Are There Non-surgical Arm Lift Alternatives?

Question

5'7" and weigh 124 lbs. weight has not gone up or down 2-5 lbs over the past 20 years and exercise religiously but don't follow a very healthy diet. Had mini Brachioplasty Oct '07 which reduced the size of the arms about 2" smaller but they still sag terribly. Skin is loose and saggy from under the arms to the wrists.Is there a proven non-invasive solution? Tried Sciton SkinTyte but have only had 1 of 5 treatments. Any Suggestions?

Shahram Salemy, MD, FACS · Answer

There is simply no current technology that can offer the same reproducible, durable results that an arm lift can.  The big downside of an armlift is the scar, but for most folks, they are willing to have a scar in order to have a nicer shape, size and contour to their arms.  It's simply a tradeoff, and if it is an acceptable one for you, then I would opt for surgery.  If it isn't, I would not spend time and money on other treatments.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Morpheus 8 is a non-invasive skin and soft tissue tightening treatment that is consistently amazing in our patients. We use the Morpheus to exact fractional induced RF into the skin or tissue in order to tighten collagen and stimulate contraction of the tissue. For acne scars, it is quite useful to build collagen in patients who have atrophic scars but is not very productive for ice-pick scars which require TCA Cross. For tissue tightening, Morpheus is ideal for the face and neck and we often combine it with CO2 laser or Ultherapy to further enhance results. Chemical peels and skin resurfacing should be done at least 5 to 7 days after, but can be performed earlier, depending on treatment severity. Avoid exfoliating skin treatments before Morpheus and expect a period of 2-4 weeks for skin contraction to set in.

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

Nonsurgical options give only mild improvement compared to surgical lifting. Skin tightening can be done with a combination of Vanquish, truSculpt iD, Venus Legacy, Exilis, and Cellutone/Zwave. However for best results, an arm lifting procedure can be combined with a high definition procedure at the same time. I recommend a hi definition procedure like VASER liposuction. I use VASER HI DEF with ThermiRF and fat grafting to get the most fat removal, skin tightening, contour and definition. This combination will give you the most toned result. I recommend getting a formal evaluation with a hi definition physique expert. Best, Dr. Emer

David Shafer, MD, FACS · Answer

Suzanne,
Laser and other treatments are good for tightening skin which does not really need to be tightened.  From what it sounds like in your description, your problem is beyond non-invasive treatments.  I am not sure what your "mini-brachioplasty" was.  However, if your incision is limited to your armpit and does not extend down your arm, then I am not surprised that you do not see an appreciable result.  You basically have to decide what is worse - the sagging skin or an incision down your arm.  In most cases, the incision can be directed down the inside or posterior portion of your arm, tin an attempt to make it less visible. 
I hope this is helpful.
David Shafer, MD
Shafer Plastic Surgery
Manhattan

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

Please stop wasting your hard earned money on "non-invasive" treatments that promise what they can't deliver.  There is nothing other than surgery that significantly tightens the skin of your arm (or anywhere else for that matter!).  The problem in the arm is the unsightly scar.  So if you can't make the trade in your mind for the scar, all you can do is to eat healthier, avoid the sun, hydrate the skin, bulk up your triceps and biceps to drape the skin better and accept that this is just your genetic nature.

Are There Non-surgical Arm Lift Alternatives?

Answers (5)

Answer: Stop spending money on treatments that are not working.

Answer: Stop spending money on treatments that are not working.

Answer: NOTHING BUT SURGERY works

Answer: NOTHING BUT SURGERY works

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Skin Tightening

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Are There Non-surgical Arm Lift Alternatives?

Answers (5)

Answer: Stop spending money on treatments that are not working.

Answer: Stop spending money on treatments that are not working.

Answer: NOTHING BUT SURGERY works

Answer: NOTHING BUT SURGERY works

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Skin Tightening

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.