get the best result with a body lift. Tummy tuck often leaves loose skin over the hips and lower back that can look odd if the abdominal skin is tight. If you are having a tummy tuck, you... more

Parham Ganchi, MD
Wayne Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction vs. brachioplasty

You will require liposuction and a brachioplasty (arm lift) to achieve your best result. I would not opt for liposuction alone by any technique,or the skin will hang considerably.

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Arm Liposuction After Weight Loss

Congrats on your hard work ! Liposuction will remove the fat in your arm, but do nothing to get rid of the excess skin, which is really the cause of your arm sagging. Unlike fat, the skin unfortunately does not return to the way it was after you lose your weight, making surgery necessary in most cases. There are photos on my profile of arm lifts you may find helpful in deciding if this is the right course for you. You should probably wait until your weight loss of complete and you are at a... more

John LoMonaco, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction of Arms after Massive Weight Loss

Thank you for the question. Congratulations on your weight loss. I think you have an excellent plan to be at a stable weight prior to surgery. No you are not a candidate for liposuction of the arms (as an independent procedure). Liposuction may be useful in combination with arm lifting (brachioplasty) surgery. Please make sure you are obtaining advice from a port certified plastic surgeon. Best wishes.

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction vs arm skin removal after massive weight loss

First, congratulations on losing 155 pounds...that is equivalent to 558,000 lost calories! Looking at your arms, it looks like the skin quality is loose. If one liposuctions an area where the quality of skin is poor, the skin will actually drop MORE. In other words, the fat is holding the loose skin to some degree and losing the fat will cause more drop. My recommendation is to lose the additional weight and then have a brachioplasty performed. You will achieve a much better result that way. G more

Michael A. Jazayeri, MD
Santa Ana Plastic Surgeon

Arm liposuction after massive weight loss

Your photograph demonstrates residual fatty deposits and some component of inelastic skin. Liposuction alone can reduce the fat volume and there will be contraction of the skin to a slight extent, but not enough, in all liklihood, to make you satisfied. Non-invasive tightening procedures such as Thermage would probably not add any significant effect after liposuction, and you will probably need an arm lift as well, and could be done after the liposuction. I would suggest seeing a board... more

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

Massive weight loss consequences

Congratulations. A couple of things. You do have a lot of excess skin left, and when you lose the rest of the weight you will see it for sure. You will need a brachioplasty. Next, as above, lose all of your weight before this surgery, or your results will suffer, plus you will be healthier. Finally, why get a panniculectomy AND a tummy tuck? I think you would likely be a candidate for the tummy tuck if not a 360 body lift. In any event, you may also have a debulking liposucion of the... more

Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Arm liposuction for massive weight loss

For a person that has lost 150 lbs after gastric bypass, you certainly are a better candidate for a brachioplasty than an arm liposuction procedure because of the loose skin..

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction of arms

The best way to treat your arms would be to do very aggresive liposuctioning followed in three to six months with an arm lift(if needed, and it probably will be needed) The second beat way would be to do the liposuctioning and the arm lift at the same time. The third would be to do just the arm lift. The last would be to do just liposuctioning. The inner arm skin(like the inner thigh skin) does not shrink down very well with liposuctioning.

John P. Stratis, MD
Harrisburg Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction versus Brachioplasty

Liposuction is helpful sometimes in patients who have lost a lot of weight but have not lost all the weight in some areas. The arms are a good example. If a patient still has a lot of fat in their arms then they may benefit from a two stage approach. First liposuction to debulk the arms and then an arm lift (Brachioplasty) to remove the excess skin. If the arms are still heavy and the patient has just an arm lift they will not be happy with the results . The liposuction can be done... more

Susan E. Downey, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

You've got a lot of loose skin

You are to be congratulated on your weight loss- that's is a significant step toward wellness and longevity. As for your arm, my approach would be for you to reach your goal weight that you have determined with the assistance of your nutritionist and barometric surgeon. When you have maintained that weight for three months, consult a plastic surgeon. You will have a substantial amount of loose skin, more than you have now. If you arms still appear 'fatty', my personal approach would be... more

Scott Sattler, MD
Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

You are not a candidate for Arm Liposuction

You are not a candidate for arm liposuction due to the excess skin you have. I'm sorry but the only operation I would recommend is a staged brachioplasty. Regards.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

You're a great brachioplasty candidate

You are a great candidate for a brachioplasty. I perform many brachioplasty procedures and all of my patients are very pleased. When there is extra skin it needs to be excised. The incision is "hidden" underneath the arm and the skin is removed. liposuction is done at the same time to help the contour. Go to a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon by the American Society of Plastic Surgery. Good Luck.

Andrew T. Cohen, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Weight loss will likely cause loose & flabby skin if treated with liposuction alone.

Your history of weight loss will definitely effect the ability to shrink after fat removal with liposuction. It is my impression that liposuction alone will leave you with loose flabby skin. Therefore, I would urge you to consider some form of skin removal (dermolipectomy, brachioplasty or even thoracobrachioplasty).

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Arm Liposuction after massive weight loss (MWL)

Congratulations on your weight loss, Reb. You have a lot of both excess skin and fat in your arms and would benefit from circumferential liposuction of the arms (and I suspect, liposuction of the breast roll as well). This would essentially remove the excess fat but it will also leave you with a significant "Bat Wing" deformity (which is there hidden by the fat...). In a subsequent procedure, ALL the excess arm skin which has not shrunk/retracted could be nicely trimmed and removed... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Candidate for arm lipo????? No!

You couldn't be a worse candidate for liposuction! For the same reasons you need skin excised elsewhere, you need it done on your arms. By the way, you should lose that final 60 pounds BEFORE having any surgery at all. If you don't you will have loose skin left over if you lose the weight afterward.