Any promising new techniques for arm lifts?

How do your arms look after deflating liposuction? Unnecessary and poor-result operations upset all of us who want the best results for our patients, not just their money.There is no laser, external RF, smartlipo, or other new technology that can even come close to a reasonable result that compares to surgical excision of the loose skin via brachioplasty.Yes, the scars are often atrocious, but "barbaric" is too much! Careful closure and proper placement are critical components of a satisfactory outcome. This is a technique-responsive operation because of the thin and crepey nature of the skin in this area. Closure is difficult, and the thin skin heals poorly with even the tiniest bit of inflammatory stimulus. Silicone sheeting is not a cure for a bad closure, but it can salvage a good one that might still be healing with hypertrophy in a genetically-prone individual.Remember, surgeons of the "olden days" were barbers, not butchers! Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

Hello,You are correct, you can't fool mother nature, and too much excess skin can only be removed down the length of the arm, leaving a long scar.  Placement of the scar is crucial to minimize visibility.  Post operative tape/silicone sheeting therapy for at least 3 to 6 months is also important to minimize scar visibility. There is no non-surgical or minimally invasive, hi-tech device that can dispose of the amount of skin that is typically taken during an arm lift. Go on a few consults with surgeons expert in body contouring. Best of luck!

Unfortunately there are not any good substitutes to the traditional brachioplasty other than liposculpture. 

Brachioplasty or arm lift surgery is one of the most frequently requested body contouring procedures performed today. The demand for this procedure has increased more than 800% since 1997. This is the greatest percent change of any of the commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedures Much of the increase in popularity is due to the growing number of patients who undergo massive weight loss. In performing this procedure an incision is made on the inside of the arm extending from the elbow into the armpit. Sometimes it is necessary to extend the incision further into the armpit and sometimes past it. Utilizing this incision excess skin is removed and the wound is closed. It is very important to position the scar properly so that it is concealed as much as possible. A well-placed incision should result in a scar that is only visible when the arms are raised. This operation is normally performed as an outpatient. It is very important for the surgeon to discuss the resultant scar thoroughly with the patient preoperatively. Very commonly this scar takes a longer time to undergo the full healing and maturation process. Maturation refers to the process whereby the scar becomes less apparent. Brachioplasty scars commonly take up to 2 years to fully mature. Immediately after the operation compressive Ace wraps are placed from the fingers up to the armpit. These can normally be removed within 24-48 hours postoperatively. Elastic compression sleeves commonly worn by athletes can be purchased relatively inexpensively at any sporting good store. Many patients wear these for up for up to 2 weeks postoperatively. No vigorous activity or strenuous activity is recommended for 3 weeks postoperatively. Complications following a well planned and well executed brachioplasty are uncommon. They may include however wound infection or wound breakdown. Is very important to follow the directions of your surgeon postoperatively to ensure the best years improvements have been made in the performance of brachioplasty (arm lift) leaving better scars than had been achieved in the past. This includes more precise incision placement, better closure techniques and use of post operative scar reducing systems. With greater attention to these details the benefits of arm lift surgery can be achieved with more acceptable scarring than in the past.

 Yes there are alternatives to the traditional arm lift. You are correct that most patients do not want a large long scar visible on the arm. Thermi Tight is an excellent choice to improve the contour of the arm.  It is a minimally invasive procedure performed in the office under local anesthesia. You need just one treatment. The results are excellent. I have perform this procedure many times in the office.  Always consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon

The full brachioplasty is till the "gold standard", and the thin white line scar is the trade off for the youthful contour. I find it hard to believe any good surgeon would have let you spend money on liposuction with your weight loss history. When positioned properly down the inside of the arm the scar is not visible with almost all natural arm positioning. When positioned down the back of the arm as some inexperienced surgeons will do, the scar is invisible to the patient but highly visible to everyone else. Choose your doctor carefully.