Small area of loose skin where my upper arm meets my armpit. Would a mini arm lift help this? (Photos)

Question

I had arm Lipo with Renuvion in November 2023. I am very happy with the results except for this small area of loose skin where my upper arm meets my armpit. Would I be a candidate for a mini arm lift or is there another procedure to remove this small portion of loose skin? It is there when I raise my arms above my head, and the attached pictures are of me flexing and not flexing.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

You can use a transverse incision that is hidden in the axillary fold to excise this skin.  The other procedure would be an incision down the arm to the elbow but that seems unnecessary in your case.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello, and thank you for your question regarding a small area of loose skin where your upper arm meets your armpit, and would an arm lift help this?   Thank you for your pictures of your history.  And analyzing your arms, you have excess skin and fat in the proximal 1/3 of your upper arm.  Your “tissue issue “is mostly extra inner, upper arm skin, not fat.  Therefore, if you did further arm liposuction, this procedure would make your arms worse, not better.  You need arm skin removal surgery.  Since you are a Type 2 arm with excess skin and fat in the proximal 1/3 or 1/2 of your upper arm, you would do best with a crescent arm lift.  During a crescent arm lift, a crescent area of skin is removed from the most proximal aspect of the upper inner arm.  The incision is mostly hidden in the armpit.
The procedure takes approximately 3 to 4 hours to complete under general anesthesia.  You must have your arms by your side for at least two weeks to minimize tension.  Drains are typically not used.  You should be able to return to a desk job at approximately two weeks.  If your job entails a significant amount of lifting objects, expect to return to work in 3 to 4 weeks.  You can resume lower extremity exercises at one week.  Wait at least 6 to 8 weeks before you start exercises with your arms or shoulders.  Good luck.  Thank you for your interesting question regarding a small area of loose skin where your upper arm meets your armpit, and would an arm lift help with this.
Since a brachioplasty or arm lift surgery is a difficult procedure, please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing these types of arm lifts.  Do your research.  Make sure your chosen plastic surgeon has performed at least 100 arm lifts.  Make sure they have the before and after pictures to prove it.  Carefully examine their before and after pictures and check their reviews on RealSelf.   Sincerely, Dr. Katzen, MD, MBA.  (Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, International College of Surgery, and American Board of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, RealSelf Hall of Fame, and RealSelf Doctor Advisory Board for Medical Review and Consumer Panel.)

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

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Brian Bassiri-Tehrani, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question - this is a very common concern for a lot of patients. A mini arm lift or "short scar brachioplasty" will help remove that small area of loose skin by the armpit. The incision is hidden within the armpit, so it is very inconspicuous. It is a very powerful procedure in the right patient, however it is important to know that it only addresses the extra skin by the armpit and does very little to address the extra skin by the elbow. Hope this helps!

Kristopher Hamwi, MD · Answer

A mini arm lift is the best option for removing loose skin that doesn't extend all the way down your arm. I would recommend a limited brachioplasty that extends from your armpit approximately 1/3 of the way down your upper arm. The scar goes on the inside of the arm so that it is less conspicuous. A crescent or armpit brachioplasty seems tempting but in my experience this type of lift doesn't work particularly well because it increases the tension when you lift your arms and is prone to stretching or pulling in a way that tests the skin into an odd shape when your arms are lifted.

Ajaya Kashyap, MD · Answer

Thank you for your query. Although the Renuvion treatment can be repeated, the best treatment at this stage, is a mini arm lift procedure. Please find an experienced board certified Plastic surgeon who can examine you and help you with all your concerns. All the best!

Gulcin Nujen Cardak, MD, FEBOPRAS · Answer

Hi, thanks for the question. According to your pictures you have excess skin on your arms. Your muscles seems strong and you don’t have excessive fat deposits around your arms. Unfortunately you can’t train your skin. So the arm lift with possible shorter scar will be your solution. I hope this answer helps you.

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

Based on these photos, it is very likely that a short scar arm-lift extending from the midarm into armpit would be a good solution for you. Good luck.

Harry T. Haramis, MD, FACS · Answer

Your best results would be with a traditional arm lift, scar down the inner arm.

The mini or armpit/axillary,  sounds great but does not give adequate results.

An exam and consultation with a plastic surgeon is recommended to best discuss your options and expectations.

Roxanne Sylora, MD · Answer

The answer really depends on what kind of results you are looking for.  It looks like for optimal arm contour you might benefit from a regular brachioplasty.  if it's just the part near the armpit, you might be able to get away with a shorter scar, but if you pull it too tight you might change the shape of your arm and it might look unnatural.  (Looks like you have a nice bicep!!)