Hi MKristina23 in Huntersville, NC, Thank you for your question regarding lipo made your arms look worse and is an arm lift your only option. Thank you for your history and your pictures. First, we should analyze your pictures to determine the best procedures. You have mild lipodystrophy (excess fat) from the axillae (armpit) to the elbow.; mostly in the upper or proximal half. You have moderate cutis pleonasmus (excess skin) and dermatocholosis (loose skin) from the axillae (armpit) to the elbow without stretch marks (stria). Since you have a skin issue, you need the skin excised. Further arm liposuction will make this area worse. There are several different types of arm lifts. There is the crescent arm lift, mini arm lift, T-incision arm lift, modified or limited, longitudinal arm lift, traditional arm lift, and an arm lift from the axillae or armpit to the elbow and then to the wrist. Each of these arm lifts have their own indications, upsides, and downsides. Most plastic surgeons would agree that your best arm lift would be either a modified longitudinal arm lift or a longitudinal arm lift. During this procedure, some liposuction of the arm is performed. Then an incision is made from the armpit partially down the inner arm. The incision is placed between the biceps and the triceps. The incision could be limited to the middle of your arm; this is called a modified longitudinal brachioplasty or arm lift. However, the best results would be achieved with an incision from the armpit to the elbow; this is called a longitudinal brachioplasty. There are some smaller procedures like the crescent or the mini arm lift. However, these arm lift procedures are usually unsuccessful. If you find before-and-after pictures of a crescent or a mini arm lift, be very critical. During a crescent arm lift, a crescent area of upper arm skin and fat is removed from the armpit region, and the arm is reduced and lifted. The benefit of the mini or the crescent arm lift is that the scar is hidden. The downside is that it doesn’t remove much arm skin or fat. Your analysis of the before-and-after crescent arm lift pictures should be very critical, and you should determine whether you see a significant difference. Most experienced plastic surgeons who perform arm lifts try to dissuade their patients from undergoing a crescent or arm lift because of its limited benefits. Therefore, most plastic surgeons would recommend a modified ongitudinal or longitudinal arm lift. The modified longitudinal and longitudinal arm lift are performed under general anesthesia and take approximately 3 to 4 hours to complete. Please allow yourself a two-week recovery. Drains are typically not used. Arm compression garments are recommended for at least 6 to 8 weeks. I hope that I have answered your questions regarding the arm reduction. If you have any more questions regarding the arm lift, arm reduction, brachioplasty or arm crease fat grafting, contact an experienced plastic surgeon. To get an accurate assessment of what exactly you need, schedule a free virtual consultation. Most plastic surgeons offer free virtual consultations. Since an arm lift can be a challenging surgery, please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon with significant experience performing these types of lifts. Do your research. Make sure they have performed at least 150 arm lift procedures. Make sure they have the before-and-after pictures to prove it. Carefully examine their before-and-after photos and review their RealSelf profile. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen, MD, MBA, FACS, FICS (Plastic Surgeon, President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic 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 and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)
