Is it common to do an arm lift without lipo?

Hi mariefl!
Arm lift surgery can be performed with and without liposuction. This is patient dependent based on how much excess skin vs fat is present. The doctor you met with is correct in the fact that there is a fine line with how much swelling can be present after surgery as we do not want to stretch out the skin that previously had laxity. I would suggest getting another opinion from a board certified plastic surgeon to see if they agree with this recommendation with the goal of meeting your expectations. Best of luck!

In most cases, arm lift patients do not need liposuction because there's no excess fat to be removed. On the other hand, patients who have relatively good skin elasticity may only need liposuction or minor tightening rather than arm lift.
In your case, your surgeon probably decided that the amount of fat you have is not significant enough for liposuction.

I have started to incorporate liposuction into nearly all of my arm lift procedures. However, I usually limit this to the area of the tissue I am removing. This helps to skeletonize the vessels and nerves so that as many of them can be preserved as possible. It is only rarely that I will do liposuction outside the area of skin removal for exactly the reason your surgeon stated. In the cases where I do liposuction outside the area of skin removal, I highly recommend lymphatic massage both before and after the procedure to minimize swelling. Other options to remove fat include doing liposuction before the arm lift (which can often be done under local anesthesia) or performing Cool Sculpting to the area before or after the arm lift.

Thank you for your question regarding whether liposuction is commonly done alongside an arm lift. In my practice, I almost always combine liposuction with brachioplasty unless the patient has primarily excess skin and little to no excess fat in their arms. Liposuction helps contour the arms more precisely by removing stubborn fat deposits that an arm lift alone may not fully address.

Swelling after liposuction is a normal part of the healing process and, while it does temporarily increase recovery time, it does not typically impact the final results or scarring if managed properly. Compression garments and proper postoperative care can help reduce swelling and ensure an optimal outcome.

It’s uncommon for surgeons to completely avoid liposuction during an arm lift unless there are specific medical concerns or the patient truly has minimal fat. In most cases, combining liposuction with an arm lift leads to smoother, more sculpted results.

If you’re unsure about your surgeon’s approach, it’s okay to seek a second opinion to ensure you’re confident in the treatment plan. A personalized evaluation will determine whether liposuction is appropriate for you.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Thank you for your inquiry! Liposuction does cause post-operative swelling. This could lead to pulling on the incisional area. We would love to sit down with you and discuss your concerns. Schedule a consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to discuss your goals.