Arm Lift: Q&A
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Not Sure if I Am Supposed to Get Arm Lipo or an Arm Lift? Pictures Included.
I am 30 yrs old,124 pds/size 2-4 but my arms seem super flabby and out of proportion with my body. I was obese when I was a child and ever since it seems I have carried excess weight on my arms. I was a size 6-8 until a few months ago and thought that was the problem but now I am starting to believe it is excess skin. I am making an appointment for an augmentation after I have a baby (I am not yet pregnant) and wanted to fix this problem as well but was curious which procedure is needed? Thanks!
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24 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
kristyab
in Alberta
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Arm Contour Brachioplasty vs Liposuction
Hi, thanks for your post and your pictures. By looking at your pictures the only conclusion that I can come up with is that I absolutely would not give you advice based on this.
You have 3 surgical options:
1. Liposuction
2. Liposuction with axillary dome excision
3. Brachioplasty +/- liposuction
Lets go step by step with pros and cons risks and benefits
Unique Risk #1 Lymphedema: Any time you operate on an extremity, particularly about...
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Undergo a brachioplasty to achieve the results you want
Dear Kristy:
Based on your pictures, I would suggest liposuction and an arm lift to be performed at the same time. You have excess skin and fat that goes down to the elbow and I do not think that liposuction alone would give you arms that you would be proud of. I would therefore suggest you undergo a brachioplasty.
Thank you,
J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS
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Arm lift and upper arm liposuction are very different operations..
Arm lift surgery and arm liposuction are very different surgeries and are performed for different reasons. Arm liposuction can be done if you have arm skin with good elasticity so that after your fat is removed your skin will shrink around your remaining tissues. If you have poor elasticity then your skin will hang more after fat is removed. Your pictures are definitely not conclusive. You will need to be examined by a Board certified Plastic Surgeon who has experience in body contouring...
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Arm lift
Thank you for the picture. It appears that you have loose skin and liposuction would worsen your sagging. An arm lift would be the correct procedure and you have to weigh result against the scarring. This is a personal choice. If you are planning children, the weigh gain and loss from pregnancy could affect the arms so you may want to consider deferring this surgery until afterwards.
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Arm lift vs. arm lipo
Based on the photos, the best solution is an arm lift procedure. Liposuction could make the problem worse by creating more loose skin. Please seek consultation by a surgeon who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and look at pictures so that you are comfortable with the location and the visibility of the scar!
Good luck!
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Arm Lipo vs. Arm Lift
Improving arm contours and aesthetics is a common concern of patients. Often there is a question of whether liposuction or brachioplasty (arm lift) will be the best choice. Of course, the best way to determine the procedure that will provide the result you are hoping to achieve is through a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon. With the world wide web, patients are now frequently seeking opinions and consultations from surgeons from different areas of the...
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Arm lift or liposuction?
Obviously, a photo is not a great substitute for a consultation in person, however, judging by your pictures, I would suggest that you are a better candidate for an arm lift procedure. Liposuction, even with newer techniques such as SmartLipo or SlimLipo, is somewhat limited in tightening the skin. If you have a lot of loose hanging skin and you do liposuction alone then you will just end up with more loose hanging skin. An arm lift results in a scar that runs from armpit...
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Arm Lift vs Arm Liposuction in Atlanta
Arm lift vs arm liposuction. This is a very common question in my practice. Most of our patients are happy after liposuction only. It is a great idea to have SmartLipo before arm lift especially if you are not sure which one works for you. After liposuction, your skin may retract if you are young and have good quality skin. Arm lift will remove all the extra sagging skin, but you will have a visible scar. Arm lift is also more expensive than arm liposuction. Consult with a board certified...
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Arm Lipo vs Arm Lift
Hello Kristy: As best I can tell from your photos I suspect you would do best with an arm lift; you can get a nice shape and I usually find that shape will trump the scar for most people. But by all means, seek expert opinion from consults with board - certified plastic surgeons familiar with this surgery. In recent years, I have become a bigger fan of brachioplasty and not found the scarring to be as bad as most patients anticipate, particularly with good placement of the...
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Arm lifting
Armlifting surgery would be indicated in your case. Liposuction surgery alone will leave you with loose skin. Congratulations on your successful weight loss. Your next challenge should be planning a well-trained/experienced plastic surgeon for good advice. Best wishes.
