I have really wide shoulders from when I used to be a swimmer. Is there anyway I can make them smaller? (photos)

Question

Can I get my shoulders shaved down? Or would lipo help this

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

I dont see anything wrong with your shoulders, but if you Liposuction your arms, back and shoulders this may make them look thinner. you cannot reduce the size or width of your skeleton.

the smaller you are before liposuction the more contouring you can get from the procedure. most of my liposuction patients get pre and post surgical optimization with hormonal therapy (see link to help boost their weight loss before surgery and help them heal after). see link for weight loss and body tightening.

You need a formal evaluation by an expert in body shaping and contouring to determine what is best.  Traditional liposuction awake and smart liposuction are old methods and do very poorly for tightening skin or significant skin tightening or contouring.  Small problem areas can be improved slightly by these methods.  The best in body contouring not only removes fat with energy devices like VASER ultrasound but also internally heat the skin with radio-frequency devices such as J PLASMA/RENUVION, InMode BodyTite, ThermiRF to heat the under surface of the skin and tighten it at the same time as fat removal. These combinations are called 4D HIDEF VASER contouring and can only be done by a well . trained body contouring specialist. At the same time fat should be harvested, PRP and stem cells added and injected into muscles or indentations/cellulite to get body shaping and contouring.  This is known as a Brazilian butt lift when you inject the fat to the buttock for contouring and lifting, but fat can also be used in areas such as the chest/breast, arms/shoulders, calves and face.  Cellulite should also be treated with cellfina, sculptra, subcision and/or fillers such as bellafill, renuva synthetic fat, or sculptra.  If skin is very loose before surgery then it will need to be removed such as lower abdominal skin (tummy tuck/abdominoplasty), breast skin (breast lift), arm skin (brachioplasty).  Overall you need a full assessment, but simple liposuction alone will not tighten skin and needs a combination of various methods -- fat removal, skin tightening, defining, fat grafting, skin removal -- to get the best in body contouring and body sculpting.  Dr. Emer.

Michael Kulick, MD, DDS · Answer

Thank you for your questions and picture. Regarding your shoulders, the width is due to your skeletal frame and muscles. Removing whatever fat you have in your upper body shoulder area would have little impact on the appearance in the width at your shoulder level. Any other procedure to reduce shoulder width would be very radical and I would not recommend this. If your still doing a lot of swimming, this will keep your deltoid and latissimus dorsi muscles as large as they are. 
Sorry, I can't help here.
Sincerely
Michael Kulick MD

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Wide shoulders are big news in the fashion world. If they make you feel uncomfortable, build up your hips, butt and lower body with lipo to make you look more proportional. Shoulder width reduction surgery is performed by some board certified plastic surgeons, but I do not recommend it. Consult via email or Skype with a board certified PS to determine if liposuction of your upper arms and back would make the shoulders less conspicuous.

David Hansen, MD · Answer

Liposuction of the back of the arms, shoulders and back often give a slimmer appearance and is worth doing.

Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS (license on probation) · Answer

You may use high definition VASER liposuction to remove fat from the should, arm region. The Gold Standard for superior liposuction results requires use of the advanced technology of ultrasound assisted VASER liposuction. As an official trainer of VASER liposuction, I perform full body liposuction cases every week. VASER liposuction has been the only modality that has consistently resulted in outstanding liposuction outcomes. VASER liposuction ensures a smooth contour regardless of degree of excess fat by virtue of being able to remove any and all remaining fat comprehensively and uniformly. If skin redundancy is observed, Renuvion technology can be simultaneously applied to tighten your skin to optimize your overall contour outcome. A Skype or FaceTime consultation with a VASER specialist will help you get an accurate recommendation and pricing.

Respectfully, 
Arian Mowlavi MD, FACS
Realself 100 Hall of Fame Inductee

I have really wide shoulders from when I used to be a swimmer. Is there anyway I can make them smaller? (photos)

Answers (6)

Answer: Liposuction of the shoulders, back can help with fuller areas.

Answer: Liposuction of the shoulders, back can help with fuller areas.

Answer: VASER Lipo

Answer: VASER Lipo

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Liposuction

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

I have really wide shoulders from when I used to be a swimmer. Is there anyway I can make them smaller? (photos)

Answers (6)

Answer: Liposuction of the shoulders, back can help with fuller areas.

Answer: Liposuction of the shoulders, back can help with fuller areas.

Answer: VASER Lipo

Answer: VASER Lipo

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Liposuction

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