Would any among Mini Brachioplasty, arm toning with exercise, or laser skin tightening be a good option for me?

Thank you for your question.  Your expectations will dictate the best procedure(s) for you.  I suggest a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to go over the options that best address your goals.  Best of luck!
Dr Dhaval Patel
Double Board Certified
Plastic Surgeon
Chicago
Hoffman Estates 
Oakbrook 
Orland Park

Congratulations on the weight loss! There are a few things to consider when thinking about surgery after weight loss. One is, are you looking to lose more weight? I would not recommend surgery just yet for a patient who is in the midst of a weight loss/exercise journey and is looking to further lose weight/gain muscle. Once you’ve reached a weight and level of fitness where, more than anything else, you are looking to maintain and have the habits down to maintain- that would be the time to take stock of issues like stubborn excess skin. Laser tightening is a minimal procedure with an extremely minimal result, it really would depend on your skin laxity and the results you are looking to achieve to determine the path that is right for you. It would be best to meet with a board certified plastic surgeon who can help you achieve the results you are looking for.

Thank you for your question.  An examination is needed to answer your question to evaluate the degree of skin laxity.  If you have proximal arm laxity, then a mini would be good. If you have laxity throughout the entire upper arm then a full brachioplasty is the best option.  Consult with a board certified plastic surgeon.  Best wishes. 

Gabriela,Good afternoon.  Great questions!  The length of an arm lift (brachioplasty incision) is directly proportional to how much excess sagging skin is present. A good way to think of this is in a similar manner to a tailor or seamstress; if you need your clothes taken, then a seam would need to be open to remove the excess garment. While it is crude comparison, it is pretty accurate. If you have excess sagging skin that runs from the armpit to the elbow, then an incision will need to be that long. If you have small excess skin confined to the upper portion of the arm, then it is reasonable to have an incision confined to just the upper portion of the arm.
The converse holds true, if you had excess skin down the entire length of your arm and you made just a “mini” incision then two things will happen:Only a “mini” amount of skin will be removed and you will see a “mini” result; and likely you will not feel it was “Worth” the cost of the surgery.
A “cinch” stitch or purse-string stitch will be placed via the “mini” incision; and going back to the analogy to a seamstress or tailor, the purse-string stitch will cause a garment to “gather” or bunch up… and the same will happen to your skin… you will see wrinkles and ripples; and, again, you will likely feel it was not “worth” the cost of surgery.


I think if you truly have excess skin, then arm toning exercises and/or laser skin tightening will not work. It may improve it to some degree; and I think it is a reasonable place to start; but I don’t think you see significant results from it.

Is the scar “worth” the surgery? That is very difficult question; that only you can answer. The surgery will leave a scar; and arm lift scars are sometimes noticeable. I think you should be prepared and look at ALL types of scars patterns. I have some before and after photos that show patients with all types of scars. I hope that helps and best of luck with your decision.

Thank you for your question regarding sagging arm skin. It is difficult to answer your question fully and accurately without pictures. If you want a surgical solution, I would suggest a crescent or limited T incision brachioplasty. In either case, a minimal amount of skin and fat are removed. The scar is usually well hidden in the axillae. If you do not want arm surgery, I would suggest exercise. I have not seen conclusive results from the arm laser.
Good luck with your quest for skinnier arms.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office.
Sincerely, Dr. Katzen

You can definitely consider short scar brachioplasty where the incision is hidden along the arm pit region.  This allows a moderate tightening along the inner aspect of the arm.  If you are looking for something non-surgical, then you can also consider trying Ulthera or Profound.  Profound is a new radiofrequency microneedling device that builds collagen and elastin in the tissues and may help you get the mild/moderate degree of tightening that you are looking for.  Ulthera is ultrasound based and can help firm the region by stimulating collagen.

                  It’s
not unusual for patients to develop excess arm skin after significant weight
loss. When this occurs it can represent a significant aesthetic deformity
that’s not easily hidden. In most cases treatment involves removal of excess
skin but treatment is frequently associated with noticeable scarring of the
arms. Patients are often motivated to avoid this scarring by utilizing less
aggressive procedures.

                  Without
being able to perform a physical examination, it’s virtually impossible to make
a specific treatment recommendation. Unfortunately, after a 45 pound weight
loss, a more aggressive procedure is probably indicated. Several surgical
options exist for treating this condition, including liposuction, mini
brachioplasty and full brachioplasty. The procedure chosen is dependent on the
patient’s aesthetic goals and their specific anatomic findings.

                  In
some cases, liposuction may be a viable alternative. When this procedure is
utilized, scarring is minimal and results are usually excellent. Unfortunately,
this procedure is only effective when fat is present and the skin is relatively
tight.

                  When
excess skin is confined to the upper arm in the area of the axilla, a
mini-brachioplasty may be effective. This procedure utilizes an incision in the
upper arm which is transversely oriented and well hidden. The procedure is
helpful when patients have minimal excess upper arm skin and is associated with
excellent results.

                  Unfortunately,
the vast majority of patients who have had significant weight loss require more
extensive procedures. In most cases, this involves a full brachioplasty with an
incision that extends from elbow to axilla. This procedure addresses excess
skin in the vertical and transverse dimensions. In most cases, results are
excellent, but occasionally adverse scarring can be a problem.

                  When
significant excess skin is present, laser tightening and other non-surgical
treatments aren’t effective. For this reason, patients who have significant arm
skin sag should consult a board certified plastic surgeon who can formulate an
appropriate treatment plan. 

Our office performs non invasive and minimal scar arm lifts to tighten the area around the arms to the level of the elbow. Raffy Karamanoukian MD FACS

there is a type of arm tuck or brachioplasty designed for women who don't have much loose skin. This mini brachipolasty places the scar in the armpit or axilla, and therefore is also called an axillary brachioplasty. Many surgeons who specialize in body contouring after weight loss perform this procedure.

If there is limited fat and loose skin close to the arm pit then a short scar technique also called a "minimal incision Brachioplasty, leaving the final scar in the arm pit may be possible.It is a great procedure for the right person.

This is to be compared with a traditional arm lift, brachioplasty, where Incisions are placed in a subtle location on the underside of the arms, between the armpit and the elbow.  General anesthesia is usually used for this procedure.  The length and location of the scar is dependent on the location of the unwanted and excess soft tissue. The unwanted skin is removed to reveal the arm’s natural shape.  In many cases, liposuction is used to remove excess fat to enhance the natural contour of the arm.