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Excess skin may need to be removed surgically
Without examination, it is difficult to say whether a simple liposuction or surgical removal of excess skin (brachioplasty) is necessary. If your skin tone is great, you can expect to have a reasonable improvement after liposuction alone. Your history of childhood obesity has probably left you with poor skin tone which would mean poor skin contracture after liposuction with resultant excess hanging or wrinkled skin. A brachioplasty would leave you with a scar...
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Liposuction can't get rid of extra skin.
Liposuction is very effective at getting rid of excess fat, however it does address the issue of excess skin. Looking at your pictures, I feel that liposuction would just leave you with loose, hanging skin. If you are OK with the scar, a brachioplasty, or arm lift, would give the best contour and result. I would suggest you see a board certified plastic surgeon in your area for a full consultation.
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Arm lift or liposuction?
I agree with my coleagues, given your history of significant weight loss and your photos, you will need to consider an arm lift, or brachioplasty. Liposuction alone will only make the loose and sagging skin worse.
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Another vote for an arm lift
When the problem is excess skin, all you can do is either lots of tricep muscle exercise to add bulk to the muscle and drape the skin better or have an arm lift with its necessary scar. No liposuction will help you when you have excess skin.
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Brachioplasty vs liposuction
Based on your photos, I think you will require a brachioplasty to get the result you are likely expecting. Bummer, huh? Because brachioplasty leaves a long scar. As with many body controuring procedures, the contour takes priority over the scar. There is a procedure called CAST liposuction of the arm can can help some patients with a little laxity and a lot of extra fat. You don't look like you have much extra fat, if any.
I would be very, very...
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Skin excess on arms requires skin excision
Liposuction of arms will only remove fullness of arms. However excess skin will need arm lift for its removal. However a permanent arm scar, which only worsens with time is a price to pay for armlift. If you are willing to accept this trade off, do an arm lift.
If scar is not acceptable, then have a liposuction for some but not all improvement.
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Arm lift will correct sagging skin.
Hi.
In borderline cases, liposuction of the arms can help. But you are young and have a lot of loose skin. Only an arm lift will do it. Patients accept the scar if it is well positioned.
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Lipo Alone Can Worsen Arm Deformity
It appears that you have a good bit of excess skin in you arms which is probably due to your previous weight excess. The skin in this area does not typically possess good elasticity and I fear that liposuction without any skin excision will worsen your deformity. You will obtain your best result with a combination procedure.
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Do I need an arm Lift or just arm Liposuction?
This is a very frequent question from patients and a good one to ask. There is quite a big difference between the two procedures and the right procedure for you could be a combination of the two. Without seeing you in person and taking some measurements, it is a bit difficult to say for sure. From the photos and your background history, I would suggest having aggressive upper arm liposuction (with or without laser lipolysis depending on availability in your area) at...
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Arm lift versus arm liposuction
This is a really common question we get from patients regularly, and each of these procedures have advantages and disadvantages. When we do just liposuction of the arms, we're relying on the skin to tighten up on its own-- if there is too much skin or if the quality of the skin isn't ideal, then usually this results in waviness or lumpiness of the skin. The arm lift or brachiaplasty removes excess skin as well, but the downside is a long scar that can take months to heal...
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Arm lift or Brachioplastyis needed
Your surgeon can best advise you, but from your pictures it appears you will need an arm lift (Brachioplasty). Developing somegood upper body musculature will also help.
Congratulations on the weight loss!
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Arm lift vs Arm Liposuction
Arm liposuction will only worsen your problem. It will empty the 'skin bag' leaving you with looser skin hanging off your arms. An arm lift will remove excess skin and fat and tighten your arm. It will look great but form a certain angle (depending on how it's done) you will have a linear scar. You should look at some before and after pictures to determine if you think the scar is worth it.
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It's all about expectations and tradeoffs
Kristy
With your history of weight loss and by the photos it appears that you may truly have excess skin, especially if you are down to 124 lbs. It is impossible to tell without a physical exam the amount of persistent fat present along the underside and back of the arm. Because of your age, I will often recommend an ultrasonic (VASER) liposculpting of the upper arm to try to avoid the permanent scar of a brachioplasty (lift). Sometimes the combinations of the USlipo...
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Arm lift
Hi there, The appearance you have looks inherited.. Your skin looks pretty good on the pictures, but the amount of excess upper arm skin you have will almost certainly need to be treated by a brachioplasty. I say almost because without actually examining you it's hard to be completely certain. A brachioplasty removes skin and fat and leaves a neat scar along the inner aspect of your arm from the armpit down towards the elbow. I know this seems like it would be confronting, but a very...
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