Arm Tuck or Arm Lift for loose skin and bat wings?

A variety of options exist for treating redundant upper arm
tissue. These include both arm lift and arm tuck procedures. Each procedure has
specific indications and their use is dependent on the anatomic deformity
that’s encountered. Without pictures or a physical examination it’s virtually
impossible to recommend one over the other.

 

                  Under
these circumstances, consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon is
appropriate. This surgeon should be able to formulate a treatment plan that’s
appropriate for your anatomic deformity.

                  It’s
important to understand that these terms may mean different things to different
people. For this reason, it’s more important to focus on the anatomic deformity
then a poorly defined procedure. 

Thank you for your question regarding “arm tuck or arm lift”.
Your question is almost impossible to answer without pictures. However, I will try to answer your question about “arm lift”.
I would like to explain “arm lifts”, arm tucks, and arm reductions. When we use the term “breast lift”, mostly breast skin and not much breast fat is removed and thus, the breast is lifted. The shape of the breast changes, but size of the breast stays the same. When we use the term “arm lift”, the arm skin and fat are removed. Usually, more arm fat than arm skin is removed. Thus, the arm is lifted and reduced. The shape and size of the arm becomes smaller. However, the arm is more reduced than lifted. Therefore, an arm lift is more of an arm reduction than an arm lift. Of the hundreds of arm lifts I have performed, the arms are not just lifted, the arms are also significantly reduced.
Since you mentioned you have “bat wings”, without pictures, to me this suggests, you have excess arm fat. You also stated you have loose arm skin. Therefore, you have excess arm skin and fat. Thus, I would suggest a brachioplasty or arm lift.
Good luck with your quest for skinnier arms.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office.
Sincerely, Dr. Katzen

Thank you for your question and photo.  Your expectations will dictate the best procedure(s) for you and if Brachioplasty is necessary.  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

Usually if you have large amount of loose skin / fat content,  the arm tuck/lift is likely your best choice.  Liposuction can be done prior to excision to thin out area and excise more skin.

Arm lift incisions vary in terms of the amount of muscle and skin flaccidity.  You may be a good candidate for an arm lift in order to plicate the muscle and soft tissue layer of the arm. Best, Dr. Karamanoukian 

"Bat wings" vary greatly from patient to patient. In general the excess skin and underlying tissues need to be excised. The larger the wings, the longer the incisions will need to be for optimal results.

If the degree of skin laxity extends from the arm pit region down to the elbow, than a brachioplasty or arm lift is required to remove the excess skin. Liposuction is often added to help achieve the best contour. An arm tuck is a confusing term. Patients that have laxity at just the upper part of the arm may benefit from a short scar arm lift (which could also be called and arm tuck). TO see what id the best procedure to meet your goals, find a plastic surgeon with a lot of experience performing these procedures.

If you've got arm laxity extending to your elbow- you need an arm lift. There are a variety of names for this operation. Find a good plastic surgeon to see which variety of brachioplasty is best for you.

The excess skin that is described by "bat-wing" is removed as part of a brachioplasty.  This operation requires a long incision usually on the inside of the upper arm so that it is hidden when the arms are to the side. 

For significant arm tissue laxity and excess, also known as a bat wing, an extended arm lift procedure is needed to remove most of the upper arm tissue excess.  This procedure involves an incision form the elbow all the way to the arm pit.  Sometimes, it is extended through the arm pit to the upper chest to tigten the arm pit area too.