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Will Liposuction on Arms Make the Skin Loose?

asked 1 year ago by L. AnaBelle in NY
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 739 times
Tags: arms, loose skin, options

I have been considering a short scar lift surgery on my arms for some time now due to all the excess skin that I have around them. I have been to a couple of doctors now but I get different suggestions. Some suggest I just need regular liposuction, but I don't think it would be a good idea considering the elasticity of my skin is bad. Others suggest a combo of both a tuck and some lipo. What would be the best option? (For some reason my skin looks very full in the pics I don't know why)

14 answers to Will Liposuction on Arms Make the Skin Loose?

Liposuction Of Arms?

Thank you for the question. Based on your picture and description of the scan quality you will not have a good result with liposuction surgery. Arm lifting surgery will be required to improve the contour of the area. The downside with the arm lifting surgery is the potentially poor scarring that can be associated with this procedure. The need for scar revision surgery is relatively common after arm lifting surgery. I suggest seeking consultation with well experienced... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction on arms will NOT make skin loose but it will NOT make it tight either

Liposuction on the arms has a relatively high satisfaction rate. it will NOT make skin loose but it will NOT make it tight either. In your case, it appears that you have sufficient laxity that I would recommend a brachioplasty (arm tuck) as a better alternative.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

"Mini" procedures lead to "mini" results, in most cases

First, a "mini" or "short scar" arm lift is not a great operation. It can be okay in perfectly-selected patients--your photo indicates to me that you are not the right patient for this "mini" operation. I would start with liposuction alone, which you may find gives you better results than you expected. If you still have loose skin remaining after the liposuction, then the arm lift technique that removes the most skin would be right for you. more

Carmen Kavali, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction alone won't do much to tighten the arms

If there is minimal to moderate skin laxity, laser liposuction such as smartlipo will contribute a certain amount of tightening to the arms. If there is considerable laxity, you would require some skin removal (brachioplasty, or mini-brachioplasty). You would need to see your surgeon to measure and feel your arms in order to best assess your situation.

Christopher J. Peers, MD
South Bend Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.peerscosmetic.com

CAST liposuction of the arms combined with minibrachioplasty corrects moderate skin laxity

Liposuction for upper arm contouring can produce excellent results in individuals with good skin elasticity. I recommend the Circumferential para-Axillary Superficial Tumescent (CAST) technique for upper arm contouring. The use of tumescent anesthesia, micro cannula, and meticulous post operative care maximizes skin retraction and can give excellent improvement. If there is skin laxity, a brachioplasty may be required to tighten the skin. The minibrachioplasty is ideal for correcting the... more

Andrew Lyos, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Arm lift or liposuction

The elasticity of the skin would determine what type of outcome you could expect. Younger women usually are the best candidates. For some the only way to get rid of fat and a lot of loose skin is a Brachioplasty (arm lift) but the trade off is a long scar.

Miguel Delgado, Jr., MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Arm liposuction or lift or both?

Treating the arms can be tricky. If your skin quality is not great, it may sag more with just liposuction. You may be correct to require both excision and liposuction or even just excision.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction for the arms

The contour of your arm will probably not be the best after liposuctiton. An arm lift won't be the best answer by itself either. You might do very well with liposuction first then waiting six months to have a skin lift.

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

Liposuction will not necessarily cause your skin to sag.

Liposuction will not necessarily cause your skin to sag. The state of elasticity in your skin is the best prognostication factor in the final result. I would suggest having water-assisted liposuction, waiting 3-4 months and see the final result. If you are not happy, then an arm lift can be done. If you are happy with the result then you have saved time, expense, and a scar.

Charles D. Ebert, MD
Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

Arm Lift is the Answer.

Liposuction alone is not the answer. A surgical lift with thoughtful liposuction would be the most beneficial for your particular situation. Good Luck. Dr. ES

Earl Stephenson Jr., MD, DDS
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Tumesent Liposuction unwieghts the skin and allows it to lift up.

It is common to fear loose skin after liposuction, but the reality is that if you do not have wrinkles prior to liposuction you generally do not have them afterwards either. Tumescent liposuction is done totally under local anethetic and when done on the upper arms it actually unweight the skin and allows it to lift up. I have had three patients in the last two years that experienced 60 to 100 lb weight loss and were happy with their current weight but still had upper arms... more

Julie E. Voss, MD
Kirkland Dermatologic Surgeon

Best Suggestion for Treatment of Arm "Bat-Wing" Defomity - Arm Lift or / and Liposuction

There are multiple ways of dealing with arm fullnes, excess fat and skin redundancy, each technique is best used for certain subsets of this deformity. You can NEVER uses mini-procedures in maxi cases and hope to have a semblance of a great result. In cases of minimal skin excess without fat excess, a mini-lift or short scar technique would work nicely. In cases of mild excess arm fat deposits, especially with good quality skin, liposuction would produce a good outcome. But, in cases of... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Arm lift and liposuction - a staged approach can yield best results

In my arm lift experience, with patient's with your anatomy, a staged procedure will yield the best result. Liposuction of the arms followed by arm lift 3 months later is what I would recommend. I've found that combining liposuction with arm lift procedures tends to increase post-op edema, swelling, and the scars don't turn out as well. I also think that you have a bit too much skin for a short-scar arm lift to handle. I don't think the short scar arm lift is a great... more

Scott Sattler, MD
Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction with arm lift works.

I think you have too much loose skin to benefit by liposuction alone. Liposuction done together with an arm lift makes sense if you can accept the scar.